Kids in Garbage
John Van Lahr is a past DG who is now in the Collingwood Club. Rotary is a great part of his life - he's a major donor and a benefactor. His wife of 40 years died in 1998 and in 2002 he met Cora, the Past President of a Club in Cebu, the Philippines. She's now in Collingwood too but they both are commited to helping the poor in Cora's home country.
John thanked the Club for the opportunity to speak and said he was impressed at the contributions of the Club - the money raised and the donations made.
He said the Philippines is a nation of 7,000 islands with one more at low tide. He toured a variety of potential projects in the area and was struck most profoundly by the families that lived in shacks at the town dump scavenging for reclyclables and food, all while maintaining high spirits. The kids have to scavenge for the family and have no time for school. John decided then that someone had to go out into the rich world and tell people about it.
He and Cora have been working through matching grants - so far 6 Clubs and 3 individuals have been co-operating. They were working to help the kids learn when the government closed the dump and, paradoxically, made things worse. The families were relocated to a place where there was nothing for them. So they had to start a feeding program.
Within 3 months they had most of their kids off the malnourished list and up to almost normal. The feeding part of the program has now been taken over by a Club from Australia.
John and Cora and their associates established a weekly Clinic and built a small hospital. Then they started an Early Development program and now they are promoting literacy. If they can't keep the kids there and give them food and shelter they end up on the streets begging. So the Clubs here and 5 in the Cebu area are working on a Back to School program. Eduction improves the emotional and moral life of the students, giving them confidence and the gift of dignity. It is important for them to know that people care for them.
44% of all Philippinos make less that 50 pesos a day which is less than $2.00. 10% never go to school at all. 60% of those who do never get past gr. 6. Only 10% of the ones that do finish. Glue sniffing is endemic - it kills hunger pangs. They turn to the dumps or the streets and they end up as criminals or terrorists.
Of any 6 kids now, one will drop out to a life of crime, 2 will die before they turn 19, 1 drops out to become a casual labourer, 1 may become a cycle driver and 1 finishes school and becomes productive.
The Back to School sponsors here fund a program there that sees mentors deal with the kids and the parents and liaise with the teachers. $35.00 a year funds a kid at school. They are working on an e-learning project to help older youth who have already dropped out.
Dean pointed out that the economy has affected the ability of the Foundation to make matching grants and some projects may become problematic. Cora agreed but said most funding is now coming from individual Rotarians through the $35.00 a year. They have about 500 kids now and they need sponsors.