Donate a "FUTURE" to 300 street children

Not least among Childhope’s Street Education programs is the Alternative Learning System* for Basic Education among the street children, which Childhope is currently conducting in partnership with the Department of Education. This program allows the Street Educators to give the street children the opportunity to earn DepEd accredited elementary grade school and high school certificates, even outside the formal school system, enabling them to claim the brighter future they deserve.

During the reporting period, there were eighteen (18) street children who attended in the Basic Literacy and Numeracy (BLAN) classes. The street children participants learned how to read the ABC’s, count 1-10 digits, write their names and how to pronounce simple words.

In addition, there were twenty-two (22) and thirty-four (34) street children from the areas of Binondo, Divisoria, Ermita, Luneta and Pier, Manila who attended the Basic Literacy Program (BLP) and Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) Program, during the period. The BLP and A&E modules, usually require 6 to 10-month class that participants need to attend in preparation for the ALS examination.

On the other hand, most of the street children participants of A&E returned to formal school this School Year 2015-2016, while waiting for the ALS examination scheduled in November 2015.  

The Street Educators will continue to monitor those street children enrolled in formal school. The Street Educators will also conduct home visits to establish relationship with the parents/guardians of the street children beneficiaries, and to conduct counselling sessions to help ensure that the students will continue and finish their studies.

*The Alternative Learning System (ALS) is a ladderized, modular non-formal education program in the Philippines for dropouts in elementary and secondary schools, out-of-school youths, non-readers, working Filipinos and even senior citizens. The program has two different schematics for conducting instruction; school-based and community-based. On the school-based program, instructions are conducted in school campuses while in the community-based program, formal instruction are conducted in community halls or on private places. Delivery of instructions are provided by government-paid instructors or by private non-government organization.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_Learning_System_(Philippines)

For the School Year 2014 – 2015, there are thirty-eight (38) street children beneficiaries of the Educational Assistance Program (EAP). Out of this number, one (1) dropped out from school due to negative peer influence and one (1) was not able to enroll because the enrollees did not reach the quota of the course he preferred. Below is the breakdown of EAP beneficiaries according to grade/ year level:

• Elementary   – 9 street children
• High School – 12 street children
• College          – 15 street children

One of our beneficiaries, a high school graduate, who received several medals and recognitions from different organizations/sectors proved that being a poor is not a hindrance to your dream but as a challenge to continue to dream and to work harder. He will enroll in one of the Universities here in Manila to continue his dreams.

In addition, one (1) of our college graduates will be hired by the company where she undergone her OJT (on-the-job) training. This is also a proof that these children with their perseverance and financial support from people who believe in their worth, will definitely achieve their dream and have a better life away from the chaotic streets.