Regions: Africa   Asia   Latin America


Name of Organization: HOPE Foundation, Inc.

Country: Philippines

Project Title: "Reducing Child Labor Risk Of Children Of Sugar Farm Workers Through Education"

Project Timeframe: 10 months

Location of Project: Negros Occidental

Budget Amount: $25,000

NGO contact and website:
Engineer Leoncio V. Jamora, Jr.
President
Email address: lmjamorajr@lycos.com

Judy Ann U. Gonzaga
Executive Director
Email address: judy_gonzaga@yahoo.com

NGO phone/fax numbers: Tel # (034) 4336138; Tel/Fax # (034) 4346362
Street Address: Room 301, Northpoint Building, B.S. Aquino Drive
City: Bacolod City
State/Country: Philippines
Postal Code: 6100

Project's Primary Objective:
  • To strengthen and improve the quality of education systems of three elementary schools in Himamaylan City, province of Negros Occidental
  • To increase the level of awareness among key stakeholders in Himamaylan City on the hazards and negative effects of child labor and the importance of education for all children
Description of Organization: H.O.P.E. Foundation, Inc. is a non-stock, non-profit organization with 20 years of an excellent track record and experience in successfully managing various projects in the province of Negros Occidental. Its primary aim is to pursue the socio-economic development of Negros through programs that help transform disadvantaged groups into self-reliant communities, and with support from government and other agencies. Programs are anchored on its four main values: a) human welfare management; b) opportunity building and extension; c) progressive infrastructure development; and d) ecological awareness and protection. Translated into actions, HOPE has embarked on programs ranging from livelihood, cooperative development, medical and emergency relief, reproductive health, education and school building construction, and institutional capability building. A 15-man Board of Trustees ensures that the organization's vision, mission and values are upheld in all the programs that it undertakes.

The following are on-going programs of HOPE:
  • Operation Smile Surgical Mission – a year-round activity and an annual mission where children with cleft palate and harelip are assisted and provided with free reconstructive surgeries.
  • Genetics Research Study on Cleft Lip and Palate Birth Defects in the Philippines – a research study, in the provinces of Negros and Cebu. Partner institution for this project is the University of Iowa – Genetics Research.
  • Monitoring and Evaluation Program using the GIS/GPS Technologies – a Phansup-funded project, which calls for the development of a monitoring tool using the GIS/GPS technologies for the reproductive health and family planning program of SIMAG Foundation in Silay City and E.B. Magalona.
  • HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention Program – HOPE is currently the Convener of the HIV/AIDs Council in Negros Occidental.
  • Capability Building and Skills Training – HOPE is contracted by various organizations to provide training management services.
Description of Project funded by CIRCLE: To attain the objectives, interventions will focus on improving the capacity of teachers through the conduct of personhood/skills enhancement training and teachers' observations, institutionalization of special projects on Child Labor Awareness Day and "Skul Korner Pambata" (two innovative features aimed at promoting the value of education and the elimination of child labor risks among children of sugar farm workers, and the strengthening of regular school monitoring activities such as Teacher-Parent dialogues and home visits). In addition, the project will develop and implement the Incentives Program for Students, a novel alternative of providing direct assistance to students and designed to positively reinforce among them the value of completing school. Awareness raising activities such as consultations or orientations with local government and school officials, teachers, sugar farm owners and the parents will be held. Hopefully, all these advocacies will lead to changes in government actions on addressing the problem of child labor, such as increased budgets on existing programs, enactment of new legislations and support for new programs. In all these activities, the project will campaign for a more significant, sustained involvement of the private sector, such as the sugar farm owners or multinationals, thereby increasing prospects for long-term support. Therefore, sustainability will be achieved in three ways --- institutionalization, private sector involvement, and local government or community ownership.

As a result of all these concerted efforts it is expected that approximately 500 children of sugar farm workers are prevented from engaging in child labor and are attending school, at least 98% of target children have completed the program, and the three partner schools institutionalized the special projects and integrated child labor into their curriculum.

Project Targets (Common Indicators):
Enrollment: 500 at risk enrolled in formal school
Persistence: 100%
Completion: 98% completed their grade levels