In November 2019 we opened a new building ensuring the safe accommodation, support and learning environment for some of the most vulnerable young girls from or around the old city landfill of Cagayan De Oro, The Philippines.
These girls are victims of serious abuse in both the domestic environment and from within the community at large. Prior to being taken into care the girls were at very serious risk of further abuse, kidnapping and human trafficking.
The girls are largely from the old waste picker community that was located on and around the 17 hectare garbage dumping site of CDO that has now been converted into a more environmentally friendly space.
Whilst this is a huge step forward for the area, the community has had to move to other landfills in a effort to secure income. In this depressed area, approximately 1,900 socially deprived people are living in about 350 families. .
They are working under extremely unhealthy and dangerous conditions and without any social securities.
The children who work in these environments often have no access to education or drop out from school due to truancy or early marriage.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
The primary aim of this project is to tackle the immediate and urgent problem of abused girls having nowhere or no one to turn to in this highly impoverished and deeply unequal society.
Some friends have taken up residence and the girls love to keep them safe and fed.
The new building and its staff will offer refuge, counselling, support and rehabilitation. The objective of the project is to help girls with the next steps of their childhood or journey into adulthood, via placements in safer family environments, the assistance of arranging long term care or providing access to further education and healthcare.
The project will be utilising the tried and tested method of raising the children in small family like units rather than moving the girls into an orphanage.
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