Education is a path to opportunity. It develops human talents and interests, as well as being a vehicle for equity and greater social inclusion. Access to quality education is not a privilege, but a human right. However, not everyone has this right, especially among the many people and children living around the dumps of Payatas and Smokey Mountain in Manila. Around 80,000 people live as squatters around the Payatas dumping sites. Life there is far from easy. Most families get their daily income from scavenging anything that can be re-sold and earn roughly just over a dollar. Even the children need to help in scavenging to have food on their table. Parents know that this is not the kind of life and environment that they want for their children, but they don’t have much of a choice. As their children grow, the children imbibe scavenging as a way of life, and they pass this on to their own children and to the next generation. This is a cycle that needs to be broken.
Fortunately, among the many good non-government organizations that help families living around these dumping sites, the “Tulong Sa Kapwa Kapatid” (Y2KK) is one of the organizations that provides scholarships to deserving children. Since 2003, they have been serving close to 2500 students. Many of these students were able to graduate from college and earned a degree. Y2KK strongly adheres to their mission to empower the less privileged youth through education. They strive to show the youth that there is hope despite the struggles and injustice, and that there is a better life waiting for them beyond scavenging. Indeed, Y2KK proves this to many families in Payatas. Many of their graduates are now working in various private companies and government institutions. They are now empowered to live a better and decent life, while also serving and helping not only their families, but other children as well.
If you believe in the power of education to transform lives and looking where and how to help, look no further. Your support to Y2KK will be invaluable. In fact, your donation of 150 dollars could cover the school needs of one high school student for one school year! To learn more about their programs, please visit their website at www.kapwakapatid.com.