ARTS (Advocate Right To Safety) Zone Project is an educational theater campaign on children’s right to safety and protection from any form of violence and abuse, specifically by promoting positive discipline in place of corporal punishment. It aspires to ensure a child’s positive growth towards reaching his or her full potential. By creatively raising the awareness of Filipino families and communities about children’s rights and its related issues, the project hopes to build a nurturing environment in the homes, schools and communities.
Creative seminar-workshops on positive discipline with adults as “duty-bearers” and theater workshops on rights and responsibilities with children as “rights claimers” are conducted and advocacy performances toured in the five (5) targetted major cities of Metro Manila, namely: Manila, Quezon City, Pasig, Makati and Caloocan City.
Through PETA’s effective use of theater work (play-acting/body work, role play and performances through interactive theater) it becomes possible for adults and children to express their thoughts on their complementary roles in the growth of their families and communities, promoting awareness about alternatives to conflict resolution and offering possibilities to achieve this end.
A play has been produced and toured in the five (5) cities in Metro Manila; seminars and workshops have been implemented; currently, local action initiatives/activities and networks against violence are being established in cooperation with public elementary and high schools; publications, conferences, round table discussions and a media campaign shall be tapped to inform the public as well as to render advocacy work.
Five (5) major cities in Metro Manila have been identified to be the beneficiaries for the Project: Caloocan, Makati, Manila, Pasig and Quezon City. These are the largest, in terms of population and community influence and therefore would be most effective as recipients.
To be able to effectively carry out the campaign, this project hopes to enjoin several institutions and socio-civic organizations that have direct or indirect dealings with children. These are public schools, local government units such as the Council for Welfare of Children (CWC) and other community level operating groups such as the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC), Barangay Youth Council or Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), Parent-Teacher-Community Associations (PTCAs), and other grass root organizations in the communities.
The performances and workshops are directed toward parents, teachers, local government authorities/local officials (e.g. Department of Education), community and youth leaders, and children/students (specifically 9-14 years old).
• Performances/Tours 
Written by Liza Magtoto, Lyrics, Music Composition and Arrangement by Vincent de Jesus and directed by Mae Quesada-Medina, Rated: PG is a play advocating positive discipline for child rearing and caring. The play is still currently being toured around Caloocan, Makati, Manila, Pasig and Quezon City.
• Workshops
Workshops for adults through PETA’s integrated theater arts approach and workshops for children on visual arts and creative writing have been offered to participating groups, schools and organizations.
• Partnerships and Local Action Initiatives
Partners/networks are encouraged to create their own small action plan in support of the advocacy/campaign. Small grants are provided to selected action plans/campaigns.
• Conferences/Round Table Discussions
City-wide and small group discussions on the essentials of the campaign have been conducted to explore possibilities and options in enhancing the activities of the project.
• Publications
Comics for adults and children were produced depicting different situations where positive discipline was beneficial for both parents and their children. PG Komiks for adult readers and Junior Komiks for children have been distributed to the beneficiaries of the project in various areas in Metro Manila.
The results of the workshops and conferences/round table discussions will also be published to share the outputs and experiences with those who have not been reached by the project.
For more information about the ARTS Zone Project and its activities:
Email: arts_zone@petatheater.com or peta_arts_zone@yahoo.com
Website: www.artszoneproject.net
