New day shelter welcomes street children

The non-government organization Virlanie Foundation Inc. (VFI) launched the first Open Day Center at the Le Ruf Square on Arlegui street in Quiapo, Manila yesterday.

Mayor Alfredo Lim, who was the guest of honor, commended VFI officials and employees for their dedication to helping street children.

“We congratulate the people in charge of the VFI because they help the street children. They give them the opportunity to experience what are the good and simple things in life such as a proper bath so that they would no longer be lured into doing bad things,” said Lim.

Arlyne Fernandez, VFI deputy executive director and program manager, said one of the targets of the day shelter is to “convince the children to leave the streets. By providing them a home life atmosphere, they would know what it means to live in a home and not out on the streets.”

VFI officials hope that they would be able to encourage disadvantaged children to enter one of their 12 residential homes that can provide them with shelter, food, education and love.

This was the first time that they set up an ODC since VFI was established in 1992 by Dominique Lemay.

Fernandez, who had been a social worker for 20 years, said the problem is “getting worse,” and is no longer limited to “street children but (now includes) street families.”

By offering daytime sanctuaries to street families, VFI officials hope to help them realize that they could build better lives for their children and steer them away from all forms of abuse, drugs, and bad company because “children are the most vulnerable sector in society.”

VFI press attache Stephanie Drouhin said the center’s objective is “to reach out to street children and their families to educate and empower them in making better choices in life with an end goal of weaning them out of the street.”

The center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays to all street families who want to have decent baths, do their laundry and cook their meals. The center will also provide toys for the children to play with.

The center will also provide livelihood programs for the parents and a tutor to help educate the children. – Evelyn Macairan