Lend an ear to the poor
This is not your case, my dear friends and benefactors reading these lines, because you do not let go of your vigilance and your generosity. At this point, remaining patient and attentive as usual, you are likely saying to yourselves: “Ah-ha! We clearly see where he’s coming from, yet again, yet another time!” and yet this does not discourage you. Thus, I do indeed come from where you are expecting me…
As you already know, the foundation is currently preparing many vital projects. Most importantly, are the opening of the Jerome Lejeune House for mentally handicapped street children and the opening of the Saint Alberto Hurtado SJ farm, for the rehabilitation of the most severely impacted street children. As strategy specialists would put it, everything is advancing slowly but surely!
The house for the mentally handicapped street children has just recently opened its doors. About 15 of these children (who were previously dispersed in the different centers) have been relocated there, benefiting from better aide and more appropriate treatment. As a second step, we would like to plan a daytime reception center for the trisomic children of the poor families of Manila. We still need to find 15 000 € to balance the first year budget for the house for the handicapped… I know that you do not count upon your worldly riches...
Concerning the farm, Monsignor Socrates B. Villegas, bishop of Balanga, diocese of the province of Bataan (historical battleground of the Second World War), located North West of Manila, lent us some well located and fertile land in the country side, but very close to a school. This farm will be able to welcome 25 street children needing a complete separation from city life in order to rehabilitate themselves in the country. This project requires a long time to prepare and cannot be started until we raise the 30 000 € necessary to launch it. I know that you lend an ear to the poor…
Every project is weighed scrupulously in function of the vital needs observed in the field but also by the financial resources we find. It is for this reason that the foundation is constantly searching for financing. Thus, after endlessly being bounced around, the archdiocese of Manila has loaned to us, for a period of at least 20 years, a large house at the foot of the Intramuros cathedral, located in the area of “old Manila”, which was destroyed during the Second World War. This building will permit us to reduce our rental costs since it accommodates, since 1 month now, the 3 street children centers for young girls all under one roof.
As written by Simone Weil (Gravity & Grace) “One cannot experience goodness without doing good”. As you all know, this experience, contrary to that of evil, is worth the effort. And we are not disallowed to over use it. With that, at this time, I would like to impress upon you the recognition, and the gratitude, of the children whom you help, of the children whom you love.
P. Jean-François Thomas S.J. - Director, Tulay ng Kabataan
April, 2006