Dear He Cares Foundation Friend,

Greetings!

Many wonderful blessings surround the past year (2002) despite the numerous challenges that faced the He Cares kids. 

Sponsorship of GAs or General Assemblies (Saturday feeding of all children at the foundation) were a big blessing this 2001.  Starting January, the Lord's Beloved Community took care of the food for the kids for every 2nd General Assembly of the month!  Their community raised P2,000 for these feeding days. 

And come September, the Marriage Encounter group headed by Grace Lumawig and her husband started sponsoring every 1st General Assembly of the month.   

Lingkod ng Panginoon, a Catholic Community for Singles has also been giving active support during the third Saturdays of the month, giving fun and meaningful activities for the spiritual formation of the children.

Along with this, Bro. Joe Dean with wife Ardis and their caring group hold prayer meetings with the adult streetkids every Wednesday evenings.

In July, the Accenture Group led by Avic Gaborni, came up with a pool of 30 volunteer tutors and they provide 4-5 tutors every Saturday to help the Balik Aral students with their studies.  Their company is formally sponsoring  Elnar, Grade 2 and Ian, Grade 5, including giving them their daily allowances. 

August 12th marked the 5th anniversary of the foundation and it was a thanksgiving celebration held at Kowloon restaurant.  For more on the anniversary, click here.

By the third quarter of the year, eight of the Balik Aral scholars were being given transportation and food allowance.  By October, the Alay Foundation sponsored three children and have plans to help more kids out in the future.

The Balik-Hanapbuhay program was blessed with three sewing machines and cloth materials last November.  These would benefit the "street mothers" with no decent means of sustaining their children.  Basic training was conducted by Lily Sevilla, coordinator for the Balik Hanapbuhay program.  One of the He Cares supporters, Michelle, also taught the children how to silk screen and has plans to conduct various other skills training programs for them in the future.

Last November 12, ten of the He Cares kids were baptized, each with one Ninong and Ninang.  In lieu of gifts, the Godparents were asked for contributions for the livelihood of the parents of each child.

Many people visited the foundation just to find out what we do and how we do it.  YMPACT group of the Light of Jesus Catholic Community held an exposure trip with us last November 30.

The Beatitudes Community of missionary nuns are also working with He Cares to possibly provide a home for some of the children.

The year also posed some very difficult and even tragic events.

Six of the children developed primary complex and were sustained for six months with the help of a Dr. Arlene, a kindhearted doctor from Lingkod ng Panginoon Singles.

Alvin, 7 years old was run over by a jeep and despite the severity of his head injuries and having a 50-50 chance of survival, fully recovered after two weeks in the hospital.

10-month-old Pawe contracted Broncho Pneumonia and stayed a week at the charity ward of Fe Del Mundo hospital.  This child was saved in time due the insistence of Sis. Ardis for him to have medical care.  After a week in the hospital, the child was able to recover.

Minda, 19 years old, one the "street mothers" gave birth to her 2nd child and that child is now the youngest member of the foundation.

Most tragic of all is the story of Roy who, at the age of 21, died this past June from an overdose of shabu. 

He came to be a child of the streets since he ran away from home early on in his life.  Home to him was with an aunt who, according to him, whenever she saw it fit to discipline him, would tie him in a sack and hang it upside down for a period of time.  His mother was in the U.S. and would send him money but then he said his aunt would just spend it as she wished and not really for him and his older brother Marvin.  All of these events forced him to turn to the harsh life on the streets.

Roy then met Bro. Joe Dean and the He Cares volunteers.   He had been coming to the foundation for the past three years.  He was the joker type, a buddy to the He Cares volunteers, active and easily followed instructions for He Cares activities.  One He Cares Volunteer recalls how Roy was always the one with them and one time he was asking for them to look for his mother over the internet.

A swift change of behaviour came about when he got to meet a group of older men who were loitering about in the streets.  His friends related how they did not see his fast declining health as he separated himself from their group at night and would oftentimes be seen huddled alone in a corner.  Despite the many times he was urged to take x-rays or medicine, he declined. 

One night he vomitted a huge quantity of blood and collapsed on the pavement.  His friends from He Cares called Bro. Joe Dean right away.   They rushed him to the hospital and tried to revive him for 20 minutes but he did not survive.  His uncle was very sad at his death and was glad that they were able to bring his Roy's brother Marvin back home. 

Roy's story is not uncommon to many of the street children at He Cares.  This is why urgent action is of the essence in helping them and bringing much needed hope.  It is our privilege that we have known Roy and served him even in small ways.  May all that he has received from us, specifically the spiritual nourishment, bring him in joyful reconciliation to the Father.  We ask you as well to pray for Roy and for the children who continue to face the daily temptations of the streets.

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