A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste
Every year, thousands of young and healthy minds are going to waste in the Philippines. Of the 1,787,500 illiterate people in the Philippines 50% are children. Life of the poor is extremely difficult in the Philippines; however, with your help we can provide a much-needed opportunity for the children of poor families to get out of poverty by obtain an education.
The sad fact is that even thought the parents want to have their child go to school they cannot afford the tuition to keep their child in school. Most parents are living on less than $2.00 per day. Their diet consists mainly of rice with an occasional bit of fish or meat mixed in the rice. There is not enough money for food let alone anything else, including their children’s education. More than 10% of Filipino children are compelled to work so as to support the needs of their family.
Many come to the Philippine capital of Manila, with hopes of finding a better life. But like so many others before them, all they found were the realities of a harsh life and survival without work. Within days they end up on the streets, begging. We are helping the children in the smaller cities, where they already live, keeping them from traveling in desperation to a larger city where crime and homelessness are prevalent.
The estimated total number of Filipino street children varies. The figures range from a low 100,000 to a high (but raw) figure of 250,000-300,000 nationwide. According to Amnesty International, over 50,000 children in the Philippines have been arrested and detained since 1995. Torture, rape and other forms of cruel and inhumane treatment are a part of everyday life for those children while they’re incarcerated. Most are charged with minor crimes, such as petty theft, sniffing solvents and vagrancy.
Filipino youths work as garbage scavengers in public dumps. The working conditions are utterly filthy and often have serious effects on the health of these individuals.
Explosive news: Death toll rises in Manila garbage dump collapse. At least 115 bodies were recovered and several hundred still missing in a 25 acre, seven-story high garbage pile collapse in Quezon City, Philippines on July 10, 2013.
Other children employed in rural sectors work nonstop on sugar, rice and tea plantations or in the fishing sector.
We believe that world change begins with educating children. We are committing our attention on two key areas that will have the greatest impact: literacy and gender equality in education. The best way for them to escape poverty is through education.
In the Philippines, we are working in very small cities untouched by mainstream organizations. We do not want to overlook any child, no matter what their circumstances but there is only so much we can do alone. Your gift of $.37 a day just $11.00 per month will assure that all of the new applications will be approved.
If you would like to make a contribution toward our goal of greater sustainability, by becoming (or continuing as) a friend of The Hesser Foundation, we would very much appreciate your generosity. It’s easy to give, donate online just click on http://bit.ly/1MXTnI7
Our offices are donated and we do not take a salary. We have added local non-paid volunteers for community-level interventions, as we feel it is the best way for lasting change.
In the Philippines your money will go further. We have always relied on a dedicated team of volunteer cast and crew members, and an equally dedicated corps of patrons; people like you who make it possible change a child’s life in the Philippines. Thank you, thank you, and thank you!