1st Week -October 05, 2011

Orphans Care: Touching young lives for the future

Children are the hope of tomorrow. If we are to believe in that hope today, we need to care for them.

There are many incidents of violence against children, our hope of tomorrow. If they will live and grow up in an environment that is not conducive to a child, conducive to make them better citizens, we need to act to care for them with compassion.

Considering the children who are victims of violent conflict and other forms of violence, the Interfaith Council of Leaders of Silsilah Dialogue Movement initiated the ‘Orphan Care’ programme in 2011. Under this programme, a special attention will be given to the children who have lost one or both parents due to any form of violence, natural disaster, a family crisis or if the family is unable to provide for the child. The initiative will first focus on the victimised children in the Zamboanga city and the suburbs.

The Orphan Care initiative will support the children between the age of 3-10 years of any religion or culture, who have lost their parents. The orphan children will be given an opportunity not only to have a roof under their head, but foster parents to care for them. The foster parents will be identified after a process of value formation with Silsilah. These families will be licensed before directing a child under their care. Silsilah will be constantly monitoring the situation of the children, with the support of their volunteers who will organised and mobilise the social workers to assist in home visitation of children in their foster families. 

Silsilah will constantly support the orphan children and continue to stay with them making sure they are well-taken care of. Orphan Care will care for children by  providing financial assistance for children, regular home visitations of the children in their foster families and at school, provide with medical services as required, organising recreational activities, continuing formation and

tho  logo of Orphan’s Care  which is a combination of the
letter O and C (Orphan’s Care) where the Silsilah logo is inserted.

the logo shows the face of a child who receives care in the spirit of Silsilah

also providing counselling for the children and the foster parents and attending to any of these children’s needs as required.

Currently the initial target of the program are 40 kids from different places in the Zamboanga city like Barngay Talon-Talon, Sta. Catalina, Mampang  and  Arena Blanco. the members of the Orphan’s  Care are composed of the following:Ms. Aminda E . Sano, President of Silislah Dialogue Movement, Ms. Gloria Cecilia L Bernal, Socail Worker, Consultant, Ms. Rasma J. Sappari, Muslim Coordinator and Ms. Virginia Montebon, Christian Coordinator

Silsilah  sees these children as a metaphor for peace, to put an end to violence. If motivated by compassion, we can do much to bring a difference to the lives of our future.