Children Share A Meal Near A Flyover In Lapu-Lapu City

[Medic Mike]

CEBU. Children share a meal near a flyover in Lapu-Lapu City, in this image taken during the 2013 election campaign. A DSWD report shows that at least 1,344 children of school in age in that city are not in school. (Alan Tangcawan)

 

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/media/2014/06/19/children-share-meal-near-flyover-lapu-lapu-city-348990

 

I would have thought the stats for kids not in school would be much higher.

[JJReyes]

There are estimates as high as 1.2 million street living and street working children in the Philippines. Street working children return home to parents after spending the day selling flowers, soft drinks, cigarettes, etc. Street living are those who were abandoned by their parents. The gang is their substitute family. They survive by begging and searching for food in garbage cans.

[cebu rocks]

Stats in the Phils are a joke no one knows the real numbers and if they do they would never release that info because of how bad it really is

[JJReyes]

Stats in the Phils are a joke no one knows the real numbers and if they do they would never release that info because of how bad it really is

 

True. The Department of Social Welfare estimate was something like 285,000 and that was done years ago. Still, for the government to admit the existence of street children was an eye opener. 

[Medic Mike]

There are estimates as high as 1.2 million street living and street working children in the Philippines. Street working children return home to parents after spending the day selling flowers, soft drinks, cigarettes, etc. Street living are those who were abandoned by their parents. The gang is their substitute family. They survive by begging and searching for food in garbage cans.

This is another project I am starting with the ERUF in Cebu. We get a lot of children hanging around the depots that should be in school. In conjuction with some interested paramedics, we are going to start a foundation for these children to get them into school. At least we will be able to have an impact on children around our little patch. :)

[JJReyes]

My wife and I support Bruce's Philippine Basic Needs in Catbalogan, Samar. He has a feeding program for street living children. We also support another charity in Quezon City that provides temporary shelter for street living children. They will accept food and a place to sleep for several nights, but these children are "feral" and eventually return to a life on the street. New clothes will be accepted and sold later. The dirty, thorn clothes worn is one way to generate sympathy as they beg for money. Getting them to go to school is a near impossible task.

 

The street working children is a different group. Parents pulled them out of school usually at the 3rd grade to start earning a living. The desire for an education remains and to return to school if their economic situation changes. Parents actually tell their children the work is temporary and they can go back to school later when the family's situation changes.

 

We looked carefully at how much they can earn selling cigarettes, flowers, bottled drinks, trinkets, etc  The idea was to find a replacement for their earning potential. It was narrowed down to "One Kilo of Rice" every week if the child remained in school for five days. What you need is someone to champion the concept. I thought about doing it, but eventually decided I lack the passion to make it a new career in retirement. The best we can do is sponsor a child or children by providing funds to purchase one kilo of rice a week  The sponsorship requirement is the child must attended school.

Edited June 20, 2014 by JJReyes

[Medic Mike]

My wife and I support Bruce's Philippine Basic Needs in Catbalogan, Samar. He has a feeding program for street living children. We also support another charity in Quezon City that provides temporary shelter for street living children. They will accept food and a place to sleep for several nights, but these children are "feral" and eventually return to a life on the street. New clothes will be accepted and sold later. The dirty, thorn clothes worn is one way to generate sympathy as they beg for money. Getting them to go to school is a near impossible task.

 

The street working children is a different group. Parents pulled them out of school usually at the 3rd grade to start earning a living. The desire for an education remains and to return to school if their economic situation changes. Parents actually tell their children the work is temporary and they can go back to school later when the family's situation changes.

 

We looked carefully at how much they can earn selling cigarettes, flowers, bottled drinks, trinkets, etc  The idea was to find a replacement for their earning potential. It was narrowed down to "One Kilo of Rice" every week if the child remained in school for five days. What you need is someone to champion the concept. I thought about doing it, but eventually decided I lack the passion to make it a new career in retirement. The best we can do is sponsor a child or children by providing funds to purchase one kilo of rice a week  The sponsorship requirement is the child must attended school.

I have a pretty good partner in my little plan. One of the paramedics has a really good relationship with the kids that hang around our depots. I am going to find the funds for any kids that really want an education. My pinoy paramedic has some great ideas to keep them in school. Actually, he was talking along the same lines as you are, in relation to 1kg of rice per week per child, as long as they did not miss any days.

[JJReyes]

I have a pretty good partner in my little plan. One of the paramedics has a really good relationship with the kids that hang around our depots. I am going to find the funds for any kids that really want an education. My pinoy paramedic has some great ideas to keep them in school. Actually, he was talking along the same lines as you are, in relation to 1kg of rice per week per child, as long as they did not miss any days.

 

I visited the Street Children Village in Alabang started by a Don Bosco priest. He provided excellent imputs as to what is possible. The important thing is to be realistic and know the limits. Because the children were denied basic learning skills at an early age, it becomes very difficult to teach them. 

 

If your partner has the passion and the commitment to champion these children for the next ten to twenty years, let me know. Let him/her try it for a year. If successful, I can help by contacting private foundation who can provide some of the funding. These small, private foundations are very wary of the Philippines. It's rah-rah at the beginning with very little follow through. 

Edited June 20, 2014 by JJReyes

[Medic Mike]

 

I have a pretty good partner in my little plan. One of the paramedics has a really good relationship with the kids that hang around our depots. I am going to find the funds for any kids that really want an education. My pinoy paramedic has some great ideas to keep them in school. Actually, he was talking along the same lines as you are, in relation to 1kg of rice per week per child, as long as they did not miss any days.

 

I visited the Street Children Village in Alabang started by a Don Bosco priest. He provided excellent imputs as to what is possible. The important thing is to be realistic and know the limits. Because the children were denied basic learning skills at an early age, it becomes very difficult to teach them. 

 

If your partner has the passion and the commitment to champion these children for the next ten to twenty years, let me know. Let him/her try it for a year. If successful, I can help by contacting private foundation who can provide some of the funding. These small, private foundations are very wary of the Philippines. It's rah-rah at the beginning with very little follow through. 

 

Yep, I know what you mean. I will keep you and forum in the loop in relation how we go.