To help more street children to help themselves

Along with the government, Childhope Philippines, a non-government organization, creates initiatives to uphold, protect, and promote the welfare of children’s rights, particularly children in the streets. To help improve the quality of life for those in the low-income sector, one of their methods is to offer any form of assistance, especially to the family of their beneficiaries through their program Childhope Philippines Livelihood Assistance Program, or CHAP.

The Story of Obana Family

One of the many beneficiaries of Childhope Philippines is Josie, a 39-year-old solo parent to three children. All of her children have different fathers, and no one offered her any spousal support, especially financially. This resulted to Josielyn having to raise the children by herself.

Since their source of livelihood was affected by the global pandemic, the responsibilities she was already carrying alone became even greater. She had no idea, though, that the place where she had watched her children’s hopes and dreams fade would one day become their beacon of hope.

While working as a street vendor in front of LRT 1- Central Station near Universidad de Manila, she met Childhope Philippines social workers, who convinced her two kids to attend their learning sessions on the streets and later become beneficiaries. Since her children are active Childhope participants, Josielyn was able to take part in the livelihood program. This gave access to the livelihood training, seminars, and all the help she and her children are receiving from the organization, in addition to the financial aid and grocery packages given to her family. Additionally, Childhope keeps molding her kids into more respectable, goal-oriented people.

Her gratitude to the brim, Josielyn reflects in Filipino, “Malaking tulong ang Childhope dahil hindi nila kami pinabayaan lalo na ni (CHAP social worker) Fidel. Sila ang mga naging susi sa pagtulong sa aming mag-iina para mabigyan kami ng puhunan para makapagsimula muli sa buhay.”

(“Childhope was a big help for us because they never wavered their support, especially social worker Fidel. They were the ones who served as beacons for our family, giving us enough capital to begin again.”)

It’s never easy to be a single parent like Josie, especially given that she came from an underprivileged family. To help her raise her children in the manner that every kid deserves, Childhope Philippines, along with its staff, social workers, donors, and street educators, became her partner.

Childhope Philippines’ KalyEskwela Program

Childhope Philippines also has a comprehensive street education project in Metro Manila called Street Education and Protection (STEP) program that provides basic but urgent needs to support and ensure the continuous and holistic learning and development of its street children participants.

Under this project is the “KalyEskwela,” which translates to “school on the streets,” in an effort to deliver education to the street children. Classes are held in mobile vans equipped with multimedia technology. Street children and youth under the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program of the government receive instruction from street educators while working through modules. Likewise, this street child program enables kids to return to regular education. The program offers vocational and technical skill training to older kids so they can support themselves and their families financially.

As stated previously, Obana’s children are also beneficiaries of Childhope’s STEP program. According to her, once her children were chosen as Childhope’s recipients, a significant change occurred, particularly in the attitudes and behavior of her kids. They are now able to distinguish between right and wrong. She also mentioned that she improved her knowledge and understanding on how to guide her children and learned the proper way to approach them.

All the wisdom and knowledge that she learned from the activities, meetings and seminars will be planted in the deepest part of her heart, where it will blossom and serve as an instrument for promoting the rights and welfare of children.

From nothing to something—Josie is now someone who is capable of supporting her children in realizing their goals and developing into capable citizens who will pass on the goodness that was previously shared with them and extend it from generation to generation.

In order to ensure the wellbeing of street youth, organizations like Childhope Philippines provide livelihood initiatives for the disadvantaged sector of society. Childhope also offers the broadest program areas in terms of geographic reach, serving around 1,000 to 1,200 street children annually in 15 regions throughout 6 Metro Manila cities.

Change the Lives of Indigent Families and Bring Hope to Their Future

The current problems that the poor face make it simple for them to abandon hope. However, there is a glimmer of hope for change thanks to organizations like Childhope Philippines, whose goal is to help the poor through community livelihood assistance programs.

Give more street children a chance at a better future! Contribute to our cause by giving a little of your time, energy, and wisdom. You can apply to be a volunteer with us or make a donation to help us improve more programs for street kids’ livelihood and well-being. For more information about us, get in touch with us right now. You can also follow us on Facebook for more updates on our programs.

MANILA, Philippines – More out-of-school youth (OSY) in Manila City will be given opportunities to learn and earn through Project Bamboo, a partnership project funded by the Asian Community Center (ACC21) for the empowerment of street youth in Metro Manila through alternative education, service skills, and livelihood trainings. Childhope Philippines is one of the organizations in the Philippines that have been assisted by ACC21 in implementing their Project Bamboo program. This education program aims to provide opportunities for education, entrepreneurship, employment, and civic engagement to OSYs.

Recognition Day

Thirteen OSYs who had been receiving technical-vocational training for the previous six months graduated and received their certificates on October 5. They successfully completed the Barista and Food and Beverage (F&B) courses. According to Mr. Amante, Project Bamboo’s project coordinator, graduates will be connected to local businesses for job opportunities as well as other organizations and offices for further education and entrepreneurship opportunities.

One of the F&B graduates, Joan, stated that after completing the course, she felt more confident in applying for jobs to help support her sister’s education. “My plan was to pursue a college education but there were challenges so I tried this opportunity. To my fellow youth, don’t lose hope. Grab opportunities like this for us to learn and have a brighter future,” Joan said.

Jex, a young father with one daughter, said he is hopeful that he can provide a good future for his family as a beneficiary of the program. “This program is a big help for me to reach my dreams for a good future,” he said.

Education Programs Aimed to Strengthen Youth Development Alliance

Having the valuable experience of working with Childhope in the past years, ACC21 voluntarily joined and started a partnership project with the organization; which is armed with long-term experiences, know-how, and vision in organizing and rolling out projects for street children.

Formerly known as Street Youth Empowerment Project, Project Bamboo provides street youth with the opportunity to address their economic needs in less, if not non-hazardous ways. It also aims to provide street youth with vocational and technical skills that would allow them to become gainfully employed or to establish their own business enterprise in the future. These will help them to become financially independent while they are on the streets and when they finally decide to leave the streets and be on their own.

Moreover, the project will also be incorporated into already-existing interventions provided by Childhope for a more holistic approach to help street youth to break the cycle of poverty. With this assistance, more than 100 upskilled OSYs are now employed, starting businesses, and continuing their education since Project Bamboo began.

During the Project Bamboo graduation ceremony, Mr. Ito, CEO and President of ACC21, pledged his full support to the collaboration for the OSYs to prosper and move towards improving their well-being despite the hazards of poverty.

“I look forward to a much stronger and lasting solidarity in the future after this batch of graduates who are now prepared to meet the challenges ahead, a second chance that will build themselves to live comfortably like all the others who have specialized themselves on their own chosen careers in the academic work,” Ito said.

Aiming for Sustainable Health and Education Programs

Childhope ensures the continued delivery of its health, livelihood, and education programs and services for street children through different fundraising strategies; as well as grant proposal writing to other funding agencies.

Childhope and ACC21 are committed to working with different organizations, companies, and institutions which provide financial and in-kind support to the project and to the street youth participants; which may include free training and availability of resource persons. At the same time, both organizations will jointly and separately continue to conduct advocacy sessions to create awareness among the different stakeholders who can provide continuous assistance to the project.

Finally, this joint proposed project mainly focuses on ensuring the financial sustainability of its beneficiaries by providing them with vocational and technical skills as well as livelihood trainings to help them earn income and become self-sustaining. In the long-run, successful graduates of the project will also be requested to become resource persons to new batch of participants, which will help us to ensure the continued implementation of the proposed joint project.

Support Out-of-School Youth Education Programs Today

Our out-of-school youth have a hope and a future. Through our partners’ kindness, we were able to bring aid, security, and education to these kids. Be a part of this family today and leave a mark to these OSY’s lives. Support our initiative to provide quality education and together, let’s bring hope and a better life to them. Donate to Childhope Philippines now.

As part of Childhope Philippines’ ongoing commitment to empowering street youth in Metro Manila, Project Bamboo, formerly known as the Street Youth Empowerment Project, continues to educate and train Filipino street youth in areas such as alternative education and service skills.

Aside from alternative education and service skills, Project Bamboo also provides livelihood trainings for youth participants in business concepts that they can choose to start on their own.

Project Bamboo: A Closer Look

Project Bamboo provides street youth with the opportunity to address their economic needs in less, if not non-hazardous ways. It also aims to provide street youth with vocational and technical skills that would allow them to become gainfully employed or to establish their own business enterprise in the future. Among these include food processing, T-shirt printing, perfumery, and preparation of household items such as dishwashing liquids and fabric conditioners.

As for the facilitator and resource persons, those in charge of the livelihood trainings will be from partner nongovernment organizations that run social enterprises. They’ll also come from small businesses, owners who are willing to impart their knowledge and expertise on making different products which they sell for a living.

Finally, a livelihood fair will be conducted at the end of the trainings to allow the participants to showcase what they have learned and to allow them to practice skills in business.

Livelihood Fair 4.0

This year’s livelihood fair was held at the Manila-Sacramento Library in Paco, Manila, with 13 youth participants. The goal of this activity was for the participating youth and parents to become acquainted with basic entrepreneurship skills and to put what they have learned in their training into practice.

As for the project coordinators of the Project Bamboo, they see this event as an opportunity to showcase the fruit of their training of the youth participants. Mr. Melchor Amante, project coordinator sayid, “This initiative is a great opportunity for our youth participants wherein they could display they livelihood products and services of our program participants.”

Acknowledging the challenges the participants face in terms of the available resources, he added that the program aimed, “to show support since they have very limited access to a large market; as well as to encourage them to strive further in order to progress and achieve an improve quality of life.”

Among the items sold were T-shirts, face masks, dishwashing liquid, hand sanitizers, milk tea, rice cakes, fruit chips, and freshly baked cookies; as well as processed foods such as longganisa, tocino, and lumpianisa.

Support Project Bamboo and Our Other Livelihood Programs Today

With the current issues that trigger problems for the poor, it’s easy for them to lose hope. But having organizations such as like Childhope Philippines whose mission is to provide gives a glimpse of hope toward change. Be an agent of change today and leave a mark to other people’s lives. Support our initiative to provide quality education and together, let’s bring hope and a better life to them. Donate to Childhope Philippines now.

Childhope Philippines and Asian Community Center (ACC21) continue its mission in helping the street youth of Metro Manila by empowering them to change their lives better through engaging them in different livelihood/service skills training that will help them to have a sustainable job and have an income generating activities.

The selection of potential youth participants for the Project Bamboo, the new project name of Street Youth Empowerment Project / Vocational- Technical Skills Project, was done by the street educators. There were initial of 20 youth participants referred by the street educators from different areas in Manila, but only 15 street youth were only show interest and ensued to continue to join the Project Bamboo.

The new street youth participants composed of five females and ten male, ages 16 to 24 years old, are mostly come from Ermita and Caloocan area. Only one of participants is a street-based youth while the other participants are considered as community-based youth.

The duration of their training started last April 2022 and expected to finish by end of September 2022. And here are the highlights of their training from April 2022 to June 2022.

Skills for Life Session

The Skills for Life session is part of the preliminary activity wherein the street youth participants teach on how to communicate well to each other and able to know their strength and weaknesses.

This session allowed the participants to share their experiences in life without any hesitation and to learn from others’ life experience – that helped them release any guilt feelings from themselves. The topics that they went through are “Self -awareness”, “Inter Personal Relationship”, “Critical thinking”, “Problem Solving”, “Conflict Resolution”, “Coping with Emotions in a positive way”. These topics were able to prepare the participants with any challenges in life.

Fourteen (14) street youth participants attended the said session at Museo Pambata and the session was facilitated by Mr. Balaguer.

Financial Literacy Session

Street youth participants were taught how to manage and save money through a three-day Financial Literacy session held last May 27 to 29 and was facilitated by Ms. Sineneng. It aims to teach street youth participants to save money – a discipline and skill that will be required when they are helped to develop a vocational skill to eventually earn a living and leave the streets. Street youth who are not taught how to manage, value, and work for money lack the skills they need to be self-sufficient. This session has impact not only on the youth’s future finances, but also self-esteem, relationships, and overall enjoyment of life when he or she matures into adulthood.

The session also focused on how important to make their own journal where the participants can monitor their daily expenses. They learned also the difference between needs vs wants.

Entrepreneurship Session

This three-day session taught the street youth participants on how to become entrepreneurs with the tools and understanding of how to make their businesses a success. This session held at Museo Pambata and facilitated by Ms. Sineneng. The session are composed of different topics such as business management strategy, how to make a business plan, traditional and online marketing strategy, and how to understand the advantages and disadvantages of running a small business.

Values Formation Session

As part of their employability training, these street youth participants joined in a values formation session last June 22 at Museo Pambata, Manila City. This two-day session aims to develop youth's good values that will help shape them into a better person. We believe that youth have strengths and weaknesses, but the key is to help them define their own values and find what they love doing. The facilitator highlighted the importance of humility and faithfulness and to respect each one of them based on their faith and belief.

Through these efforts,Childhope Philippines will be able to encourage the street youth to start their own ventures and jobs. It aspires to give them hope to support themselves and their families using their skills. With the current issues that trigger problems for the street youth, it’s easy for them to lose hope. But having groups like Childhope Philippines whose mission is to that provide help for the poor gives a glimpse of hope towards change. Help more street children have a better future!

Amidst the Covid19 pandemic that struck the whole world, the vulnerable sectors of society, especially the poor and underprivileged, suffered greatly as their health, livelihood and education were negatively impacted. In the Philippines, a huge percentage of workers lost their jobs, bringing the unemployment rate to 6.6% or 3.27 million jobless Filipinos as of February 10, 2022. They are forced to rely on relief goods from the government and some private organizations. Living a hand-to-mouth existence before the pandemic, now they have no money or savings for food and medical expenses.

Based on our data, more than 60% of beneficiaries reported loss of income or difficulty in finding ways to earn. This is because the movement of people was limited, with us having one of the longest lockdowns in the world—affecting the ability to earn income as most of them rely on finding a means to earn money while roaming the streets of Metro Manila.  Food aid was available for a while, but it was not sufficient enough to sustain their families amidst the inability to earn income. Aside from food aid, they also expressed the need for monetary help, which they opt to use for paying rent and utilities. Although about 70% of them received financial aid from the government, the subsidy given was not enough for the duration of the lockdown, given that they do not have means to earn money at the moment.

Two years into the pandemic and nothing much has changed. Although the economy is slowly opening up due to lesser restrictions, the effects of the recession are far from being over—making the chances of finding employment and a means of living more difficult.

Activities implemented during the reporting period

Reporting period will be covering the last three (3) to four (4) months of the Street Youth Empowerment Project (SYEP) for the first batch of FY 2020 implementation.  During the reporting period, the country was still under a new normal situation due to the pandemic.  Covered months will be from December 2021 until March 2022.  

The first reporting month (December) had three (3) major activities to consider namely; Livelihood Training on T-Shirt and Mug Printing, Livelihood Training on Snack Making, Food Processing, Dishwashing Liquid, Hand Sanitizer and Bleach Making; and Entrepreneurship Session.  

Livelihood Training on T-Shirt and Mug Printing consist of three (3) sessions in all.  The first session was intended for an overview and lecture on the process of printing through the methods of silkscreen and sublimation.  Accordingly, silkscreen printing as an earlier process provides a more economical process for starters who are just starting a printing business.  Being economical, it allows the entrepreneur to invest only a small amount for the materials.  It also allows the person to really appreciate the product having prepared them meticulously to avoid mistakes and additional cost.  On the other hand, sublimation printing is a more recent development in the process of printing which requires equipment (heat press and computer printer).  Hence, it is more costly to invest in this kind of printing process but such provides for a more practical and fast way of finishing a volume of product in bulk.  The second and third sessions were intended for actual demonstration of the process of silkscreen and sublimation printing and actual hands on the process afterwards by the participants.

Livelihood Training on Snack Making taught the participants on how to make simple snacks to start a business consists of one (1) session.  Snacks that were introduced are “Turon w/ Cheese” (fried coated banana with sugar and cheese) and “Special Putobumbong” (steamed rice starch with cheese and condensed milk).  The two (2) snacks were popular snacks in the country but were introduced or prepared in a level-up way to be more marketable and appealing to consumers thereby, introducing a twist in presenting them.  The livelihood training on food processing consists of two (2) sessions (1 session for “tocino” and “longganisa” making ang 1 session for “siomai” making).  All these three (3) were the most popular processed meat products in the country that are commonly started as a business by many Filipinos, especially mothers.  After each livelihood session, food tasting followed whereby, staff of Childhope was invited to try the products for comment along with all the youth participants.  Livelihood training in dishwashing liquid soap, hand sanitizer, and bleach making were taught in the last part consisting of two (2) sessions.  The three (3) were selected as the focus of training based on their everyday usability and high demand at this time of pandemic situation in the country.

Entrepreneurship session was the last major activity facilitated in December 2020 which allows the youth participants to learn basic knowledge about Entrepreneurship such as: (1) definition of Entrepreneurship; (2) significant characteristic of an entrepreneur; (3) difference between a businessman and entrepreneur and (4) the three elements to be considered in putting up a small business.  During the discussion, participants shared their excitement and expressed their interest in putting up a small business because of the new skills that they have learned from the previous skills training activity.  However, they were quite hesitant if they could really do it because they are concerned about the start-up capital.  Although there were some participants who are unlikely to become entrepreneurs, still they remain firm that whatever inputs that they have learned in the course will be a great help for them to become successful.  At the end of the session, the facilitator processed the emotion of participants by asking them when they consider themselves as successful.  The youth responded with the following answers (summed up): (1) If they have put up their own business and paid all their debt (2) If they have built their own houses (3) If they are earning more than the basic wages and (4) If they are able to apply what they have learned from VocTech sessions in their day-to-day living.

Skills for Employability Session were facilitated last January 28-29, 2022 at Childhope Philippines office.  The session taught the youth participants the skills in applying for a job including the skill in making their very own resume.  Moreover, youth participants learned the various skills that an applicant must possess in applying for a job.  During the session, the facilitator discovered that some of the youth participants already had experience either in applying for a job or working in an establishment.  Hence, the training gave them an opportunity to be aware of their loopholes in job application preparation particularly on job interviews.  Second day session was about resume making and mock job interview demonstration.  Youth participants were observed to be confident in finishing their resumes maybe because most of them were used to computer operation.  However, youth were observed quite anxious in their mock job interview demonstration with a bit of nervousness of what to expect.  What added to their tension was the participation of an interviewer not known to the youth that was invited, making the youth feel what it’s like in applying for a job.  Nevertheless, they still tried it and pushed through without any of them backing out which later made them happy and proud with what they have done or accomplished that day.  

Livelihood fair was a new activity introduced in the project this year which aims for the youth participants to experience other means of marketing their product as entrepreneurs if ever they’ve decided to start their own business.  Also, the objective of the activity was to showcase the different products brought about by their participation in livelihood training.  Prior to the said event, pre-online selling of the products was facilitated ahead of the scheduled fair on social media (Facebook) to promote not only the products but the event as well.

Prior to the above activities mentioned, institution of preparation for the activities was facilitated including but not limited to purchase of materials; preparation of forms needed which will be accomplished by youth, printing of materials for the workshop; and others.  Facilitators of the activities were coordinated as regards the schedules in order to avoid conflict with their other concerns.  They were as well communicated about the materials that they need for preparation.  Preparation of budget proposals for the activities including check requisition and encashment were also facilitated.

Lessons Learned and Realization

Youth participants have gained their confidence to become an entrepreneur because they believe that they are equipped enough to try their luck in putting up their own businesses, since they already have the skills to make some products.  They likewise recognized the essence of the skills training and other sessions that the VocTech Project had provided for them to acquire and enhance their competence. 

The common goal in life by most of the youth participants is to get out of poverty. Nobody mentioned finishing their studies and getting a decent job afterwards, which is the usual answer as well. With this, the gradual change in perspective of the youth about education can be seen. Slowly the younger generation appreciates and recognizes that learning is part of the development process, but it is not limited to formal schooling because there are many ways to learn and fulfill their dreams.

Participants have certainly improved their self-confidence after attending the session on skills for employability. Evidence of this was observed during the introductory session where most of them are quite nervous in introducing themselves.  When asked about it, most of them were hesitant to speak up.  Along the way in the session, some of the youth participants shared that they have already experienced working but only through referral. They have not experienced applying for a specific role in a company with job interviews and the like.  Thus, they appreciate the opportunity of having attended the session so that they will be guided in their future job application.

Perhaps starting is the hardest part in any journey. However, gaining support and skills aid through livelihood programs makes it easier for our street youth to strive for progress. Through the  livelihood programs , they were able to gain knowledge which they could use to make money for their needs. Moreover, these projects also help street youth to gain viable profit and provide for their families in the long run.

With the current issues that trigger problems for the poor, it’s easy for them to lose hope. But having groups like Childhope Philippines whose mission is to provide help for the poor gives a glimpse of hope towards change. Help more street children have a better future! Join our cause by sharing a bit of your time, effort, and knowledge. You may apply as ou rvolunteers o rdonate to create more livelihood programs for the wellness of street youth! Contact us today to learn more about us, or our Facebook page for program updates.