June 2010

Operations Manager, Nataliya is in the Phillippines with WorldReach visiting OP projects and CBN Philippines' projects as well. She's becoming better acquainted with the staff and discussing the vision of how we can more positively affect the lives of children in their country by working together.

While there, she met some young mothers w/babies who beg on the streets. Rather than give them money, she asked if they were serious about getting help and changing their lives (she felt she needed to earn their trust, that she was serious about helping them, but they needed to be serious about wanting to make a difference in their lives).

She fed them, took them to her hotel and had them bathe and provided them with new, clean clothes. One of the moms (Nita) kept asking if we'd see each other again and we agreed to meet next Sunday morning, so I can visit the place where she lives and meet her brother. I already talked to our Manila staff about coming with me next Sunday.

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A former Spanish Colony, the Philippines has been a self-governing country since 1935.

The government has experienced many troubled administrations over the years, including a number of scandals affecting the Marcos’ Regime. Decades of Muslim terrorist attacks have led to on-again, off-again peace talks with the government in power.

Poverty has been a long standing problem in this country, with large numbers of families living well below the poverty level. The struggle with the terrorists has helped to add to both the poverty of this country and the orphan population.

Some of the major garbage dumps in the country are actually occupied by squatters living in thrown-together shacks right in the dumps.

Because of the extremely poor conditions a large portion of the population lives with, Malaria, Dengue Fever and all forms of waterborne and food borne illnesses. These conditions are exacerbated by the fact that 30% of the country is illiterate.

Orphan’s Promise has provided aid to a rescue home and placing agency for children up to 10 years of age. We’re also developing educational programs for orphans and poor children who live as squatters in and around the dump/landfill area known as the Payatas dump. The living conditions are deplorable. But, with the promise of even a basic education, there is hope for the future of these children.

Major Issues:

• Orphans
• Infectious disease
• Poverty