Sama Bajaus line up in the Local City Registrar to process their birth registration and acquire a birth certificate that will be useful in availing of social services.

During the birth registration activity for Sama Bajaus in Zamboanga City in Southern Philippines, they were asked whether they prefer to write their names or use their thumb marks, which they usually do in signing official documents. With much confidence, they chose the former.

 

“Pirma, ata-u na kami anulat, amasa, akaa angitung pasal ma iskul-iskul sin CFSI. (We will write and sign. We now know how to write, and also read and count, because of the literacy program of CFSI.),” said Juraiya Sarabain.

 

Zamboanga City is home to Indigenous Peoples (IP) including Sama Bajaus. According to a UNHCR report in 2020, the Sama Bajau group is one of the top five identified populations at risk of statelessness. As such, the Community and Family Services International (CFSI) has implemented numerous projects since 2013 benefitting this vulnerable IP group.

 

CFSI, in partnership with the Zamboanga Office of the Civil Registrar, provides assistance to Sama Bajaus in registering their birth. Not only does this effort contribute to the fulfillment of a child’s basic rights of having a name and nationality, this also gives adult members of Sama Bajau households the opportunity to access social services beneficial to them.

Various Sama Bajaus in Zamboanga City have acquired their Certificate of Live Birth as legal proof of identity.

 

Aside from birth registration assistance, CFSI also provided education assistance to Sama Bajaus through the Basic Literacy Program for Adults in coordination with the Alternative Learning System of the Department of Education. Over the years, this program has produced 362 adult learners who acquired skills in writing, reading, and basic numeracy.

 

At present, CFSI is implementing the Sama Bajau Education Support Project Phase Two (SBESP/2), a continuous initiative in partnership with EDUCO Philippines. This effort aims to support the right to safe, equitable, and quality education of children, particularly Sama Bajau in-school children and those belonging to other IP groups. The project will also continue providing birth registration assistance to Sama Bajau children. #