Catholic Child Sponsorship Programs Make a Difference for Philippines
Just beyond the upscale neighborhoods of Manila in the Philippines, lies the slum of Tondo. With more than two million residents per square mile, it is the most densely populated area of land in the world. Living on a former landfill, children and their families struggle for survival in Tondo, scavenging through garbage to find recyclable materials they can sell. Children suffer from poor air quality and dangerous living conditions. You make a significant impact to a child's quality of life when you sponsor a child with Chalice. "Because of you, Tondo has turned into one of God's miracle machines,” said Eunice Cheng-Chua, Chalice Site Director of Tondo.
In 2013, Chalice opened a support site to help the children living in Tondo. Before sponsorship, most children didn't attend school. They had to scavenge through the landfill for recyclables to help their family earn enough money for food. Thanks to Chalice sponsors and dedicated workers on the ground, nearly 700 children are now excelling in their studies. No longer having to work, and being fed a nutritious diet, they are able to concentrate on their school work. In 2016, 98% of students passed their grade, with 130 children receiving various academic and behavioral awards.
Among its many accomplishments, the Tondo Site has worked hard to improve the health and nutrition of children. These kids are healthy even though they live in congested areas without proper ventilation, sanitation and clean water for drinking or bathing. With semi-annual medical check-ups required for each child in our program, health concerns are addressed and treated in a timely manner.
Many non-sponsored children in Tondo are suffering from the effects of malnutrition but thanks to funds from donations to the Chalice Children Nutrition Program, a meal program was implemented. By June of 2016, the program was feeding 200 children daily for lunch. In July, the number of children receiving lunch grew to more than 600 children daily in five different areas. Eunice said it is truly a blessing from God to see the children gain weight and become healthier.
She expressed these sentiments to supporters of Tondo children in Chalice’s Philippine Catholic child sponsorship programs: "Thank you very much for giving our children and their families hope. For giving our children back their childhood, for bringing smiles back onto their faces, for restoring their health and their faith. For making them feel they are the most important person in the whole wide world, for seeing the beautiful in them and for educating their parents, freeing them from the bondage of the unknown. Most especially, thank you for believing in them. May the Good Lord continue to bless you and your family with His peace, love and abundance."
If you would like to make a difference in the life of a child living in poverty in the Philippines, please considering sponsoring a child through Chalice US.