By Hazel Z. | Correspondent
In almost all of the places in the Philippines today, inequality – the gap between the rich and the poor – is quite high and is even more widening. Poverty has always been present. It is one of the biggest and most evident problems in the country.
The Children’s Joy Foundation, Inc. is one of the most active NGOs in the Philippines that contributes and takes part for the social welfare of poor and destitute Filipinos, especially abandoned, neglected, orphaned and dependent children.
On the 3rd day of September 2018, around 1:56 in the afternoon, Ms. Mylene Martinez, the Violence against Women Desk Officer rescued Nene (not her real name) and her 2 siblings who were allegedly abandoned by their parents. It has been 11 days since their parents left and they were without food and proper clothing. They were found wandering around the suburbs of Toril, Davao City without adult supervision.
Upon discovery of their parents' whereabouts, Jocelyn, Nene's mother, lamentedly reasoned out that she and her husband went to Compostela Valley to earn a living by selling "chicharron" (fried pork skin), peanuts, and bottled water in the streets without considering their children’s provision and safety.
The family is living in a rented small dilapidated shanty located beside the river. The house is made up of bamboo and tarpaulin that served as the wall while the roof is made up of rusty steel thin sheets. The small space which they called their home already served as their kitchen, living room, and bedroom. For a big family, it was very uncomfortable and unhealthy.
Since the parents don’t have sufficient income to support the daily basic needs of the children, much more their education, as well as the fact that they were too irresponsible to leave their young children without proper care for more than a week, the Department of Social Welfare and Development referred Nene and her siblings to the Children's Joy Foundation, Inc. on September 19, 2018.
Since then, the foundation was able to provide for their physiological needs such as food, shelter, clothing, education, safety, love, and belongingness that will help them develop a sense of well-being as they grow up and look forward to a better future.
Nene expressed her gratitude, “Nagpapasalamat jud ko sa bag-o ug gwapong balay na gishare sa amua ug nakaskwela na mi matupad na jud akong mga pangarap ug nakakaon na mi ug tarong. Daghang salamat CJFI.” (I am very thankful for the new and beautiful house that you have shared to us and you also sent us to school so I can reach my dreams. We are now finally able to eat good food. Thank you very much, CJFI!)
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