A transitional settlement popularly known as ‘the bunkhouses’ were built near the coast after the typhoon to house the many people whose homes were destroyed there. The conditions are suitable for a place people should live for maybe a month or two, but 20 months later, the environment is taking its toll on the people. Our intern team was able to offer an after-school program for 90 minutes every day for a week. While the children had a great time and were able to receive a meal as part of their participation, we were struck by the need for the residents to receive education and empowerment that can allow them to not feel stuck in living situation that produces a myriad of challenges for adults and children alike.
We met Jovic Roldan in 2007 when he was living in a squatter village outside a dumpsite, where he was employed to sift through trash for 12 hours a day collecting plastic and trash to sell for payment of $2 a day. Jovic’s energy and joy against the backdrop of this environment impressed us and we have been working with him since. He joined us for the entirety of the 3 week internship and was a great asset in working with children.
Ty and Meg Mathews met Jackie Perez (left) in 2013 when they visited the bars in Barrio Barreto to learn more about the sex slave industry. Jackie had left her home province to begin dancing at a club and raising money. After meeting with her a few times, Ty and Meg learned of her aspirations to be a midwife and raised support to stop dancing and attending midwifery school. We had the opportunity to visit Jackie during this trip and encourage her as she finishes up her studies and begins gaining experience attending births.
In the States, we don't see where our trash is ultimately deposited. In the Philippines, however, we have learned about and served in multiple housing areas on the perimeter of dumpsites wherein people have resorted to digging through trash for hours on end to provide for their families. Just to the left of this photo is a small settlement of houses that is home to about 150 families. Walking through the community, it is difficult to take a single step without stepping on trash. We asked Jovic, who grew up in a similar environment to this, what toll it takes on the people. He replied, "When you grow up in it, it just feels normal, the smell is what you have always smelled. But I thank God that he has given me a hope beyond this struggle."
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