Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS) is honored to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine Children’s Ministries Network (PCMN), launching a transformative research initiative focused on families and child protection. The signing ceremony was attended by PCMN National Director Ms. Fe Adul Foronda, APNTS President Dr. Larry Bollinger, and Dr. Joy Pring-Faraz, Academic Dean and lead researcher for the Philippine context.
This collaborative study is part of a tri-country research project sponsored by Viva Denmark, bringing together APNTS (Philippines), the University of Zimbabwe – Department of Social Work, and National University Honduras, with support from previous partners at Technologie University of Honduras. The initiative reflects a shared commitment to understanding and strengthening families in diverse socio-economic and cultural contexts.
Children thrive when they live in stable, supportive, and resilient families. Yet, millions of families around the world struggle to meet their children’s needs due to a range of adversities. These challenges are particularly acute in low and middle-income countries, where families often lack access to adequate social services, employment opportunities, and community support. This research seeks to explore the current status of families in Zimbabwe, Honduras, and the Philippines—countries that, while geographically and culturally distinct, each face complex and intersecting socio-economic challenges.
Through a comparative situational analysis, the study aims to uncover shared barriers and promising practices, informing contextually relevant approaches to family-based child protection. PCMN’s choice of APNTS as a research partner reflects a longstanding relationship with Dr. Joy Pring-Faraz, built through years of joint research and assessment projects focused on child protection and family welfare.
This partnership not only strengthens APNTS’s role as a knowledge-producing institution but also places it at the forefront of advocacy and justice for vulnerable families and children. We pray for wisdom and guidance as this important work unfolds across three nations.
