Sponsorship
According to a report from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, there are around 1.5 million street children in the Philippines. One hundred thousand of them can be found in Manila alone. In a country where only 40% of Filipino children are able to finish high school, child poverty is one of the key challenges facing the country.
Virlanie Foundation’s Sponsorship Program supports over 400 children from the 13 Virlanie Homes based in Makati, to the other communities; the slums in Tondo, the dumpsite in Payatas and the provinces of Quezon, Masbate, Samar to name a few.
One of the many scholars we have is 11 year old Avrille*. She was referred to Virlanie for she had no family to go home to. She and her siblings were rescued from her uncle who physically abused them. Today, she lives in Tanglaw Home with 19 other children who are now her new brothers and sisters. Tatay Joseph and Nanay Vina, our house parents care for her. Des is cheerful and loves sharing stories to others. She’s now in enrolled in Grade 2 and attends tutorial class in Magellan Learning Center. She wants to be a teacher when she grows up.
Like Avrille, there are more children who have very little, yet truly deserve more.
Sponsorship is a way for YOU to create a brighter future for children like Avrille. For as low as PhP 800 a month, you can help send a child to school and provide for his/her medical and basic needs.
Strengthening Bonds
Beyond financial support, we encourage sponsors the build a personal relationship with the children. Special bonds are formed when stories are exchanged and time is well spent between sponsors and their sponsored children.
Age didn’t limit Hi Yua Lin from helping others. She is one of our young sponsors. Back in 2009, when she was 14 years old, Yua Lin started to sponsor Jeffrey from Tanglaw Home. 2 years after, she was very happy to finally meet him. “It (my visit) had provided me a sense of comfort. He enjoys playing soccer and doing activities with the kids he lives with. I am looking forward to visiting him again soon and getting to know him more in order to create a deeper bond between us," shared Yua Lin.
Jeremy, another sponsor, spent an afternoon with Divino his sponsored child. “Because of my own history, I could have been Divino and I think I would have been really thankful if someone by any way was trying to help me to provide my need. I have a lot of respect and I admire what Virlanie does, I can trust the job they did and the job they still have to do as it is really important to keep going on. I wish I could have stayed longer as it was really magical for me,” shared Jeremy.
Floraine Rame, a Virlanie volunteer and a sponsor, frequently visited Benjie and took him out to the zoo with the other children. Floriane shared, “Getting to know Benjie and spending time with him was very fulfilling.”
To stay in touch with their sponsors the children writes three cards to their sponsors every year. Sponsors get to learn how their sponsored children are doing in school and at home. And the children appreciate receiving letters back.
“I am very grateful ... with you I am sure that I can continue my studies. Thank you very much and I love you.” Alma, 13 years old, writes to her new sponsor.
Moving Forward
With the support of our sponsors, 2 Virlanie’s children graduated from college, 1 from vocational, 21 from High school, and 29 from elementary in 2011. These graduates serve as inspirations for the other children, reminding them that with determination and hard work, they can move forward to a better life.
Giving Back the Smile
Should you wish to become a sponsor, please print, fill out the this pledge form and send to:
Per Email: sponsorship@virlanie.org
Per Post:
Sponsorship Desk
Virlanie Foundation, Inc.,
4055 Yague Street, Brgy. Singkamas,
Makati City, 1204 Philippines.
Fax : 632- 895-5232
* actual name of the child has been changed
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