This manual serves as a guide for elementary and high school teachers in the integrating migration issues in their lesson plans and school activities. The issues and the values and skills inculcated in this book were based on the various workshops conducted by Atikha Overseas Workers in its more than 10 years of interaction and trainings with children of migrants. Atikha realized that this will not only help the children of migrants but rather all the youth.

The manual deals with appreciation of the sacrifices of overseas workers, values of education, savings and maintain good communication in the family. Also included are topics on gender sensitivity for the young ones to understand equality of girls and boys. The skills and knowledge will make the children discover their talents and capabilities, understand their rights and responsibilites as a good children and citizen. For them to think not only of themselves but also their family, other children and the community in which they live.

This Training Manual is composed of two books:

Aklat 1: Mga Teksto

Aklat 2: Mga Banghay-aralin

The "Children's Response to the Challenge of Migration" compiles information and education materials developed by Atikha which were designed to address various concerns affecting the children of Overseas Filipino Workers. The manual trains teachers and facilitators on various ways of creatively imparting information and inculcating values to the children.

The modules and activities in the manual encourage children of migrants to express their thoughts and feelings; find ways in strengthening family relations despite the physical distance brought about by overseas migration. The values of hard work, wise use of money, education, and goal-setting are taught to children. Furthermore, the modules provide avenues for children to recognize and appreciate their own talents, strengths and abilities. They learn how to be gender sensitive, become peer counselor and be a young entrepreneur.

This manual is composed of three books:

Training Manual on Migration Realities

Training Manual on Capacity Building

Reference Materials

This book was designed to serve as a guide for trainers in conducting seminars on financial planning for migrants and their families.  The training guides and provides migrants with hands-on experience in budgeting, goal-setting, and financial planning.  The training helps migrants and their families design their own concrete savings and investment program towards achieving their goals.

The seminar also tackles family and social issues that drain migrant's finances and resources.  It provides skills in peer counseling and in assisting migrants and their families address family problems and concerns.

This book was developed not only for migrants but also for members of the family who were left behind in the country.  It was designed as such for the task of saving and investing for the future should not lie on the migrant's shoulders alone but should be deemed as a family responsibility.  This manual (which consists of two books) is a modest contribution towards the realization of the migrant's dream of finally COMING HOME.

"Coming Home: Women, Migration and Reintegration" confronts the twin issues of migration and reintegration. The book deals with the following questions: Are migrant women nearer to their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families? What is the social cost of the feminization of migration? Are migrant women willing and ready to come home? What are the possibilities for their reintegration?

"Coming Home" is a result of a year-long action research done by Balikabayani Foundation, Inc. and Atikha Overseas Workers and Communities Initiatives, Inc.

The partnership of Atikha and Balikabayani is geared towards providing support for the eventual return and reintegration of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). It seeks to lay down comprehensive community development programs by utilizing the migrant workers’ earnings, and mobilizing local resources and government participation. Atikha and Balikabayani also adopt a twin-approach of organizing the OFWs abroad and at the same time, their respective families and communities in the Philippines.