Philippine Philanthropy

Kentz recently provided sponsorship to Paula Quigley, a Final Year Construction Management student at the Cork Institute of Technology, that enabled her to spend six weeks working with street children in the Philippines on educational and youth empowerment projects.

Paula volunteered along with 13 others through SERVE, a development organisation that is committed to tackling poverty in developing countries. It specialises in working with marginalised and oppressed communities, and aims to empower them to tackle the root causes of poverty and injustice. SERVE's specific focus is on gender equality, children and young people.

Paula and another volunteer help feeding children in a slum area

Paula was initially assigned to the Badjao Education Programme in Cebu City. The Badjao people are commonly known as “Sea Gypsies” and the majority live in houseboats or on bamboo stilts above the water. They are a peaceful nomadic tribe but are highly discriminated against by many Filipinos, including the government.

Paula worked at the Nano Nagle Childcare and Learning Centre, which was established last year to help prepare the Badjao children to attend public schools. She assisted the teachers with their daily classes and was particularly involved in helping the older children with their writing and pronunciation. As part of the placement, Paula also spent four days working on the nearby Gawad Kalinga housing construction project.

SERVE volunteers pictured at a local day care centre

Paula’s second assignment was with Akap Bata, an organisation that works with disadvantaged children all over Manila. Speaking of her time there, Paula said: "I was fortunate enough to witness the opening of two day care centres for children, and helped make and repair the furniture. Akap Bata relies on co-sponsorships with

non-government organisations, churches and some government entities, and it does the most incredible work. When you think that 64% of Filipino children do not attend pre-schools or day care centres you realise just how invaluable the organisation is. They have so many dedicated workers, and the whole experience was a real inspiration. I would like to thank Kentz for its generous sponsorship of my trip. I will never forget my time in the Philippines and the warmth and hospitality of the families that I was lucky enough to stay with."

Paula with Ates tribe girls

Filipino children waiting for a nutritious meal

In the Philippines SERVE provides:

• Early education programmes for children in slums in Manila and amongst indigenous tribes
• Skills training and empowerment opportunities for women from the Ates indigenous tribe
• Advocacy work on child pornography with the objective of enacting quality legislation against child pornography
• Education support to children and youth at the Badjao Centre, Cebu
• Skills training and livelihood support for street children in Manila
• Resources for cooking skills, development for young adults at Binalbagan College
• Technical and vocational education for female teenage victims of abuse, Cebu