On 22nd July 2014, with support and help from friends and donors we were able to donate 180 school bags and socks to the Papaya Academy students here in Manila. Students here are mostly from the Payatas dumpsite and a village called Kasiglahan.
The Papaya Academy is managed by the organisation Kalinga from Holland. Kalinga is a non-profit organisation run by volunteers that aims to break the vicious cycle of poverty that the children of the Payatas garbage dump in the Philippines are subject to.
I plan to adopt this as my own project and continue to keep supporting Kalinga and their projects here, also registering as a volunteer! The kids do need continuous support, love and guidance, mainly with donations, funds and volunteers. Please do support this project too and get more details via the links below. You just might see more of my stories there too. 🙂
Facebook – Stichting Kalinga
Website – http://www.kalinga.nl/
Payatas Dumpsite – https://imkiran.com/life-in-a-dumpsite-payatas/
I spent a week staying in the school, with volunteers here and spending time with the students. Its amazing to see these kids receive so much love from the volunteers and teachers here, almost like we have our own perfect world.
We decided to get the bags from the whole sale market in Manila. Carmen, a volunteer teacher from Holland, helping out with the total bags purchased.
Volunteers from Holland, Marieke and Carmen fooling around with the local caretaker of Papaya, Josephine. This wouldn’t have happened without Ate Joe. She is just like a mom all of us here. — with Josephine Ranario Garcia.
While we were away… I was surprised to find out that the kids and teachers got a full event planned out for us, with dance and music. Also welcoming us and new volunteers.
Students of Papaya getting ready to start the activities with the teachers.
We weren’t to sure what they had planned for today, but we were all happy and excited for them.
Even with hard lives in the dumpsite of Payatas, they have this places where they can just be kids.
The teachers of Papaya Academy, giving their all, day in, day out. They keep this world running.
A prayer and the Philippines national anthem.
The volunteer family from Holland that came recently, its wonderful to see a family come together for good causes and volunteer as a family unit.
The volunteer family from Holland receiving welcome notes and love from the students.
Aunty Joe and the volunteers giving out the bags and socks.
Many more bags were given to the students of Papaya, more smiles to share! “Say cheesy!”… it worked to get more smiles.
We were glad the kids liked the designs we picked. I was glad to have Ate Joe, Marieke and Carmen along to decide on the colours.
He goes back with a smile and a new school bag. Papaya Academy has students from grade one to six here.
A total of 180 school bags were donate to all the students here. We wish more will join in soon to donate items or funds for their future. To donate, go to – Stichting Kalinga
We had a good day and I had a good week here, will be saying good bye soon but work continues for them. Students got new bags, more love and so much more to learn here in Papaya academy. I hope more will join us to see them grow up and pass forward all the goodness they have experience here.
