Street children
There are thousands of children living in the streets of Manila who have broken all bonds with their families. Victims of violence and of drugs, they survive by begging, by stealing, by prostitution… living completely in the margins of society.
The foundation « Tulay Ng Kabataan » (a bridge for the children in Philippino) offers them a complete structure that supports their social rehabilitation:
- Reception centers for those coming directly from the streets
- Bridge classes to give them an informal education including artistic and scholarly activities in order to help bring them some stability
- Residences for those that can’t be reconciled with their families. They are then enrolled in the education program.
- A home for the mentally handicapped street children.
- Professional occupational training and apprenticeships for the older street children that can’t return to school.
- In 2004, the « street child » program, which until this time provided services only for boys (the vast majority of street children); extended its services to include girls with the opening of a new center for girls.
