A view of the downtown area of Manila.
During the month that I have been in the Philippines there has been a lot of talk about the cycle of poverty in addition to many opportunities to observe this cycle first hand. Kids are often all too likely to follow their parent’s footsteps and retain the lifestyle that they observed during their youth. Part of this is caused by the fact that there simply are not the same opportunities (funds, networked connections are a couple examples) available to those who grow up poor. Reflecting on my own life and upbringing, I don’t know whether to feel blessed or embarrassed for what I have undeservedly received.
A specific example of this cycle that I have seen comes from the community called “Tent City.” Here, hundreds of simple abodes are laid out systematically on a sizeable plot of dirt. Interestingly these shelters were built as a refuge for those displaced by the 2010 typhoon. But as I have been told, a majority has chosen to not move back after the flooding subsided because the temporary housing was nicer than their original situation. Unfortunately though, this housing is located out of the way and simultaneously far from schools. If the student does not have money for transportation on a motorcycle/sidecar then the alternative is walking multiple hours each way to school, something that not all are able or willing to do. The reality is that these kids are not able to finish their high school education, which is free, because they cannot afford the transportation that to us is a fraction of a dollar a day. The thought that this simple and seemingly nonissue back in the states is perpetuating this cycle blows my mind. This is just one of countless examples that perpetuate the cycle.
Even if these kids are able to complete high school, the prospect of attending and graduating college is even slimmer due to the fact that college education is much more difficult to fund. During my short time here this has become my passion to help make a difference for college age kids who would not be able to attend on their own, there are many. A company in the downtown area has created a program that creates opportunities that were previously unimaginable and highly uncommon: to be a working college student with a stable and consistent job. Not only is the position a source of income, but it also is designed to teach life skills and create meaningful job experience that ultimately will be beneficial when finding a job after graduation. My role is to help find the next class of interns while helping the current ones be successful and create value for the program. This means lots of face-to-face interaction and opportunities to get to know their stories. Surprisingly, everyone that I talked with wanted to go to college to be able to support their family. That was their main motivation, which is very different than in the US where people go because of familial expectations, to party away from home, and better their own future situation. What is even crazier, I learned that these future jobs will sometimes support as many as ten people, not only with food, but also by helping them attend college as well.
Being a part of this ministry that is life changing for these students and their families is so rewarding to be a part of. As someone who likes to see a tangible result from my work, helping out in this way allows me to see these kids be successful at work and make their way through college. These students are also very entertaining to be around; they have some great personalities. So even though this requires me to travel nearly an hour each way to the office and we do not return until at least 10:30pm there is nothing I would rather be doing with my evenings.
