Junie on his first day of High School

Three of our High Schoolers

Elementary (Primary) children

During April our children went on their Summer break, it was the end of the school year and they did not begin classes again until the first week of June. It has taken me some time to get a blog entry finished because, as you can imagine, it has been a busy time. We currently have 25 children in our care and there is a group attending the local Elementary (primary) school and also High School.

Here are some photos of the children on their first day. A HUGE thank you to the Box Hill Salvation Army Corps/Church in Melbourne, Australia who donated funds for the children to have new black school shoes. Isobel Clark and her grand-daughter arranged for these funds and they helped us greatly.

Junie started High School this year, so he was feeling all excited and grown up, there is also a photo of him quite proud in his new uniform!

Prayerfully giving their savings

For the past month the children of Joyville Children’s Home have been saving money from their daily allowance, they receive P6 ($1 AUD is equivalent to P42 – Philippine Peso) and last night we had a special time where the money they saved was given. Rod discussed with them how their money would be used around the world and within the Philippines, they watched a dvd showing the different ministries that The Salvation Army have in Bali, India and also here. At the end the children prayerfully gave the money they had saved for ‘the poor people’.

How heart warming it is to see young kids who lives in a Salvation Army Centre, who have practically nothing, giving their savings to help those who have less. They ended up raising P2100 from only one month, we passed our Target…. yay kids, fantastic effort!

For those who are not aware, the school year is about to come to a close here in the Philippines because the school year is from June until the end of March. We are preparing for Elementary and High School Graduations with three graduating from Grade 6 (Junie, Gary and Glydel) and two leaving High School (Rannie and Vevelyn). We are also celebrating that Ogie has achieved 3rd Honor in his first year of High School in Section One and Junie and Gary leave Elementary with 5th and 6th Honor!

Ogie with his 3rd Honor medal and certificate

For many of our children, finishing school is a real achievement as there were times in their lives, due to extreme poverty, that actually receiving an education was something they did not think would happen.  We are proud of what they have done and hope that in the new school year they will be ready to continue trying their best in making the most of attending their classes and striving to gain the highest grades that will help in their futures.

We currently have a position available at Joyville Children’s Home, if you have a heart for ministry and a passion of working with children, this could be where God is calling you to be.  We are in need of a Full-time Housefather, this is a live-in position (accommodation provided). Experience with children at risk, ministry with young people, experience with general maintenance, driving skills and a current driving license are pre-requisites.

If you would like to know more about this position, please contact me at: dserojales@gmail.com for a detailed position description.

Maybe you know of someone who is interested in this incredible, life changing, challenging but fulfilling role… please let them know so they can apply as soon as possible.

 “UNICEF’s mission is to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF is guided in doing this by the provisions and principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Built on varied legal systems and cultural traditions, the Convention is a universally agreed set of non-negotiable standards and obligations. These basic standards—also called human rights—set minimum entitlements and freedoms that should be respected by governments. They are founded on respect for the dignity and worth of each individual, regardless of race, colour, gender, language, religion, opinions, origins, wealth, birth status or ability and therefore apply to every human being everywhere. With these rights comes the obligation on both governments and individuals not to infringe on the parallel rights of others. These standards are both interdependent and indivisible; we cannot ensure some rights without—or at the expense of—other rights.

A legally binding instrument

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the first legally binding international instrument to incorporate the full range of human rights—civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. In 1989, world leaders decided that children needed a special convention just for them because people under 18 years old often need special care and protection that adults do not. The leaders also wanted to make sure that the world recognized that children have human rights too.

The Convention sets out these rights in 54 articles and two Optional Protocols. It spells out the basic human rights that children everywhere have: the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life. The four core principles of the Convention are non-discrimination; devotion to the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development; and respect for the views of the child. Every right spelled out in the Convention is inherent to the human dignity and harmonious development of every child. The Convention protects children’s rights by setting standards in health care; education; and legal, civil and social services.

By agreeing to undertake the obligations of the Convention (by ratifying or acceding to it), national governments have committed themselves to protecting and ensuring children’s rights and they have agreed to hold themselves accountable for this commitment before the international community. States parties to the Convention are obliged to develop and undertake all actions and policies in the light of the best interests of the child.”

www.unicef.org/crc

Lani at 12 years of age

During the process of trying to change my blog I have found myself going through old photos of children and it is interesting to see how much they have grown physically.  Seeing them every day you don’t often notice the changes, but when you look back at photos they can make you chuckle when you see the cute little boy who is nearly a man or the small girl who is growing into a beautiful young lady.  It is a real privilege for me to share their lives and to watch them grow up.

In saying that, this ministry is not always easy… every child has their own personality, some are quiet, conscientious and focussed while others are strong, loud, mischievous and hard-headed.  Yet as you get to know the child, have an understanding of their stories and what they have been through, you learn that experiences cause them to be a certain way, this is more of a coping mechanism.  We have seen some children ‘melt’ and transform as they have come to know love and acceptance as well as learning the difference between right and wrong.  Many children have come to know Jesus as their best friend and this really helps them in dealing with their life situation.

It is true that our kids here are not perfect (who is?!), I’m sure they have caused a few grey hairs and given many new wrinkles 🙂  but I would not want to have been in any other place during the past five years.  What an opportunity it is to have them as part of my lives, I hope I have been able to teach them in some way… but I truly believe that I have learnt more from them and also from the committed team that I work with.

I can’t believe that I have been here in the Philippines for five years now!  Sometimes it seems like it has gone so fast, yet there are times that I feel I have been here forever because this feels so much like home.  Sadly, for now, this will be my last full year here as my contract will end in May 2012 and I will return to Australia to take up a new appointment with The Salvation Army.  The incredible thing is, I leave with the best Philippine souvenirs imaginable… a handsome Filipino husband and a beautiful little girl! 

Thank you for your support over these past five years, I look forward to sharing more stories with you in 2011 as I continue to see God at work in this ministry and watching the lives of the children be transformed.