NEW LIFE MINISTRIES, INC.
Street Children Program
We take pleasure in requesting support for New Life Ministries, Inc.,. is a ministry to mobilise efforts to protect and promote the rights of all children, especially the right to receive a free, meaningful education and to be free from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be harmful to the child's physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development."
New Life Ministries, Inc. is a ministry born out of hope and the need felt by thousands of people across the Mindanao - the desire to set children free from illiteracy, servitude and poverty.
Statistics
Highly-visible' children in the streets: Mindanao regional totals: 22,556 (highly visible), 138,328 (estimated total). Approximately 70% are boys. [2]
Defining Filipino street children
According to the our study there are three different categories of street children: children on the streets, children of the streets and completely abandoned children.
"Children on the streets" make up approximately 75% of the street children in the Philippines. These children work on the streets but do not live there, having a home to return to after working. Some of them even continuing to attend school while working long hours on the streets.
In contrast, "Children of the street" on the other hand make their homes on the street. They make up 25%-30% of the street children in the Philippines. These children often create a sort of family among fellow street children. Some of them still have family ties, but do not visit them and some even see these ties as bad.
"Completely abandoned children" have no family ties and are entirely on their own for physical and psychological survival. They make up about 5%-10% of the street children in the Philippines. [3] [4]
The Davao City Local Development Plan for Children (2003-2007) says that in 2000, Davao had 1,505 street children. This figure more than doubled the following year to 3,213. According to the child-rights group Tambayan, most of the city's street children belong to gangs, of which there are now some 150.[8]
Problems facing street children
A study of street children in Davao City reveals important insights into the situation of street children. We summarizes the situation as follows:
* Poor health and nutrition. Street children suffer from poor health and malnutrition as a result of poor diets and long waking hours spent at work. They are also highly susceptible to infectious diseases, and experience poor dental health.
* Interrupted education as a consequence. While many may be currently enrolled, these children have stopped schooling at one time or other in the past, usually at the intermediate grade levels. Children who live completely away from their families face the the greatest risk of being out-of-school.
* Urban poor children spend many hours on the streets, often longer than would other children and maybe even longer than adults in the formal labor sector. They both work and play on the streets. Those from child-headed households also use the street as their homes.
* Working children on the city streets engage in simple jobs, such as vending and other simple services for commuters, the retail and transport industry, or in scavenging and begging. A few admit to be entertainers. For these types of work, they are paid on piece work or daily basis, usually earning no more than P20 -P50 per day.
Because of their conditions, the street children are very susceptible to malnutrition, sickness, substance abuse, gambling, sexual abuse and exploitation, and sexually transmitted diseases, physical injuries due to vehicular accidents, street fights, and harassment by the police and extortionists. In order to survive these situations, they end up going with gangs for support and protection. However, it is the gangs that expose and influence them to commit petty crimes, and may be later, eventually lead them to do bigger crimes or early death.
The Ministry's programs include:
Balik-Loob sa Diyos (Back to God) Program - seeks to bring the children and their families to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through regular prayer, Bible studies and worship meetings, talks, counselling and community building. To provide formation in their Christian life.
Balik-Kalusugan (Back to Health) Program - seeks to provide regular health care through medical and dental check-ups and other means of support as needed.
Balik-Bahay (Back to Home) or Shelter Program - seeks to bring the street children back to their homes and families if possible and to provide a decent home for those in need.
The Ministry Goal and Plan ( on Shelter Program)
The Ministry's goal is to rehabilitate, ensure and sustain the integration of young street girls below 18 years, and girls who have been sexually abused or prostituted with their families, if feasible, and to society in general.
The ministry plan to provides the street girls and sexually abused children with temporary and therapeutic home atmosphere, thereby protecting them from the dangers of the street and/ or their abusive environment. In the Shelter, the girls are assisted in developing positive values, enhancing in them their feelings of self-respect and self-esteem, so each child can come to a better understanding of herself and her experience.
Balik-Aral (Back to School) Program - seeks to provide education to as many children as possible through scholarships.
The main focus on the program is to provide alternative education opportunities and psychosocial support for street children. These include value clarification, basic literacy and numeracy, para-legal education, educational assistance, and non-formal education, sports and recreation, and health education and counseling.
Balik-Hanapbuhay (Back to Work) Program - seeks to impart livelihood skills and sustainable income for the families of street children. We are seeking support from the Ministry to enable us to develop and to reach more illiterate, poor, under privilege and exploited children of whole Mindanao.
We ask for your partnership because of the Ministry's demonstrated interest in education and community development, especially for those from the underrepresented minority communities of a third world country like us..
We critically need funds to launch this sorely needed programs, education for poor school children, health care services and productivity and income improvement.
The challenge at this stage is to seize the opportunity, to take the risk, to realize an innovative, new, rewarding and productive future. With the strength which has made New Life Ministries, Inc. programs what it is today, the choice is an easy one -- help our ministry meet the challenges of the 21st Century.
We also want to extend an invitation to come and visit us in person and witness firsthand what our Lord has done and is doing through this ministry around the Mindanao. People all over the Mindanao are ready to hear about Jesus now, and the harvest is ripe in so many places.
We are praying that God will generate spiritual movements everywhere so that eventually everyone will know someone who truly follows Jesus. These are exciting days to be involved in God's work around the Mindanao.
Experience the power and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ here in our humble country Mindanao, Philippines by administering crusades, seminars and revival and we are very willing to work with you hand in hand for the Glory of Jesus Christ.
We look forward to your consideration of our request and the opportunity to submit a formal proposal for your review . We will be pleased to submit additional information at your request. Please do not hesitate to contact me at (082) 222-2949 or E-mail me on these addresses: epa215nlm@yahoo.com or epa215bethelministry@gmail.com
Your brothers in Christ,
Mr. Edmundo P. Aranzamendez Rev. Bienvenido Q. Estimada Executive Director Chaiman Emeritus New Life Ministries, Inc.
Rev. Ben Estimada
on
April 1, 2008
