Father Shay Cullen founded PREDA (People's Recovery Empowerment Development Assistance Foundation) in 1974 and has been working with Jubilee since 1992.
Since PREDA and Jubilee successfully lobbied the Supreme Court, many more Children In Conflict with the Law have been released and referred to PREDA. 70% of criminal cases against children are being dismissed completely and any children under 15 years will now be sent to youth homes.
This is a big breakthrough and shows the changing practice of the Philippine judiciary. However, the PREDA Boys’ Home now accommodates 57 released boys, filling it to beyond capacity and a new home is urgently needed.
The new Home for Boys is to be a recovery or rehabilitation center. It is not a detention center. A rehabilitation center is an alternative home for minors who have been granted a suspended sentence upon the conclusion of a criminal trial or while serving their sentence arising from conviction.
The center's purpose is to provide a therapeutic home and an alternative environment to assist in the broader social goal of rehabilitating the boys into a safe environment.
Case Study by PREDA’s Director, Father Shay Cullen
"Argie was a frightened 13-year old and his eyes filled with anxiety and longing when I arrived at the jail in Metro Manila. Others stretched out their arms and begged me to take them out of the hot, poorly ventilated, overcrowded cell where they only see daylight when they are taken out to their court hearing.
The jail officials quickly filled out the custody papers transferring Argie into my custody. While waiting for the heavy steel barred gate to open and for him to step out to the cheers and jeers of his cellmates, Argie grabbed my hand through the bars and demanded to know, ‘Are there padlocks at PREDA?’ ‘No!’ I reassured him, ‘You can study, learn trades, play basketball everyday, go to the beach and have group therapy.’ This was unbelievable, his face remained blank but I was starting to win his trust."
It is believed that those who complete their residency at the PREDA center will be well placed to act as mentors and educators within their community and among vulnerable children.
