Terror with long-term consequences

Trauma at home

Poverty, lack of education, alcohol and drug abuse, and in some cases personal experience of abuse often make parents a threat to their children. Assaults by parents or supporting the sexual exploitation of their children for money are a tragic normality in the slums. This is also encouraged by the fact that, according to the Philippine Anti-Rape Act of 1997, the current minimum age of consent for sexual activity is 12 years old. This is one of the lowest in the world. Adults can therefore abuse children aged 12 and above without hesitation and claim that it was consensual.

Trauma on the streets

Our daycare center in Tondo and our two children's centers have become places of refuge for such children. The kids' stories are often the same: abused, often by their fathers, they leave their homes. In order to survive on the streets, they join street gangs, sometimes as young as 9 years old or even younger. Young girls and boys prostitute themselves so they can buy something to eat. Girls have boyfriends at an early age and become pregnant by them or through their »work«. They abandon their children because they cannot or do not want to care for them. Kids who have to live this kind of life and reach their teens are almost impossible to rehabilitate. They have become too accustomed to this miserable life on the streets.

Healing at the House of Hope

Our small center in Tondo has become a place of refuge for such boys and girls. Here they receive food, can wash themselves, and we offer them counseling. And thankfully, there are always children who want to escape life on the streets and accept our help.

Rube Lou ran away from home at the age of nine because she could no longer bear her father's abuse. She lived under bridges, in garbage, and sought shelter with various street vendors who provided her with food. At the age of eleven, she came to our day care center in Tondo for the first time and asked for food. She accepted our offer to live with us in the children's home. This marked the beginning of her journey of change.

Ailyn and Mariza were abandoned as infants. They were fortunate and were taken in by a family. However, this promising start led to ongoing sexual abuse by their foster father. It was only when the victims, aged around 11, confided in other children, who in turn informed their parents, and finally police was called. Ailyn and Mariza were rescued from this unbearable situation and came to our children's village through social services. The physical damage suffered by such children often only becomes apparent later on. When the girls are 14 or 15 years old, we realize how many behavioral and thought patterns need to be corrected. Finding the right balance of sensitivity, understanding, and strictness poses challenges for our staff. That is why I seek out psychologists and therapists for consultation. Anyone who has expertise in this area and would like to help is welcome to come and train our staff in the Philippines.

Focus on children

Countless children are unwanted, neglected, abandoned, abused. Many of them end up on the streets of Manila. Seeing their misery breaks our heart. Our mission is to find these kids and give them a new home. A home where they are loved and cared for. Our greatest joy is when we can find a family that is willing to take care or adopt a child.

Anthony was only a few days old when he was simply left next to a church and left to look after himself. Thank God he was found in time and came to us via the social services. Since nothing was known about him or his origins, he was named after the church where he was found (Church of St. Anthony of Padua). Several months and a lot of paperwork later, we were able to accept him into our adoption program. The little guy is healthy and developing well. He is a bright and charming boy. We are overjoyed that after two years with us, he has found new parents.

Immediately after his birth, Isidore was left to die on a pile of rubbish not far away from a small church. He was still covered in blood when he was found. It was a shocking sight. Discarded like a piece of dirt. Simply unbelievable and sad. It was his loud, heart-wrenching cries in the early hours of the morning that caught the attention of the pastor of that small church community. He immediately took care of the baby and handed him over to the authorities. And so little Isidore came to us. We were able to find an adoptive family for him too. We were so excited. Especially because his new parents are devout Christians. It is always our prayer that our children will be placed with good (Christian) families. Isidore's new parents prepared this adoption in prayer for many years. They wanted God to choose one for them. There was great joy on all sides: God answered all of our prayers.

The misery and suffering of so many children is overwhelming. I am grateful that we are able to help some of them time and again.