By Maritoni Saberon | Project Leader
Maternal death among poor families is much more than an emotional crisis but oftentimes it leads to social and economic breakdown.
Vilmar, 14, whose mother died after giving birth to their youngest sibling, said that life has become much more difficult since his father’s income as a farmer is not enough to feed his seven children. Meals are a rare sight on the table at home. They have no water and electricity. They get water from a distant well and a kerosene lamp lights their makeshift house at night. Unable to provide for them, his father left. They then lived with their relatives,
Poverty, however, does not stop him to aim high. “Gusto ko mahimong sundalo pag dako nako mao nang nagatarung nako ug eskwela karon. Sauna man gud dili kaayo nako ginatagaan ug importansya ang akong eskwela kay dili man pud ko makatarong ug huna-huna kay usahay walay sulod akong tiyan. Mao mag cutting classes mi sa akong mga klasmeyt kay mangita mi ug bayabas sa gawas sa eskwelahan para masudlan among tiyan. (I want to be a soldier when I grow up that is why I’m doing my best in school. Before, I used not to give importance to my studies because I could not think well due to hunger. My classmates and I would cut classes to look for guavas outside of the school premises just so we have something to eat.)”
His perseverance to survive and to succeed roots out from the kindheartedness of other people who help them rise above all their daily struggles. The foundation did not only provide the community with a day care center and a supplemental feeding program but also a computer literacy program. “Nagpasalamat ko kay kaming duha sa akong manghud nahimong mga beneficiaries sa community-based support program sa Children’s Joy Foundation, Inc. or CJFI. Kada Sabado naa miy lessons sa computer. Daghan nako nahibal-an sukad sa pag attend nako sa ilang mga computer sessions. Sauna mahadlok ko mugunit ani pero karon dili na, kabalo na ko unsaon pag-operate niini. Kinahanglan jud na makabalo ko kung unsaon paggamit aning computer para pag-abot sa panahon kung magtrabaho nako, dili nako ma- ignorante. (I am thankful that my younger sibling and I have become beneficiaries of CJFI’s community-based support program. We have computer lessons every Saturday. I learned a lot since I started attending their free computer sessions. I was afraid to touch a computer before, but now I know how to operate it already. I need to learn it so that when I find a job someday, I will not be ignorant.
“Sa klase, kung magreport mi, dali na lang ang pag-research kay gitudluan mi nila unsaon pag- gamit sa internet. Daghan jud diay ka makita sa internet. Mas gipadali akong mga projects likod sa kakulangon sa mga libro sa among library sa eskwelahan. (When we have reporting tasks, it is easier to research on the topic since we were taught how to use the internet. You can see many information about a topic online. I get to do my projects easily despite the lack of books in our school library.),” Vilmar proudly shared with a smile.
Vilmar may have missed his mother but he shared that losing her early in his life has strengthened his resolve to study much harder. He wants to see all his siblings have a better future and you, GlobalGivers, are making it possible.
Looking away, he emotionally said, “Thank you so much for helping me.”
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