To help more street children to help themselves

MANILA, Philippines – In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Childhope Philippines Foundation Inc. in partnership with ACC21 held its annual recognition for street youths who were successfully completed their vocational-technical skills training under Street Youth Empowerment Program (SYEP), on March 2, 2021.

A total of 30 street youth students — ­eleven (11) participants from Batch 2019 -2020 and nineteen (19) from Batch 2020 -2021, completed their 6-month training in Food and Beverage Service and Barista course and had been recognized. The actual number of participating students is lower than expected. Nevertheless, the event was still full of inspiration and fun as graduates proudly walked and accepted their certificates symbolizing their perseverance in education.

In the welcome remarks given by the Assistant Executive Director, Ms. Quinto is grateful and she is proud of the dedication shown by each student to finish their training despite that there is a current pandemic. “You just proved that even if you are poor, you have a dream that you want to come true. You proved that you can fulfill your dream. And this is the beginning of reaching your dream. Be proud of it”. Ms. Quinto said.

Also, the highlight of the event was the sharing of personal stories of the three successful graduates of SYEP, Joshua (Barista, 2017), Jake (Food and Beverage Service, 2017), and Patricia (Food and Beverage, 2018). A common note in their speeches was the impact of the training they received from Childhope and how it has shaped their skills and qualities to become better individuals ready to join the workforce or take on higher education.

Capping off the event, Ms. Barasan, Assistant Program Manager, expressed her closing heartfelt gratitude to graduates for choosing to be part of the program as their second home. She also reminded the graduates to always carry with them the good values that the institution has instilled them.

The event was also graced by the presence of Childhope Ph staff wherein everybody strictly and properly followed the health protocols such as all graduates were wearing masks and face shields during the event, checked body temperature before the sessions, sanitized all the gadgets before and after the event, and strictly maintain physical distancing.

Progress Report and Project Achievements (3rd Quarterly Report):

Childhope Philippines was in the first months of the activity implementation for the Phase 2 family and youth participants when the Community Quarantine has been imposed nationwide last March 2020. Undeniably, nobody expected and has prepared for it --COVID-19 pandemic had immensely affected the over-all implementations of the project. Since the pandemic began, most of the organization’s programs and services have also been suspended temporarily –this is because we need to follow the nationwide quarantine regulations and health protocols. Thus, Childhope had to plan and change the strategies on how to continue the provision of the services and implementation of the activities without sacrificing the health of everyone (service provider and beneficiaries).

It was May 2020 when the project team began to plan the transition of activity implementation. We have prepared some forms to serve as our tool in gathering necessary information from the participants. The project team spent two months in preparation and planning (including the data collection and capacity assessment) prior to the final transition from physical set up to virtual sessions, which has been completed in August 2020. Realignment of the budget and revision of the timetable for the different activities have been made as well.

In general, the project team has resumed the sessions (virtually) last September 2020 with (10) parents per area bringing the total number of 40 parent participants, and continued the sessions under Collective Youth Activities.

Over-all Assessment/ Conclusion:

This pandemic has changed many things worldwide, the daily lives, the educational system, and the way we communicate and entertain ourselves. It is truly a societal change and a big test to different social welfare agencies. Moreover, its impact on the project of our organization has been a big challenge since there are lots of limitations and health protocols to be followed, but the activities implemented online have served as a big help to the beneficiaries in adapting to the new normal and motivates them to learn during this time. Amidst this trying time, Childhope remained strong and true to their mission. It has not been easy to cope with the unfamiliar changes caused by this pandemic, and to this day we are still trying to better our services while taking risks. Gladly, we were able to plan and conduct some activities, whereas we admit that we still need time to improve our new normal ways to operate and render services to our beneficiaries. As for now, the implementation of the project is going well and most of the activities are being conducted accordingly to the timetable. However, given the age and interest of some of our team members (especially those who are not “techie”), we still need training and other related webinars to help us keep up with the growing demand of the online world and its different platforms.

Lesson Learned:

It has been a tough time for both the families and activity implementers to resume the implementation of this activity, admittedly because the project team was not prepared for this to happen. During the pre-lockdown phase, there were family issues that have been raised to the social workers and street educators. However, because of the sudden community quarantine, those were not properly addressed and this brings regret for the project team.

The project team is still trying to cope with the current situation and is still learning things to properly help the family without sacrificing the health of everyone.

Although this pandemic has been a big blow for all of us, it still helped us to realize that we have a greater desire to help those who are in dire need and this COVID-19 cannot stop us.

**Attached is the full 3rd Quarterly Progress Report of the Project.

• 3rd Quarterly Narrative Report (PDF)
  

In response to the unbearable levels of suffering among the poorest and most marginalized group of children in Metro Manila, Cummins provided a GlobalGiving grant donation of $20,295.00 grant to Childhope Philippines’ #DeliveringHope Project, a COVID-19 emergency response for street children and their families. The goal is to be able to increase our response to the most urgent needs of street children and their families and to ensure they have enough supplies they need to survive the community quarantine and help to prevent contracting the illness. Part of these relief efforts is the distribution of food packs, hygiene and sanitation kits enough for a family of five for one week.

Approximately 500 street children and families will benefit from the grant. As of July 8th, a total of 240 street children and their families, or a total of 1,200 individuals have benefitted from the distribution of food relief packs through the #DeliveringHope Project. These families represent the most vulnerable groups who often have been wholly reliant on government support and those who have been without income since the metro-wide lockdown started. 

In addition to the food relief packages, volunteers from Cummins Philippines also contributed through disseminating information about COVID-19 and its precautions and prevention. Volunteers printed out brochures and flyers to help educate street children and their families and provide information about the virus that is spreading across the country. These form part of the hygiene kits being distributed to beneficiaries of the project.

Links:

• For more updates about #DeliveringHope Project, follow us on FB

COVID-19 has drastically changed the lives of everyone around the world.  As you may all know, Metro Manila has been put in an enhanced community quarantine by the Philippine government due to rising number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the cities of metro.

During the Covid19 lock-down, many poor families have temporarily lost their source of income wherein street children are left in even dire situations with no source of food.

Therefore, we launched a Covid19 Response and we reached our goal to help 500 street children and their families.

As of today, we were able to provide relief assistance to 507 street children and their families from all areas covered by our program for the past 3 weeks of enhanced community quarantine.

But due to extended enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila, we are still requesting people to help us to raise funds to buy goods to be distributed to the 500 street families. Your USD20 donation can buy one pack of relief assistance to a family with the following goods: 6kg of rice, canned goods, instant noodles, cereal or oatmeal, Vitamin C, and hygiene kit.

This will help them to survive even for a week while they don't have source of income due to lockdown.

Together, let us help the street children and their families that are heavily affected by the outbreak.

Please donate now.

Links:

• Click for more latest updates about this project.
• Street Children are also a Hope and a Promise for our Future

There were twenty (20) youth in all who participated in the project since the start of its second cycle implementation last July 2019. From that big number of youth participants, only fifteen remain during the preliminary sessions (SFL and Financial Education). In the end, there were only thirteen (13) who proceeded with their enrollment in the Manila Manpower Development Center (MMDC) for their skills training. One of these enrolled youth quit the training at MMDC even before the training started because she chose to work instead after being influenced by her husband.

All twelve (12) youths who enrolled in MMDC for their skills training were all able to survive and eventually graduated. Courses they enrolled are Food and Beverage Services (9 youth), Beauty Care (2 youth), and Barista (1 youth).  

As of reporting period, activities that were implemented are: Orientation on Street Youth Empowerment Project among youth participants and some street educators; Preliminary session on Skills For Life (SFL) and Financial Education (FinEd); Entrepreneurship Session; Livelihood Training; and Skills Training of Youth in MMDC. Prior to the conduct of these activities, preparation of the concerns necessary for its implementation were facilitated from preparation and purchase of materials up to coordination of relevant persons that are essential in achieving our goal for the project.

Activities implemented during the reporting period

• Skills Training at MMDC. The one (1) month training period for the skills training of youth participants to the VocTech project took place as of reporting period. The supposedly 1month period of the training was extended by a week or more due to some unavoidable cancellation of classes in the training center as regards other concerns of teacher when compelled by their superior not to mention class suspension due to typhoon and others. Additional days of classes were intended to make-up with such loss and to be able to complete all the lessons designed for each course. There were three (3) courses enrolled and finish by youth participants of this batch in the training center and they are; Food and Beverage Services (9 youth), Beauty Care (2 Youth), and Barista (1 youth). Beauty Care was the newest course taken in this batch since the other two (2) courses were commonly taken in the past. The course demands several materials for each skill taught under it just like in Barista course but the materials in the former course are more expensive than the latter. The youth of this batch displayed eagerness and focus in attending their regular classes and seldom committed absences and tardiness.

• Preliminary session on Skills For Life (SFL) continued. Last module on Skills For life was facilitated last August 5, 2019. Topic facilitated was Problem Solving and Conflict Resolution Skill. The session was attended by all youth participants of the current batch being the last meeting for the preparatory session. As our last session on Skills For Life, youth participants’ learning was gauge by allowing them answer a post-test prepared by the facilitator. The test was the same as the pre-test answered by them before starting the first module of SFL in our first session. Majority of the youth participants showed improvement in answering the post-test as compared with their pre-test which signifies that they learned from the session on Skills For Life. Along with the last session on Skills For Life, participants again were ask for the final choice of course which they intend to enroll in MMDC training center which was slated on the last week of the month. As expected there were some of the youth who sustained their chosen course during the orientation about the project while others decided to change their course due to encouragement by their peers.

• Entrepreneurship Session. The session on entrepreneurship was held in Childhope office. This session was in preparation for the livelihood training which was scheduled the following week. Objective of the session is to help the youth participants to gain skill in handling their own business if ever they decided to start one. Entrepreneurship skill learned by the youth participants provided them an option if ever they consider starting their own business or improving their existing one in the absence of an employment in establishments. The session is in preparation for the livelihood training of the youth participants the following week if ever they decided to utilized their learning in the said training. In the session, youth participants realized their capacity to start their own business while considering as well the risk that goes along with it that they need to anticipate. Youth participants were also made to think of a business which they are interested with and hope to start if given the chance.

• Livelihood Training. Livelihood training for youth participants of VocTech project was facilitated at Childhope office. The trainings were facilitated for two (2) days by Ms. Loida Buhian who is very experience in facilitating different kinds of livelihood skills in different communities. She was always commissioned by Childhope whenever we wanted to provide trainings to the parents of street children. Trainings that were facilitated on the first day are liquid dishwashing soap and perfume making while on the second day powdered soap and fabric softener making were facilitated. Youth participants of the training were grouped into three (3) and each group were provided with materials for demonstration after learning the method. As observed, youth participants very keen in learning the methods taught by the facilitator and as a result, each group accurately demonstrated what is expected of them. Finished products were carefully packed and labeled by youth participants themselves for better presentation. The youth were encouraged to consider starting their owned business out of any of the product learned in the training for just a small capital. The facilitator even pledged to be always there to assist them by answering their questions if they have one as soon as they decided to start their business. Youth participants with some of the staff of Childhope and ACC21 headed by Mr. Ito had a photo op along with all the finish products for documentation.

• Enrollment of VocTech youth participants to MMDC. The following week after the Livelihood Training, current youth participants of VocTech were referred to Manila Manpower Development Center (MMDC) for their enrollment. There were two (2) schedules that take place in the enrollment of youth participants since not all of them showed up on the first schedule. The first scheduled enrollment was participated by only ten (10) youths and three (3) youth on the next schedule. Courses enrolled by youth participants are Food and Beverage Services (9 youth), Beauty Care (2 youth), Barista (1 youth), and Housekeeping (1 youth). In the enrollment, youth participants looked presentable since they made effort to look clean, dress-up well and arranged themselves for the said engagement. The enrollment took place in MMDC-Aroceros which is not the venue of the VocTech training but rather MMDC-Tayuman. After the enrollment, youth were accompanied to MMDC-Tayuman where the venue of the training will be taking place for them to know where it is located.

• Attendance to network activities and others. Meeting with students from Cyuo University belonging to Prof. Ito at KASAGANA KA office located in their new address in Quezon City. The meeting was attended as well by some of the staff of the host organization along with one (1) of their youth member and participants from Childhope. Childhope attendees in the meeting are the VocTech coordinator along with Ate Ester and two (2) of VocTech’s past graduates (Myla Cruz and Ailene Bolo). Objective of the meeting is to provide the students from Japan understanding about the concept of Micro-Finance in the Philippines and KASAGANA KA was one of the respondents in their visit to the Philippines in collecting necessary information about it. In the meeting, KASAGANA KA provided an orientation about their program for better understanding of how they do Micro-Finance business and to prepare the group for the plenary discussion after. The plenary discussion provided a venue for students and other guest to ask questions for clarification. Youth representatives from KASAGANA KA and Childhope were encouraged to share their story and their experience in engaging with a Micro-Finance service which they did openly without hesitation. The following day, KASAGANA KA visited Childhope to provide orientation about their program and services with the current youth participants of the VocTech project together with the staff of Childhope. The activity was arranged by Ate Ester with KASAGANA KA through Ms. Me-an Ignacio. Objective of the activity was to provide the staff of Childhope and the current youth participants of VocTech an orientation about the Micro-Finance business of KASAGANA KA before their formal membership to its cooperative for better understanding.

Links:

• Empowering Street Youth Through Livelihood & Skills Training