Child Hope Philippines
Child Hope Asia Philippines is a non-profit non-governmental organization working to promote the welfare of street children. Its mission is to liberate children from sufferings caused by working and living on the streets.
Who are the Street Children?
Close to a quarter of a million street children live in major cities of the Philippines, up to 70,000 are in Metro Manila alone. Mostly boys aged 7 to 16 years old; some 30% are girls. Many live on the streets and have dropped out of school and are not able to maintain contacts with their families. A significant number are child vendors, scavengers, beggars, laborers and car-watchers. Others are prostituted or sexually exploited.
What Childhope programs assist street children?
Street-based, the goal is to assist street children protect themselves from the pitfalls of living and working in the streets. They are motivated by Street Educators to give up street life and decide to either go back to their family (where feasible) or to live in a rehabilitation centre and eventually on the road to normal life. Currently, Child Hope has 24 licensed Street Educators, working full time and in pairs. Each pair assists approximately 300 street children, “empowering” them to have direct access to basic social services and referrals. Most are licensed Social Workers and each requires an average annual remuneration equal to Euro 2,500.00.
2. Educational Assistance Program
School-based, the EAP funds tuition and fees of 7 to 21 years old out-of-school youth and urban children who qualify to go back to school. The aim is to help them get out of street life, lessen their working hours in the streets and instill in them the importance of education as a way towards better life. The Vienna English-speaking Catholic Community, some Filipino Associations and individuals in Vienna are supporting 14 “EAP scholars”.
3. Community-Based Program
Local communities are formed and trained to assist in protecting the children; in following-up their progress in school; and in advocating children’s rights. In 2003, the UN Women’s Guild/Vienna provided a grant to train 26 women leaders on Advocacy on children’s rights.
Child Hope has for two years been one of the beneficiaries of VESCC’s Lenten Charity Projects. The major intervention strategy to make street children stand on their own two feet and lead a normal life is education. Child Hope is providing such an opportunity to young street children towards which VESCC has been contributing. According to Dr. Isabel Aleta, Child Hope coordinator, “VESCC is giving hope to these children. Their education makes it possible to break the evil circle of living in extreme poverty at the border of society. These children are then able to take a handle on their life, to gain self-confidence, to develop their potential for their own well being and for the well being of society.”
For more information visit the Child Hope Philippine website.
