Jane and Vilma’s Inspiration

Jane’s family lived in the streets for generations, where she grew up selling and begging. At the tender age of 15, she became pregnant with her first child. Now, she navigates the complexities of life with three young children in tow at the age of 23.

Jane felt immense joy when one of her kids joined the Manila Slum Project. The chance for someone in her family to attend school inspired her to go back to school, too. She enrolled in the Alternative Learning System, passed as a grade 10 student, and now continues her studies online. Jane is thankful for the support and encouragement from our Manila Slum Project. It fills her with hope that she can create a better future for her children.

Jane’s story resonates with another resilient woman, Vilma, whom our HONOR team encountered during research for the Manila Slum Project. Vilma is a mother of five, and she relied on laundry work to provide for their family. Since this is not a permanent job, she could only hope that her kids could go to school. The dream to send one of her children to school became a reality when her youngest child was included in the program. This became a pivotal moment for their family and a source of pride and joy for Vilma.

Despite facing numerous challenges, Vilma showed unwavering determination. Our team was impressed by her hard work and connected her to more potential clients in nearby subdivisions. Vilma’s hard work and trustworthiness were vouched for, leading to more clients requesting house cleaning and laundry services. Two of Vilma’s children are now attending school, and she actively participates in school meetings for parents.

Jane and Vilma’s inspiring stories show the transformative impact of education, support, and hope amidst the complexities of life in the Manila slums. We are grateful to be part of this life-changing initiative and to see more girls get back to school.

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