The Japanese Embassy and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recently signed an agreement to launch a new project aimed at rehabilitating, empowering, and reintegrating juvenile offenders and at-risk youth.

The project, implemented as a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Grassroots Technical Cooperation Project, is part of the Japanese government’s Official Development Assistance (ODA).

It is a collaboration between the two governments, primarily through the DSWD and the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC), with the involvement of ACTION, a non-profit organization led by its founder and president, Hajime Yokota.

Fumiko Aoki, first secretary of the Embassy of Japan, and JICA Chief Representative Takema Sakamoto, attended the signing ceremony.

“This Technical Cooperation for Grassroot Project of ours aims to support children, especially CICL or CAR, with the concept of ‘No-One-Left-Behind’ or inclusive society,” Sakamoto said.

“Life’s circumstances may lead children’s paths astray, but, in such cases, it should be our shared responsibility to support their rehabilitation, empowerment, and reintegration to the society,” he added.

CICL stands for Children in Conflict with the Law, while CAR refers to Children At Risk.

The project is expected to enhance the capabilities of social workers in local government units within the target regions, empowering them to handle juvenile delinquency cases and develop their own Comprehensive Local Juvenile Intervention Programs.