1st of 4rth: Get to Know Sabakan Inc.: Advocate of Women and Children's Rights

Sabakan Inc. is a church-based and non-governmental organization based in Pagadian City of Zamboanga Peninsula.

As an organization, it has two main programs. These are CAT/CAP and HeLP. CAT/CAP stands for Community Awareness Training / Children’s Advocacy Program while help stands for healing and legal assistance program.

This institution has reached its 10^th year of service thus, the need to review and revisit its vision, Mission, goals and strategies in a 3-day Strategic Planning at Casa Emsa of Pagadian City last August 8-10, 2007.

With the aim of strengthen the organization and its direction, this three day strategic planning is aimed at:

1. to appreciate the strategic organizational capacity assessment done and to make plans

2. to revisit and reformulate strategies and plans of actions

3. to make an environmental analysis

The facilitator of this workshop is Maisse Faith Dagapioso, a gender advocate of KKI based in Zamboanga City.

As a process, the facilitator divided these into the following:

Day 1: August 8, 2007

a. overview of strategic planning plan steps in formulating the strategic plan;

b. revisit the VMG and identify the current objectives, programs and projects

c. environmental analysis (who are our partners)

d. resource analysis (what do we have?)

e. external and internal assessment of organizations

Day 2: August 9, 2007

a. strategic decision-making and decision-making policy formulation, development evaluation, selection of alternatives and formulation of 5-year plan

b. strategy implementation of one year operations plan and budget

Day 3: August 10,2007

a. measurement and control of programs; monitoring and evaluation system

b. end of activity evaluation

They revisited their vision and evaluated its based on the circumstances and developments surrounding the organization. This encouraged them to reflect the following questions: (1) is there a need to involve men in this cause? (2) Are there differences from its creation up to now?

This large invites serious discussions and make them realize the importance of networking with other women-organizations to enhance their understanding or worldview.