Making a Difference for the Children in the Dump
There are thousands of children in Barangay Pinalagad, Valenzuela City, Philippines celebrated its adopted birthday during the 7th National Children’s Day on April 25, 2012.
Barangay Pinalagad is a dumpsite where thousands of local community flocks make a living out of it. Children in the local barangay usually spend their time scavenging garbage that can be sold in the junk shop found in the area. It is situated where vices of unhealthy surrounding convene, that really affects the social functioning of all the children, majority of them do not go to school and eat only once a day but some other times none at all.
One of the many children that caught the CJFI volunteer’s attention was the two brothers namely Erwin 7 years old and Dagul 6 years old. The two brothers were abandoned by their parents. They belong to a dysfunctional family. The children are vagrants , directionless, no decent clothing, no home, and their situation is pitiful.
They were deprived of basic needs; like education, by this reason after conducting an ocular survey of the area, CJFI volunteers, the next day prepared barangay Pinalagad as the venue of the big celebration. It was chosen to be the venue for the National Capital Region. As one of the selected areas around the archipelago to be given a birthday bashes in celebration of the National children’s Day.
Upon the arrival of the CJFI volunteers ,the erection the colored-red tents signifies that it’s not ordinary party, all children were so amazed on what they had witnessed especially with the delightful foodstuff such as spaghetti, fried chicken, ice cream, hot dogs and many more. All of these were prepared to all the children who never celebrated their natal day even once.
Parlors games was prepared too, more prices was given away, on the other hand, people used to see huge garbage trucks where they refer it as their butter and bread but this time huge trucks too was prepared but instead of garbage inside in it, gifts and goodies can be found.
The party was not completed without any entertainment, Pooh and Alvin the chipmunk entertained the crowd with their one-of-a kind dance performance, moreover; one of the highlights parts of the celebration was the distribution of the gifts, great smile was found in every child’s faces simply because it is an experience that they felt that they are loved and cared by somebody.
As per told by the recipient Aling Nina” In my 28th years of living here, this is the first time that I have seen the children so happy. I saw the goodies that they brought the children were so full and they were really happy. Children were so excited to see those in costumes even on the games. If you think of it, this is the first time that they experience like this.
The Children’s Joy Foundation in its seven years to the service, never fails to reach out those less privilege people especially in the community through its “Community Based Programs” such as supplemental feeding program is one of the priorities of the foundation. National Children’s Day is one of the initiatives the founding president to reach out children.