Young Focus is an organization (founded in Holland in 1992) that tries to give a brighter future to children from poverty-stricken families in the Philippines. In order to be as effective as possible, Young Focus works directly with the children in their own environment, including Manila slum areas such as Smokey Mountain, a huge garbage dump. Thousands of families live on or around this dumpsite, and literally scrape together a living from scavenging recyclable items from the garbage or from making charcoal from collected pieces of wood.
Good health and a good education are the basic needs of every child. Children in the slums lack both. They become sick and malnourished due to their living conditions and lack of (healthy) food, and don’t attend school because they have to work instead.
How does Young Focus tackle these problems? Different projects such as sponsoring children though school, feeding programs, child care, coaching and medical care form the basis of a direct and effective approach, helping these children to escape the vicious cycle of poverty.
Young Focus enables children to go to school, from the elementary level right through to college, university or vocational training. During their studies they are coached by professionals at the Student Center, which is located close to their schools and homes. Young Focus also provides training for the teenagers living on the garbage dump, who barely have any education, but are too old to go back to school. These Out of School Youth are coached and trained so that they can set up a small business of their own.
Malnourished babies and toddlers are helped at the Child Care Center, which is built on Smokey Mountain itself.
In addition to these projects all Young Focus children receive medical care.
|
