Overpopulation is one of the perennial issues the world is facing today. It is typically caused by a combination of factors such as high birth rates, lack of family planning, poverty and many more. Children are the ones most significantly impacted by situations of overpopulation. Limited access to resources results in children experiencing malnutrition, illnesses, and inadequate access to education, and healthcare services. Poor living conditions further aggravate the detrimental effects on children’s physical and mental health.
In the Philippines, it is evident that many Filipino children are wanting in the privileges they are supposed to be entitled to. To address these urgent concerns, in 2019, Police Station 5 of the Cebu City Police Office launched an initiative dubbed “Children’s Haven”. It is an advocacy and non-profit organization which aims to help underprivileged and impressionable children in the Carbon Market area of Cebu City. The organization is guided by its core values: Prioritizing God-centeredness, fostering collaboration, and promoting equality. Children’s Haven emphasizes spiritual dimensions; cultivates harmonious relationships with like-minded individuals dedicated to assisting underprivileged children in the community; and treats every child with compassion and equality, irrespective of diverse backgrounds.
Every Saturday, it became a routine for the children in Carbon Market to gather on the Ground Floor area of the said market. The program begins with academic tutorials provided by the academe or members of local universities, offering children with fundamental education to inspire hope for a better future. Volunteers from Christian organizations and youth groups lead praise and worship sessions, aiming to impart God’s love through prayers, songs, and Bible stories. Moreover, a feeding program is conducted where meals are prepared by market vendors, coordinated by Children’s Haven and sponsors. This holistic approach ensures that the children are not only nourished with knowledge and spiritual guidance, but also with food for their bodies.
Children are our beacons of hope. In guiding the path of underprivileged children, Children’s Haven embodies its mission with the tagline “lighting the way.” This tagline encapsulates its commitment to providing better opportunities and more meaningful lives for these children through various campaigns. For academic tutorials, its motto is “lighting the way through education”; and for the feeding program, it is “lighting the way through nutrition.”
The organizers have noted a favorable response to the program, evidenced by the growing participation of children, the support from multiple sponsors, and the dedication of volunteers who generously contribute their time and energy to assist the organization.
The significance of Children’s Haven extends beyond immediate relief. Gauging from its very name, it serves as a catalyst for long-term change, breaking the cycle of poverty and providing realizable, creative pathways to success for underprivileged children. This organization offers sunshine to every child, lighting young faces for a brighter tomorrow, investing in the well-being and future of children and the future generations.
