Provide Protection Through an Education Program

As poverty remains to be one of the biggest developmental issues in the country, poverty reduction continues to be at the core of Childhope Philippines services mostly for the children living in the streets. Over the years, development processes became more participatory especially for the stakeholders. As the country aims for steady and inclusive economic and social growth, The Childhope Philippines ensures continued support to the street Filipino youth. Thus, by giving them more opportunities to build a bright future for themselves, their families and their communities, they will have a greater contribution to poverty reduction.

Street children comprise about 1-3% of the children and youth population of the major cities in the Philippines. Metro Manila and the National Capital Region (NCR) have an estimated 30,000 children on the streets, while nationwide; some 250,000 street children are believed to be plying the streets of major urban centers.

While on the streets, these children are exposed to very harsh and dangerous elements. They suffer from hunger, cold, sickness, abuse, and exploitation. Among the street children, the street girls are the most vulnerable to maltreatment, sexual abuse and exploitation. 30% of street children are girls.

Most street children are child workers, working and/or living on the streets and engaged in vending, car washing, scavenging, begging, peddling drugs, prostitution and petty theft. Boys, just as often as girls, are sexually abused. These children are often in conflict with the law and the authorities.

Childhope Philippines continues to be on the frontline in establishing a safer environment for the street children, empowering them together with their families, and ensuring them to gain access to a more developmental and productive future.

Through the aid of Childhope’s banner program, the Street Education and Protection Program, the street children are offered protection from abuse, opportunities to develop knowledge about their rights and responsibilities and the risks encountered on the streets. The program also aims to assist and provide the children with their most urgent, individual needs such as food, health and medical care, paralegal advice, counselling and protection, and support them in building a better life for themselves by providing access to education and vocational training and ultimately helping them to leave the streets. Childhope Philippines prioritize abandoned, abused and neglected street children who live alone on the streets and do not have any connection with their families and we go to where the children are, running many of our programs on the streets.

Childhope wants all the street children to have an opportunity to access well integrated education and childcare provision. Childhope believes that all children should be able to enjoy their life and learning, growing healthy, and achieve their best potential. Childhope are fully committed to continue to develop their knowledge and skills to meet children’s unique needs.

In reaching out to the street children, Childhope Philippines know that they cannot do it alone. They believe that every individual can support their advocacy in small or immense cooperation.

We invite you to be part of the change. You can give, you can advocate, and you can volunteer. Let’s save the children out of streets.

For more information, email us at childhope@hope.org.ph or childhopeasia@yahoo.com. You can contactus +63 2 563 4647 / 561 7118 or +63 917 501 0899.

Links:

• For more information, visit our website.