Everyday Life @ the Drop-in Center

Source Moms

During the Spaniards’ Reign, Filipinos have been told that we are lazy that’s why we are poor. Growing up, though, I’ve seen this notion untrue and unfair.

Even the most skillful and hardworking can suffer unemployment due to lack of opportunities and proper education. If every year thousands of graduates from universities end up jobless, what hope is there for those who were unable to get a degree or even simply finish high school? Sadly, the question elicits a perennial cycle of reasons. At the end of the day, we all have to individually take action in the absence of answers.

These are the conditions we saw with our group of mothers at the Source. Composed of 10-12 young mothers, this group meets every week at the Drop-in Centre for fellowship and meals. About five out of twelve of the women’s husbands work, but they are not on minimum wage. Some are earning on a daily basis by doing carpentry or tricycle driving. These mothers have two children at least and eleven at the most. Due to lack of employment and the size of their families they are having difficulty with daily expenses and sending their children to school is already a great burden. Some of the women do laundry in the neighborhood just to earn a little income.

Because of this condition, Mercy in Action has decided to create a livelihood program for them – Making Jewelry. The first batch of jewelry has already been sent back to the UK. For the second batch we have the following mothers, Rodelyn Abastillas, Rosalie Torreta, Arlyn Cabusas and Remedios Dandan. These mothers were trained in how to design and make jewellery and given tools for free. They will be paid for every piece they make earning them P2, 000-3,500 per batch. This is a huge help for them. For washing laundry, they only earn 200 pesos which is very time consuming and physically taxing since everything is done manually.

With this livelihood program the mothers can now work at the comfort of their homes without neglecting the care of their children while earning a decent wage.

At Mercy in Action, a project is defined by its end; and an end is defined by its effect. An effect is measured by how it has brought about help and made a positive difference.

Abba Outing

Completion of Wall

On August 20, 2009, 3 p.m. the gate for the orphanage site has finally been installed. The entire perimeter is now secured and is ready for the construction of the children’s home.

The Abba Kids (former rugby users) at the Drop-in Centre are eagerly awaiting for their transfer to a family-structured and more permanent home. A place where they can take shelter 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Currently, the drop-in centre is only open Monday to Friday since the Government lent this space to us and it is closed on the weekends.

Once the children have finished their assignments at the drop in centre they still have to sleep on the streets at night. We can only do so much with limited space and facility. The intervention we are giving now could have been more intensive and broadened if we could take care of the children especially at night.
As much as possible, we don’t want these kids back on the streets especially at night. It’s such a great risk to prostitution, robbery, and rugby (solvent) or drug addiction.
Because we know, that if only they are given a choice, A HOME IS WHAT THEY’RE LONGING FOR. With the gate now installed, we are already a step closer.

Drop-in Center, Talisay

Bunso

House Building

Living in a 4 Meter-Square House

Can you imagine living and sleeping in a 4 meter square house? …where your kitchen or living room literally becomes your bedroom at night? Can you bear feeling the breath of the person next to you while you sleep because it is so constricted? Can you live without closets and cabinets to keep your clothes neat?

Well, this has been the condition of four people for almost 13 years. The family of Rodrigo Sabequil, 36 years old, wife Alma 36 and two children Russendy (13 years old) and Sharalyn (aged 12). The family lives in Tapul and has been the recent beneficiary of the Mercy in Action Housing Program. The Sabequil family were very happy to move into their 20 square meter new & semi-concrete home on July 25, 2009.

They say that now, they can sleep in better sleeping positions, not just one. Their life is much, much better now. They can now sit down properly at a table when eating. They can now walk around their house without hitting their heads on the ceiling. Indeed, as poor people are able to live in better homes, they see life better and are more hopeful that good things can indeed happen even when it’s beyond your resources.