The Philippines
In Manila, a city of 14 million, one in four people live
below the poverty line. Every day, more people flee the
hunger, unemployment and natural disasters hammering their
home provinces to move to the big city with their dreams of a
better future. Most are forced to live in overpopulated
slum areas and even on the streets.
But the message of the gospel shows that the poor are
valuable in the eyes of God and all are called to be His
change agents in a world of injustice and oppression.
Our vision is to see the cities of the Philippines transformed
to God's Kingdom values in all aspects and at all levels of
society, bringing freedom, justice and mercy to people living
in poverty. We want to help the underprivileged to
discover and use their resources. We want to be
catalysts of transformation.
Transforming communities
Servants Manila currently works to bring about transformation
in several areas:
Lilok - leadership training for urban poor workers.
The churches of the poor are often very small. The leaders
have little education. Through the Lilok programme, many
leaders have received training that allows them to serve their
churches and neighbourhoods in innovative and appropriate
ways. Through Lilok, Servants Manila is investing in the lives
of urban slum leaders. For more information on Lilok, click here
to visit their web site.
Kamay Krafts - work for women. The Kamay Krafts
cooperative is exporting innovative products into many
countries and is sharing the income fairly among the seventy
women involved. Because they are able to work at home, where
they can still care for their children, these women now
receive an income and dignity through their hand-made items. For more information on Kamay Krafts, click here
to visit their web site.
Onesimo - from desperation to destiny. Onesimo helps
young people whose lives in the slums, or streets, are filled
with hopelessness. Onesimo has five communities throughout
Metro Manila with over 60 young people. Most were drug users,
whose lives had been broken by this destructive habit. In
Onesimo, they are introduced to a meaningful and restored life
through Jesus Christ. Nonoy (14), had to work hard as a
little boy, scavenging on the waste dump. His family broke up
and he started sniffing glue. He says: "Here at Onesimo, I am
experiencing a real family for the first time in my life." For more information on Onesimo,
click here
to visit their web site.
Living Springs Christian Churches - a spiritual home.
Servants Manila was instrumental in establishing the "Living
Springs" network - made up of seven churches in different
communities. These small churches in slum areas not only
provide a spiritual home but often function as change agents
in their neighbourhoods in practical ways. One example is
pre-school education for children living in slums, done in the
church buildings with teachers from the churches.
Child-to-Child health promotion program - kids have power.
Over 1000 children have learned health messages in their
child-to-child classes. This benefits them well into their
adult life, when they themselves will become parents.
Jose(9): "I am no longer scared if my sibling gets diarrhoea.
I know to prepare a special drink that will make him well
soon." Delia (7): "I no longer like softdrinks. I have
seen how it rots my teeth, in an experiment we did in class."
Analyn (13): "I like the games and dramas we do in class. I am
learning many new things that I can use at home."
Other Projects. Servants Manila is also involved in
helping poor communities buy land, in medical assistance and
emergency relief. Pre-school education and Ecological Waste
Management are also part of the Servants work in Manila.
Our Approach
We believe the poor have skills that, with God's help, can
help them transform their situation. We build on these skills
and accompany them as friends on the journey. Now, they
themselves are the change-agents in their communities,
powerfully used by God to demonstrate His kingdom.
Out of this process, indigenous Filipino organisations have
been established and developed, which are our partners now.
"Empowerment is drawing out the gifts that lie in people and
helping those gifts to flourish." (Priscilla Padolina)
How can you help?
Contact Servants Philippines (info@servantsasia.org) to find out how you can help. Alternatively, click here to see if any opportunities to serve have been posted for the Philippines.
