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MANILA, Philippines – Young Jose’s* eyes were glued to the screen, intense concentration evident on his face as he observed a young girl and a monkey climb a hill on television.
The two-year-old boy was quiet most of the time, but whenever Dora and Boots faced the screen and asked a question, Jose eagerly answered them with a beaming grin.
“Backpack! Backpack!” Jose said out loud, proving to Dora that he, in fact, can say the word himself.
He wasn’t alone. Every day, the children in the Babies and Toddlers Home (BTH) of Virlanie Foundation play and watch educational cartoons on television before eating their lunch. They had memorized the songs and already knew when to dance along.
It’s already part of the daily routine the non-governmental organization (NGO) has designed to foster a caring and nurturing environment for the children.
Their day is filled with multiple learning experiences, including storytelling, coloring, dancing, and television viewing. They are also taught the alphabet and how to count. In between, they learn how to take a bath, brush their teeth, and use the toilet.
Virlanie Foundation is a child-caring institution that takes care of children in need of special protection – those who are abandoned, abused, exploited, neglected, orphaned, and part of the poor sector. (READ: Busting myths about children of the streets)
One of its residential programs is the BTH, a home for around 30 to 40 children aged 0 to 5 years old, where the kids are prepared for nursery school or for early starter classes.
In the past years, however, Virlanie said the home had been in a difficult financial situation. Its limited funding make it a challenge for the NGO to provide the needs of the babies and toddlers, including food, shelter, clothing, education, and health and psychological care. (READ: Lifesaving 6: Saving mothers and children from malnutrition)
To address the issue, Virlanie launched its #HelpOurBabies campaign on Monday, June 1, to raise funds for the BTH and to continue taking care of young children like Jose.
#HelpOurBabies
Donations to the #HelpOurBabies campaign will help Virlanie provide the babies and toddlers with 3 nutritious meals every day. (READ: What a ‘Pinggang Pinoy’ should look like’)
According to Virlanie, a P65 donation is enough to feed one child for a day, while P2,000 can feed him or her for a month. A donation as high as P60,000, meanwhile, can feed up to 30 babies in a month.
“Any amount given wholeheartedly will help the Foundation give back the smile to the babies and toddlers in BTH,” Virlanie said in a press statement.
BTH social worker Leah Cordovales agreed, saying, “Malaki pong tulong. Dun po kasi sa campaign po na yun, magiging settled yung babies and toddlers.” (It’s a big help. The campaign will allow the babies and children to be more settled.)
Cordovales further said that a more financially secure BTH will help Virlanie reunify the children with their parents or put the kids up for adoption.
How can you help?
If you want to donate to the #HelpOurBabies campaign, you may reach Virlanie through the following channels:
Bank transfer | Send a check |
Name: Virlanie Foundation, Inc. Bank Name: Banco de Oro – Vito Cruz Branch US Dollar Account No: 104580108577 Peso Account No: 004580002426 Euro Account No: 304580112833 |
Payable to Virlanie Foundation, Inc. Office Address: Virlanie Foundation, Inc. 4055 Yague Street, Barangay Singkamas 1204 Makati City, Philippines |
You may also make an online donation through this link. – Rappler.com
*Name changed to protect the child’s identity.
For more information about the campaign or Virlanie’s other programs, you may send an email to info@virlanie.org, call 895-3460, or visit their website.
You may also send your video materials, campaigns, and stories to move.ph@rappler.com. Be part of the #HungerProject.
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