Tahanang Sta. Lucia is a house somewhere in the North of the metro that serves as a home to more than a handful of abused street girls. Tahanan, as many call it, serves as a half – way house to these girls. Here, they are taught different skills in their personalized schooling, arts and craft classes, they even have catechism. This half – way house is run my an NGO. Children get help from volunteers. During our orientation, I was told that funding comes from foreign groups and individuals. Funding for their food used to be from a company, but as of January of this year, that company had to stop funding them because they were badly hit by the global crisis.
To begin answering the questions, the biggest pressing issue here is the funding of the house. Half – way houses for street children is not a very popular kind of charity here in the country as opposed to orphanages. Many private citizens have their share in funding orphanages, but places like Tahanang Sta. Lucia do not get enough attention. Tahanang Sta. Lucia houses more than 20 kids that need to be fed, taught, bathed, and clothed. They need as much help as they can get. The problem is no one rally knows much about Tahanan. Despite the continuous help that Ateneo gives, I believe that it is still lacking because of the fact that these institutions, need money more than anything. More than the hands that Ateneo provides, money makes these halfway – houses succeed and without the monetary support, there would be no way that they can continue supporting these children.
Another problem that I saw and I believe is very crucial is the fact that there is only one teacher for all the children. According to the heads of Tahanan, because the girls do not have the same level of education, their classes are not the same, hence they are not taught at the same time. Each child has a different level of education, which means almost all the time they have to be taught separately by just ONE teacher. Even though she says that this is normally how she does things and that she can manage, there is only so much one teacher can do. She only has so much energy to give to the children that she is teaching. If in Ateneo they try to limit the number of college students and classes a teacher has, then we should also try and limit the number of students and classes volunteer teachers have especially when they are teaching those who are already delayed in learning or those who are slow in learning. These students need more attention and patience, hence more energy is expensed in one session versus a university teacher instructing a group of competent college students.
For me, teaching these kids manners and proper hygiene is one of the biggest challenges that are presented to the volunteers taking care of the Tahanan family. Given their background and the fact that majority of the girls in this home are in their teenage and adult years, it will be very difficult for the formators to change their habits and teach them new ones. Cliché but true, it is hard to teach old dogs new tricks. The girls in this half – way house also have their share of traumatic experiences hence taking care of their emotional well – being was said to be very difficult, but very important. The kids have different personalities and different experiences in life. Volunteers will to learn to tolerate and adjust to each and everyone’s needs.
As an NSTP student, there was only so much I could do. There is nothing I can do myself in terms of the problems that I presented that Tahanan has. But as an NSTP student I did what I could. I tried to show them that I wanted to be with, that I wanted to have fun with them—and of course that I was having fun. I did what I was asked in terms of the tasks given to my partner and me. I tried to be as accommodating to them as possible. And of course, I tried not to have a favorite amongst the children. I found this a bit hard. I had a favorite, but I tried with the best of my abilities not to show it to anyone.
Though I had fun I thought that my bonding time with them was cut too short due to the seniors’ requirements which I had to prioritize. I was unsatisfied for this reason, but satisfied because of the fun memories and relationships I formed with the individual kids. I am thankful for the opportunity to be with them and for being able to see life from that point – of – view. I think I learned more from this very short NSTP than the previous one I had. This was something that was not forced on me. I also think that this experience was done willfully. There were some Fridays that I was actually looking forward to some kids—it was not forced on me. My facilitator did not force anything on us. She made us do whatever it is we wanted. We did our part in turn of the trust she gave to us versus my previous facilitator who thought that NSTP was an academic subject. For her, I doubt she saw the value of the program. I am thankful for my facilitator and the trust she gave to the group and me. (I am sincere in writing this. I hope you do not think I said this for a higher grade. Ma’am Floy, learn from my experience in my previous NSTP. I think that all the facilitators should have the same disposition you have toward this activity or else OSCI would have failed in fulfilling their mission and purpose. Now I can say this because I am in my senior year. I really hope the office takes it into consideration.)
Because of this experience with the Tahanang Sta. Lucia children I learned to laugh at the smallest things in life. These children hardly had anything, but they had the biggest smiles I have seen and the most contagious laughter I have ever heard. They had their down moments, but I was so shocked at how they turned their lives around. I am surprised at how much a decision to distance yourself away from the bad things you have in life can totally change you on the inside and out. These children are very talented and they are lucky to have found a home just like Tahanang Sta. Lucia.
