SOS Children in Philippines

The Philippines is a group of more than 7000 islands in the western Pacific Ocean, but the bulk of the population lives on just 11 of them. The terrain is mostly mountainous and subject to earthquakes and eruptions from around 20 active volcanoes. Luzon in the north and Mindanao in the south are the main islands, and together they make up two-thirds of the country's territory.

With a population of more than 97 million, the Philippines has enormous social problems. The divide between rich and poor is very wide; 30% of the population live below the poverty line (i.e. on less than $1 a day). For many Filipino children, the conditions are desperate. City slums are constantly growing, child labour is widespread and, according to a 2000 UNICEF estimate, more than 200,000 children live on the streets. The UN has identified the Philippines as one of the worst Asian countries for child trafficking, stemming from poverty, family breakdown, poor educational and employment opportunities, among other things.

SOS Children provides orphaned and abandoned children in the Philippines with a new mother, a family and a home where they can stay until they are ready for independent life. The charity began its work in the country in 1964 and currently cares for more than 700 children at its 8 purpose-built Children's Villages. It also supports a further 262 youths at its 7 youth houses, a place for young adults to prepare for independence.

SOS Children also runs schools, vocational training centres and Family Strengthening Programmes (FSPs) in the Philippines. FSPs aim to stop child abandonment and to keep families together, by providing child care, counselling, vocational training and medical support. In total, through all of its programmes (including the Villages and the FSPs) the charity is reaching more than 6,700 Filipinos.