You are making a difference in Philippines!
A glimpse of what your sponsored child’s life is like in Philippines:
HOME LIFE
- Homes often include children from the extended family and unmarried aunts and uncles. Grandparents who live in the home are the primary caregivers for children when both mother and father work.
- The extended family is the most important social unit, especially for women — their friendships come predominantly from within the family.
- Rice, fish, seafood, and fruits like bananas and mangoes make up the Filipino diet. “Patis” is a popular salty fish sauce that is a common condiment added to any number of dishes.
SCHOOL AND EDUCATION
- About 90% of the population is literate, and education is required until the age of 12. However, many children from poverty-stricken communities do not attend school.
- Elementary, secondary, and college students all wear uniforms: pleated skirts and white blouses for girls, and white shirts and dark pants for boys.
- The school year runs from June to March. Schools vary in size, but it is not uncommon for public schools to have up to 50 students in a classroom.
FILIPINO CULTURE
- Filipinos value social harmony and the appearance of social situations running smoothly.
- Being corrected or correcting another person in public is not acceptable.
- Hospitality is an important cultural value, and people will go out of their way to assist visitors and acknowledge social position.
COUNTRY INFO
The Philippines is a sovereign island country in Southeast Asia situated in the western Pacific Ocean consisting of about 7,600 islands. These islands are categorized broadly under three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Because it’s near the equator, the Philippines is highly prone to earthquakes and typhoons, but it also abounds with natural resources.
- Capital: Manilla
- Population: 104,256,076
- Language: Tagalog, English, Cebuano, and Ilocano
FH IN THE PHILIPPINES
In 1978, FH began working in the Philippines to help Vietnamese refugees who were fleeing from the Vietnam War and resettling in these islands. Since then, FH has focused efforts on long-term development work in indigenous communities, empowering sustainable livelihoods, education, health, and resilience against the consequences of climate change.
- Opportunities for families to increase their income through training in vocational skills, family financial management, gardening, and how to raise goats and chickens.
- Improving sanitation through constructing handwashing facilities and water systems, and teaching families about good health practices, nutrition, sanitation, and hygiene.
- Construction of additional classrooms and libraries, especially for rural students, and computers.
