Aryana, Our Free Tour Guide, Wants to Join MSP

Our Manila Slum Program (MSP) helps alleviate poverty by supporting the schooling of children from vulnerable communities in Manila. Sometimes when we visit communities, the children themselves make it known that they need our help—one of those children is Aryana.

We first met her while conducting a house-to-house survey in Marytown. She stayed in a dark alleyway and silently listened as we interviewed mothers from one house to another. One of the mothers was aware of her shyness and hesitance to approach us, so she insisted that we let Aryana join the program. When we saw and acknowledged her presence, Aryana happily joined our interview team and guided us through the narrow alleyways in their neighborhood—just like a free tour guide! She led us to her home where we interviewed her grandmother to help her become an official part of our list.

Aryana smiling by their store

Now that Aryana is one of our beneficiaries, she will receive a monthly allowance. Her parents shall also attend our awareness seminars that cover important topics like Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) online safety, and other responsible parenting seminars to ensure that Aryana is properly looked after.

The recent disbursement allowed us to talk to Aryana’s grandmother again. She shared that she is so grateful that Aryana is part of our program since both of her parents are jobless. Through our assistance, the grandmother was able to enroll her in fifth grade, and buy her uniform and some school supplies. Both Aryana and her grandmother are so excited for her schooling! Because of our help, they no longer worry about food and transportation costs. All Aryana must think about is how to do better in school.

Staff member interviewing Aryana and her grandmother by their store

When we were in Marytown, we could not help but notice how young children were just left alone in the streets without adult supervision like Aryana. We are delighted to ease lives like hers, yet there is still a long way to go in our mission to alleviate poverty. We hope that next time, we can find these other children’s parents and provide them with the help that they need. For now, we are rooting for Aryana and the bright future ahead of her.

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