Cherry Bonachita

Galleries

Starting Point

Eleison Foundation, commonly referred to as Eleison, is a women-led organisation comprising experienced practitioners, researchers, and survivors. The team is committed to supporting communities through survivor leadership and technical expertise, while employing evidence-based and participatory approaches to their work.

Cherry Lynn O. Bonachita plays a key role as the Outreach and Research Coordinator at Eleison. She focuses on building partnerships with community stakeholders and connecting with potential clients. Additionally, she supports Eleison’s research efforts by collecting data for studies and contributing to the internal monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems

Success Stories

In Eleison, Ms. Bonachita works within the foundation's vision to advance evidence-based, survivor-centred programmes for survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence. By integrating rigorous research and collaborating with survivors, communities, and scholars, the foundation aims to enhance the effectiveness of anti-trafficking efforts. It prioritises survivor leadership and ethical, participatory processes to ensure survivors' voices shape its programmes. It also adopts a trauma-informed approach that focuses on safety, empowerment, and cultural sensitivity. Deeply embedded within the community, it bridges gaps between systems—academia, survivors, and practitioners—implementing innovative, survivor-centred solutions to combat trafficking and gender-based violence.

Success Stories

In 2021, the foundation expanded its operations in Cebu, Philippines, to address the growing needs of the community. The expansion included the implementation of the organisation’s four-phase typhoon response programme.  Phase one involved delivering emergency in-kind assistance to alleviate water and food insecurity, providing relief goods to clients’ homes shortly after the typhoon struck. Phases two and three included providing psychosocial support and cash transfers for housing repairs, addressing health concerns, alleviating food insecurity, and addressing other crises. The final phase focused on offering mental health support and referrals to community services.

Alongside its response efforts, the foundation also integrates research into its work. In collaboration with Healing and Resilience after Trauma (HaRT), it piloted a mental health intervention in the Philippines that combined yoga and mindfulness. This low-tech intervention, designed for use by non-mental health professionals, aims to address the lack of mental health services for survivors in low-resource settings. Additionally, it introduced Barug, a two-year matched savings and financial literacy programme for survivors and their families. Barug helped improve survivors' financial stability, increased savings rates, reduced debt, and enhanced financial management skills. Participants also reported greater decision-making power, increased confidence in managing financial pressures, and stress reduction.