So I have been racking my brain trying to choose one topic to make a blog post about today. Since this might be my last post for 2017, I chose my favorite highlight of the year.

Now let me introduce you to Hope for the Nations – Philippines.

They are a Christian non-government organization (NGO) operating under the umbrella of Hope for the Nations, a global NGO based in Canada that is working in 25 countries. In the Philippines, the organization has been operating since 2004; helping children living in the urban poor section of the city receive holistic education.

To clarify, I am not making this post to receive donations and/or gifts for them. If you want to help, you can contact them through their FaceBook page (facebook.com/hopeforthenationsphilippines) or you can message me and I will personally connect you to their staff. :) I am writing this to talk about my experience with the kids and to also raise awareness of the dire situations children all over the world are enduring.

So last October, I flew out to Davao (I’m currently based in Cebu) to meet with my good friend, Hannah. She is one of the most selfless people I have had the pleasure of knowing. She is currently managing the Staff at HFTN. We talked a few months back about my plan to celebrate my birthday with the kids.

Originally I was supposed to just give a short pep talk and have lunch with them but somehow I was roped into teaching them the Basics of Ballet as well. It was fun albeit unexpected! I didn’t let the boys get away with not joining because regardless of gender, if you want to be a good dancer (which was what they wanted to be), you have to learn the basics.

They have a beautiful organic garden which the kids take part in tending. What amazes me about their holistic approach to education is that they not only stress the importance of academics, but also have subjects that have a real time application in the real world, like business economics and the concept of banking. That’s why the kids are coming up with wonderful ideas to raise funds for projects from sources that are sustainable and eco-friendly. I wish I was taught that when I was their age!

I wasn’t able to spend that much time with them but for the amount that I did; I know my heart has been had. I am planning to come back this March if I can get away from work. I remember leaving and immediately missing the kids - I was still in the van going to the airport!

Pictured below was my farewell breakfast, personally prepared by Tito Tancho, the Head of HFTN-P and Hannah’s uncle. Such a humbling sight to see! To think they took the time to do that in spite of their hectic schedules. I understand now that programs like Hope succeed not because of the abundance of resources but because of the giant hearts willing to fight for the vision they have for the children – which is for them to grow and become world class leaders with a heart for patriotism, strongly rooted in faith.

Even after everything I have written, I still think I barely made a dent in the amount of things I would like to say. But I wouldn’t want any TL,DR comments coming my way. Kidding!

Stay tuned for more posts about the causes and charities I’ve come across and have taken pieces of my heart every time.

Cheers!

- Venice the Menace xx