My Experience with Street Children

As you know in our last Newsletter, Kamran wrote about Kuya Center – what we do and who are the children there. In this issue I thought of giving a brief account about Kuya Center and the children. Kuya Center is for the children on the streets who are addicted to drugs or were abused by adults. Its mission is to help and accompany these children back to their own home, or to take them back to the center and give them an education. Kuya Center is doing its mission around Metro Manila. Marikina City is one of its branches. In Marikina City we can find street children close to the malls or train stations or public markets. As they say “ants go where the sugar is”. These children also go where the crowd is. There is one place that I did not mention where they come together and feel at home, that is under the bridge at Santolan, opposite SM Marikina.

Every Saturday Kamran and I leave MAPAC at 11:30 a.m. to go to our apostolic formative activity (in short we call it AFA). We usually travel by jeepney to River Banks in Barangka, Marikina and from there we walk along the riverside and eventually reach Santolan, under the bridge. Recently this place was being renovated by the Marikina City Council, as they have planned to build a bus station for Marikina City. I think, that is enough information about the place. The children are from different age groups, from babies to adults. They have their own clique, usually the same age group of boys or girls, they get on well together.

Usually, we write what we do with these children, or one of our experiences with them, but I would like to write what I have learned from them. I have been there for two whole semesters, and I would say that they are a great model for community life. If I trace back our history of Christianity, the early Christian community “lived together and all things were in common, nobody owned anything, all were treated equally as others.” I could quote the whole page about the early Christian community. Then I may not be able to tell you something about this small street community in Marikina. I do not know what religion they belong to. Do they attend daily Mass or even Sunday Mass? Do they have prayer everyday? Do they have classes to attend on week days? Do they have accompaniment or spiritual direction? I do not think that they do any of these things. But they have most of the values or qualities of a community life.

There are around 25 boys and 15 girls in this place. Girls have their own place for clothes. They put all their clothes together. Nobody owns anything. Whenever anybody needs any clothes, they can take them. Similarly the boys follow what the girls do with their clothing. If some one is sick or not well, they buy food or medicine for him and try to make him feel comfortable. Usually when they return after visiting malls, stations or markets, they get some money through their work, like begging, or selling recycling material that they have collected from the street. They buy food or drink or cigarettes or “rugby” (it is glue used for pasting together PVC pipes). When they come home under the bridge all the children even the big or small ones, gather together and it is time for sharing. They share what they have. There is no fighting (like you eat more I get less). I really felt touched by their way of life and they have taught me what it means to share and to care for my brothers who are living with me. How can I share without expecting anything from others? It really needs a lot of generosity to do it, but these children do it so easily. I am also developing what I have learned from them. I try to put this into practice in my daily life experience. Let me share one of my experiences. One Saturday, as usual, I went to their place. I was amazed to see them fighting. I thought, this is not normal, what is happening to them. Then I asked the social worker why they were fighting, what was the reason. Then he told me, it is not a fight; it is just to make them strong in time of persecution. Sometimes they get caught and are beaten by the police or they have to run away from the police. They do not have a gym or playground to play in to strengthen them. After the fight I saw two of them sitting in one place and talking to each other very happily. They were not upset or angry with each other. I thought it is true; they really put themselves in a difficult situation for their survival. If they are not fit they could not bear the pain that they have to go through. It is really a matter of survival. Since we get all the necessary living things, we may not be aware of the pain that we have to put into it. I really have learned how much effort I have to put into my daily activities. Sometimes we do it for the sake of doing it; I have learned to put my full effort into the things that I do. Even though it is painful and I do not want to escape from it. Even though it is difficult let us try for something to happen…………….

“It is my deepest beliefs that only by giving our lives do we find life. I am convinced that an act of courage is to sacrifice ourselves for others.” (Carlos Chavas)

Let us pray for God’s blessing on the street children, for their security, their safety, their good health and for a bright future. Thank you. – By Br. Robinston

To know more about Kuya Center plese watch the video Thanks

Good Bye My Dear

This story is written by a Sis. Tam Nguyen ACI

Ngoc was the eldest girl in a poor family in a  highland with seven brothers and sisters. Who were born one year after each other. At a very early age, she had to look after her younger siblings and was in charge of other housework. In the class she was a tiny and shy girl but at home she was in charge of and responsible for her brothers and sister. Going to school was the only time that she could be out of her house. She had no close friend except Vy.

Vy was the fourth child in a family of six children. She also had a lot of responsibility. After the class, she had to cut the grass for the cows and water the vegetables in the garden. She did not have much time to play with other children.

They were classmates since elementary, their situation drew them close to each other, and the two little girls became good friends. Their houses were near each other, and everyday, they went to school and came back together. The school was a bit far from the village, it took them 30 minutes of walking.

“Do you know that they are building a factory on top of the hill?” Vy called Ngoc on the phone with a sad voice:

“How come?” Vy could not believe what she had heard

Before reaching the school, there was a beautiful hill. It was the memorable place of their childhood, where they shared their joys and sorrows. They used to hide from their parents going up the hill and playing there for a half an hour everyday after school. There were many fruit trees like star-apple, mango, belt-fruit, and guava. They enjoyed climbing trees and picking the fruits. One side of the hill was covered with a thick layer of smooth grass. Rolling from the top to the foot of the hill was their favorite game. While rolling, they let their fantasy go. Ngoc felt free like a bird flying in the sky. She sensed the wind beneath her wings, or she imagined herself like a great skater gliding on ice with confidence and delight. Vy felt the same way, too, as her face turned happily after the game. Their laughter echoed back with crispy, joyful sound.

“What do you what to be in the future?” Suddenly, Ngoc turned seriously, and asked:

Looking far away with radiant eyes Vy replied: “I want to be a teacher.” “How about you?

“I will take architecture, and run for mayor of our town”

“Really you have a great dream. Why do you want to be a mayor?”

“I will make this hill a beautiful park for the children”

Ngoc gazed at the hill with great delight as she imagined the hill filled with children’s laughter.

Her desire was growing stronger as they grew up. Even though they moved to another school during their high school, they often visited the hill and recalled their happy childhood there.

On the phone, Vy continued,

“Yes, they have already cut down all the trees and built the foundations”

“Really, I want to see it for the last time before they totally destroy it” Ngoc answered

They sat there on top of the hill, leaned on each other while they were crying and sharing their trouble. The hill remained calm and quiet while listening to their stories. It seemed it understood their feelings. A gentle breeze passed by, touched their cheeks, and carried away their tears and sorrow. Day by day the hill became so close and dear to them

Standing silently at the foot of the hill, they felt sorry and helpless. There were neither trees nor grass. Ngoc’s dream became impossible. “Truly, the hill is dying as a part of her life is also dying”. She whispered to the hill, “Good bye my dear”, and she held her friend’s hand. They look at each other and realized that tears were rolling down to their cheeks…………………..

Principles for a bright future

TAKE TIME TO READ THIS, YOU WILL FEEL GOOD AND RETHINK.

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2.  Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3.  Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4.  Live with the 3 E's - Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5.  Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer.
6.  Play more games.
7.  Read more books than you did in 2008.
8.  Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9.  Sleep for 7 hours.

10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take you so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.
Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like Algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32.    Do the right thing!
33.    Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34.    GOD heals everything.
35.    However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36.    No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37.    The best is yet to come.
38.    When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39.    Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

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