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Why reach out?

With your busy schedules, piled up assignments, and personal concerns, why should you reach out to people who do not seem to have any effect on your life? We believe that as a member of the Filipino society, we are automatically involved in its gains, issues, and problems. Whether we like it or not, we are a part of it, therefore we are influenced by it and even definitely capable of changing it.

Apathy would often lead to nowhere. It would most likely result in simply going with the flow of how things are going and turning out. Our tendency is to blindly adapt to people and events that are happening around us. By just standing in a public place and observing for only five minutes, you can already witness the sufferings brought about by our country's problems. Most commonly, you will notice children who are not getting the nourishment and protection that they should have. Then, disturbingly, you start seeing people who do not seem to notice those children and realize that you used to be one of them, until you had stopped for that five-minute break.

With the crises that our country's encountering, both financially and morally, the large number of abused, exploited, neglected, abandoned, and malnourished children is undoubtedly rising. This calls us to start caring and responding to their needs. Our simple acts would help them more than we expect.

The reward is nothing monetary, but it does nourish the soul. We believe that through prayers, vigilance,united and persistent efforts these problems will be alleviated if not eliminated.

Hear it from those who've tried.This is what they have to say:

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"We are here to observe and counsel them kasi sila yung prone sa psycho-social problems. At first, pumunta kami dito just to talk to them,to simply interact. Pagtumagal, dun na namin sila mas nakikilala, yung problems nila...pro-provide na kami ng counseling sa kanila...fulfilling naman. :)"
(Pam, a trainee at PGH)

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"I started as a volunteer. I helped out in the religious activities of Kanlungan like Bible studies. Later on, they invited me to teach full-time. Minsan makukulit and mga bata pero worth it. Actually, here, there is no money involved. Kung may family ka, you won't survive.That's why Kanlungan is a ministry.
All we do here is service."
("Tatay" Merlo, housefather of Malate Drop-in Center with Kevin)