PROJECT OVERVIEW
By volunteering with street children, you will provide inspiration, education and support to some of the Philippines most under-served and underprivileged children.
Sadly, it is not uncommon in the Philippines to see children begging for food and sleeping on the sidewalk. Some of these children live at home but spend their day on the street instead of attending school.
Others have left home permanently. As international food prices grow and little is done to improve the lives of socioeconomically stressed families, the street children ‘problem’ continues to grow with yet more and more children appearing on the streets of Tacloban and Ormoc City.
These children come from dysfunctional homes where typically there is poverty, violence, neglect, or addiction issues. Many have left home to escape from abusive treatment. Others have resorted to begging in the streets because there is no food in the home. Street children typically sniff rugby (a brand of glue) to overcome hunger pains and cope with depression. Most of the street children are malnourished and in poor health, and vulnerable to sexual exploitation and recruitment by street gangs.
By volunteering to provide education and recreational services for these children you will be contributing to our efforts to improve the lives of some of the least fortunate children in the Philippines.
Volunteers will be placed in a shelter/rehabilitation facility for street children in Tacloban City or in Ormoc City that is operated by their respective social welfare and development agency.
WHY WE NEED YOU?
In most cases, the street children have not had a nurturing upbringing, have dropped out of school, and are typically in poor health. They have not had many positive role models in their lives, and many of them will welcome the attention and services offered by a volunteer. Others may be less trusting of adults and will be more challenging to work with. You will work closely with the city government street children social welfare program. By working with these youths in a caring and non-judgmental manner, you will demonstrates that adults can be trusted and respected.
Most importantly, Volunteer for the Visayans (VFV) hopes that its volunteers can transfer their specialist skills, interests and good attitudes to the street children and corroboratively think of long term strategies to address the growing issue. Most of all, VFV wants to recruit role models for the children to emphasize the importance of obtaining mainstream education and to reduce the development of bad habits.
This project works with a very difficult subject matter and brings the volunteer into daily contact with some of the Philippines least fortunate children. Due to the nature of the project and the commitment needed, VFV requests that you stay for a minimum of four weeks when participating on the Volunteer with Street Children project.
PROJECT FACTS
Project Duration: 4 weeks (minimum) – 6 months (maximum)
Cost: $1,190 US Dollars for 4 weeks, $120 for each week thereafter.
Availability: Project Open All Year
Location: Tacloban City and Ormoc City
Requirements: Minimum age 18
Training: Pre-Departure information sent during application process; in-depth local orientation and project orientation conducted upon arrival.
Experience: No formal training or qualifications are required; however, volunteers for this project must be at least 18 years old and volunteer for at least one month.
Working Hours: 08:00am – 12 noon, Monday to Friday (minimum)
Activities: Conduct both educational and recreational activities such as arts & crafts, sports, music and dance.
What is included: Airport Reception, Accommodation with local host family, 2 meals a day (breakfast and dinner), program orientation, Waray Waray language lesson, 24 hour local staff support
What’s Not Included: International or Domestic Airfares, Insurance or Visa