SPOTLIGHT ON LINGAP Pangkabataan:
G Represents Child Domestics in LPI Board of Trustees
At age 10, G’s father sent him to Manila for reasons unknown to him. All he knew was that both of his parents were drug dependents and he suffered much from being physically abused by his father.

G quit school and worked as an ambulant orchid vendor. He found an aunt in Metro Manila to live with. At his aunt’s home, G was able to resume his schooling, but with much difficulty. Upon waking up at 5:00 a.m., he was expected to clean the house, cook breakfast and lunch, and wash dishes. He would go to school at 6:30 a.m. and return home at 4:00p.m. He would then continue doing household chores, which included doing the laundry, ironing, cooking and attending to other errands for his aunt’s children, who treated him badly. Despite his fatigue from school and daily household chores, G still did his school assignments late at night, often sleeping at 1:00 a.m.

G’s performance in school suffered, not only because of his heavy burden at home, but also due to his lack of workbooks and school supplies. It did not also help that his uniform and pair of shoes were hand-me-downs, and often in bad shape.

CIRCLE NGO Lingap Pangkabataan Inc. (LPI) began working with G upon meeting him in school. He was counseled, and provided much needed workbooks, school shoes, enrolment fees, school supplies, transportation allowance and assistance in school projects.

LPI also reached out to G’s aunt to explain the project, and enjoining her to allow G to participate in LPI’s activities for child laborers. LPI and other child domestic laborers continued to provide moral support to G, often assisting him in his school work and projects.

UPDATE!!!!!

In April 2006, G exhibited his talents during the LPI Youth Camp in April 2006. His leadership qualities were appreciated by his peers, who elected him as their representative in the LPI Board of Trustees. The board had just enacted a policy to harness substantive child participation in the Board, requiring one seat to be allotted to a child representative. As their representative, G is expected to speak on behalf of the children’s association about issues affecting children.

In recognition of his leadership, G was selected to represent the child domestic sector during a National Children’s Conference held in October 2006. He also helped prepare the Children’s Declaration to be presented during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Children’s Conference set in December 2006.

At present, G is assisting LPI staff in organizing advocacy activities related to the children’s theater managed by the Children’s Association. He also serves as a volunteer in helping other child domestics use computers for their school assignments.

Lingap continues to coordinate with G’s aunt regarding his activities. Although she has not been very cooperative, G does his best to stay in school, with much support from his peers at Lingap. He is an honor student and is determined to finish his secondary education as well as represent the children’s interests faithfully.

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G helping the board with issues on child labor