Post Visit - Report

Ok, we visited 2 orphanages with a goal of establishing a relationship with an orphanage and find out what their needs are, etc. We also wanted to find an organization where we can send gifts/used items to on a regular basis..

Well, here is the report on the 2 orphanages that we visited... Please read on until the end "What's the next step?"

Orphanage 1: Hospicio De San Jose (No of children: 100+ regular,  42special needs)

Click here for Pictures

Observation:
They are well organized. The orphanage is 200 years old and they are run by Catholic nuns. They have 12 infants (but we were not allowed to take pictures in the nursery). They had a board that shows children who have been adopted from around the world. Quite a lot of adopted kids in the US and a few from Canada. The children are well taken cared of. They run a preschool on site, and for primary and secondary education, the kids go to a nearby public school. They performed some song and dance numbers for us (mostly in English).

We had an opportunity to speak to one of the nuns. She said that they have a surplus of used clothing and even food. She also said that they were well fed over the holidays! Apparently, they get a lot of visitors wanting to feed the children around Christmas season. She said that their main need at the moment is more funds. More funds to pay for operating expenses, medical bills of the children, specially the Special needs children in their care (these kids are permanent residents since they do not get adopted at all). The oldest person in their care is 42 years old.

What we did:
We dropped of a box of used clothing for them.
We fed around 80 children as well as the volunteer nurses, total of 110 people (the rest of the kids were either in school or therapy). We also had the local mascot come and entertain the kids.

Conclusion:
Since they already have a surplus of used items, we will NOT be sending items to this orphanage in the future. If you are interested in sending monetary donations, I could post their contact information and you can send your donations to them directly.

A couple of people have asked me to inquire about adoption. I was told that they do not process adoptions directly. You have to go through an international adoption agency.

Orphanage 2: Precious Heritage (No of children: 26)

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Observation:

When I first contacted this orphanage, they had 31 children. When we arrived, they have 26, the other 5 were re-united with the parents. This orphanage is run by a Christian pastor and his family. They run the orphanage and also have regular feeding programs, street ministry, etc. Their website is at: http://phch.eccmanila.org/

The children sang some Christian songs for us and my 2 kids were able to hang out and play with them.

Just like the other orphanage, they were well fed over the holidays as well. They also had a lot of visitors who brought presents and such. In fact, we were cautioned to not give too much of one item to each kid. The example given was shampoo. Over the holidays they were given a bit too much and some of the children sells their extra items for cash. :(  I was a bit disappointed by this but at the same time I am glad that I took the time to "personalize" the gifts to each kid.  The pastor's wife was pleased that the gifts we gave had just the right assortment of stuff.. clothing, school supplies, toys.

What we did:

We distributed the gifts that were donated by our Canadian friends!

Each gift was personalized and labelled by name of child and donors name. See pics

We also fed the children and staff members, total of 40 people.

Conclusion:

We would consider sending gifts to this orphanage in the future, but probably do it around summer and not around Christmas time. 

So you asked..


What is your assessment?
Well, I'll be honest.. I'm a bit disappointed and happy at the same time.  Happy that the orphanage is obviously doing a great job in taking care of these children and that there are a lot of good people who want to help! At the same time, I am disappointed that they are not really as NEEDY as I thought they were. So, the search goes on in finding a community/organization where we can send items to!


So, what's the next step? I want to donate!!
I know, I have received a lot of emails as a response to the article published in the Milton Canadian Champion. I am thankful that there are a lot of people who have good hearts and wanting to help!

We can still help!! While I was in Manila, I saw a highschool friend on facebook and she posted some pictures of her church preparing items (food, toiletries, etc) to be distributed to some needy areas in her community. I contacted her and she met me along with our other friend at one of the orphanages. I have been in touch with them and they will be partnering with me in finding a community in need and they will be involved in accepting the goods, sorting and distribution. I am so blessed to find them on Facebook.. I have not seen them in 20 years! It must've been God's will!


We already have a community in mind.  It's a remote area in her City. She said that they do not even have electricity in that area. She will be checking them out and I will post her report on here.


Here they are.. from left to right : Jojo Narcelles-Yanga, me, Selynn P. Yambao..

So, I know some of you have said that you already have items ready to be donated. If you could just hold on to them and I will start collecting them in February. 


Thanks a lot!!!!!


Theresa Brereton
email: lovefororphans@theresabrereton.com

Orphanage#2 visit

There were originally 31 children in the orphanage. We prepared 31 gifts! When we visited, there were 26 kids. 5 kids were reunited with their parents. Apparently, when a child gets reunited, they have a 3 month probation period where they check on the kids and their families, so they can still give the gift to the child. We were promised pics later on.

This is the entrance to the orphanage..



Vision and mission printed on a wall outside the orphanage..




.. The children, getting ready to sing a song for us.





My son(in Red) trying to kiss one of the kids.(it kinda looks like he's trying to strangle him but he wasn't! LOL)




The boys played several songs for us.





One of the songs they sang was Hosanna in the highest.
Hossana in the Highest


One of the children, trying to entertain my son...




My daughter playing with one of the dolls at the orphanage.




Getting ready to enter the lunch room.




One happy child.



At the dining room, the boys' table..




The girls' table...



This is one of the pics during the gift giving. I was taking pics of the kids as I present the gifts. Will post those pics later as it will show the name of the child as well as the donors' name.





... The boys opening their presents..







... Already playing with the cards













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Location:Antipolo City, Philippines

Feeding at Hospicio de San Jose

We made it to Hospicio de San Jose! We got there at 1020am and started feeding the Children around 1130am.. We had food for 110 children. Some ended up having to leave for school before the food arrived so we just distributed the food to the volunteers and some staff. The special needs children were there too. Some had cerebral palsy and their food had to be blended in the food processor.

We dropped off the box for them and since those are just assorted items, we did not distribute them.

More details later, but I've been told by one of the nuns that their biggest need is for financial help to help with operating expenses and medical fees fir the children.

I was given a letter that I shall scan and post when we get back to Canada. Here are some pictures using my phone's camera. I have more pictures to post from my camera soon.




































































































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Location:Umbel,Quezon City,Philippines

Orphanage#1 visit - today!

Today, Jan 7th at lunch(around 11pmEST of the 6th) we are visiting Hospicio de San Jose to drop off a box of items for the children. We are also feeding them lunch.

The orphanage is 200 years old! There are 100+ regular kids and 42 special needs children. But since some are in school, there are only around 100 children present. So, we ordered food from Jollibee(a local fast-food chain). Our contact at the orphanage suggested that we feed them rice and NOT spaghetti! Apparently, around Christmas time, they were fed a lot of Spaghetti :) So, they are getting Burger steak with rice! We also bought some drinks to bring as well as chocolate bars for dessert! :)

The goal today, aside from the feeding and delivery of items is to mingle with the kids, see how the orphanage is run and have a chat with the director.

Wish us luck!!

*Tomorrow's agenda: Visit the 2nd orphanage to drop off all the gifts for each of the 31children.






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Personalized gifts

We had a list of all the kids' names and ages at Precious Heritage Orphanage... So, we were able to get a sponsor who bought/gave item specific to each of the kids. Some decided it was easier for them to donate assorted used clothing, and that was fine too! I also picked up some Canada souvenirs at the dollar store! :) 

We were able to move stuff around and group them so that each child had a mixture of school supplies, toys, souvenir and 1 set of clothing.