The mission of the Young Life Health Care and Education Foundation is to help the lives of underprivileged Filipino children by providing quality healthcare and education regardless of race or religion. By providing them with the skills needed to survive in a competitive society, these children can break away from the cycle of poverty and become positive contributors to society.
Many children have undergone severe hardship and have experienced unimaginable horror. Consequently, they are fearful, have low self-esteem and no self-confidence. Young Life will help them rebuild their lives by doing the following.
Restoring Self-esteem
The development of a child’s self-esteem is central to the Young Life Village’s philosophy. The organization believes that children who have high self-esteem are capable of achieving great things and making a difference in their lives and also that of others.
Being Loved
The first step in rebuilding the child’s self-esteem is done by giving the child much needed emotional support. This is done by providing the child with a sense of belonging by making them feel that they are part of a family that gives unconditional love and encouragement.
Living Without Fear
Fear is paralyzing; it stunts the emotional, the psychological, and the intellectual development of a child. The Young Life Village is a protected environment which allows a child to flourish and grow free from fear and harm.
Education is the Key
Having provided a nurturing and safe environment for the children, the next step is to give them an education - but not just any education but the “best education available” that is suited to their ability. It is Young Life’s belief that it is only through good education that these children can truly breakaway from the cycle of poverty and become productive members of society.
The Exponential Effect
The Philippine culture is a very family orientated culture. The responsibility of taking care of a brother or sister is deeply ingrained in the Filipino psyche. It is not uncommon for a member of a family to stop going to school so that the brightest in the family can finish their education. After finishing their education and getting a job, they in turn support the other siblings in their education and in the process even postpone romantic relationships until his or her duties to the family have been accomplished. So when you help one child; you have actually helped many more. By helping Young Life, you can change the world one life at a time.
The Young Life Village Project is not an orphanage, it is a home and sanctuary. It is where the orphans, the abandoned, and the neglected children will be raised with love. Here in a family environment; they will be nurtured, and educated so that they can start believing in themselves.
The village is a protected environment that guards these vulnerable children from those who desire to take advantage of them. Without protection, these children will be the first to fall victims of the worst kinds of abuse and exploitation imaginable.
By creating a protected environment, the Young Life Village shields the children from predators and those who seek to exploit them. The village will be a place where these children will no longer have to live in fear.
The Young Life Village Project is located on an impoverished island in the central Philippines. The only way to access the island is by boat. The location was chosen because it has the ideal condition for raising children in their formative years. The Young Life Village project will provide employment and extend medical and dental services to the community.
The Young Life Village Project will have
Thirty (30) homes that are built to last. • Office building • Medical Clinic • Dental clinic • Dormitory for visiting foreign volunteers (Eg. Doctors & teachers) • Covered court • Library • Playground
Young Life Home will have
Each home will accommdate 10 children and a mother. • Two bedrooms to separate the boys and the girls. • A study area • A living room • Kitchen. • Three toilets and baths. • A vegetable garden
Medical and Dental Clinic
Why help Young Life
We believe that people who help charity must know where their donations go. That is why we practice absolute transparency so you can monitor where your money is being spent. Another priority of Young Life is to keep administrative costs down so donations will be maximized to help the children in need.
The Young Life Foundation’s board which oversees the fundraising and the implementation of the projects is composed of dedicated volunteers and receives no salary. With Young Life, your contributions go directly to the projects and therefore bypass expensive administrative red-tape which depletes a big portion of the donations.
Your Legacy
What legacy will you leave in this world? To honor those who have helped the children of the streets; each home will be named after it’s sponsors. A sponsor maybe an individual or a company.
Recognition will be given to those who have helped, that is why a metal plaque giving more information about each sponsor will be embedded on the walls of each home so that the generations of children who will live in these homes will remember your compassion.
Each Young Life Village home will therefore be a monument and testament to your kindness and generosity.
The Organization
The Young Life Health Care and Education Foundation has a unique organizational setup designed to cut administrative expenses so that the children can benefit more from your donations. All the members of the board of trustees are volunteers and receive no compensation.
The international board of trustees oversees the cost effective implementation of the projects, while the board of directors in Norway and Sweden are responsible for the fund raising activities. Maximum transparency is exercised in reporting donations solicited and the disbursement of funds to the various projects.
