The founding of WE International-Philippines (WEiP) is the result of a truly unique and international confluence of circumstances.
WEIP Co-Founder Manuel Manarang grew up living in the Smokey Mountain garbage dumps of Tondo, Manila. There he spent over 20 years as a "scavenger" collecting cans, bottles and other recyclable materials in an effort to meet the basic daily needs for himself and his family.
In 1986 Manuel took the opportunity to become actively involved in a community organization operating in Smokey Mountain. He then participated in a 6 month long training course that focused on community organizing, which later led to his employment with the International Labor Organization on a pilot project adressing the problem of child scavenging. Several projects later, Manuel was presented with the opportunity to become gainfully employed outside of the Smokey Mountain area.
However, with the full blessing and support of his family, Manuel chose to pass up the opportunity to leave Smokey Mountain, and instead chose to remain in the area in an effort to make a difference in the lives of the people of his community. It was then that Manuel and his wife Victoria began their work in Smokey Mountain by partnering with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) to put up a Day Care center for malnourished infants living in the garbage dump area.
In 2001, WEIP Co-Founder, Ben Compton left his home in Madison, Wisconsin on a trip to Uganda. Ben hoped to make a difference in the lives of people in Uganda suffering from poverty and AIDS. On that trip, Ben met a Dutch missionary who had previously worked with Manuel and YWAM in Manila.
At the time of this meeting, Ben had recently accepted a contract to serve as a high school teacher at Brent International School Manila and was scheduled to go to the Philippines shortly after his trip to Uganda. Ben was consequently referred to Manuel by the Dutch missionary, and was encouraged to visit him. It was by this meeting that Ben would be exposed to Manuel and Victoria's work in Smokey Mountain. Shortly after their initial meeting in Manila, a long term friendship and collaboration began between Ben, Manuel and Victoria.
In January 2008, WEIP Co-Founder Abigail Sy – at the time a 4th year student at the University of British Columbia - met with Ben, who had formerly been her classroom teacher at Brent International School Manila. Whilst in Canada completing her B.A in English and International Relations, Abigail spent her time working as the Human Resource Director for a youth run and a registered Canadian non-profit.
Among the goals that Abee had developed for herself, was a desire to connect young people to global issues in a proactive way. Abigail’s subsequent visit to Smokey Mountain with Ben, and her encounter with Manuel and his work, has inspired her to devote her time, knowledge and experiences to make a difference in her home country, the Philippines. After spending a period of time in a paid internship position with Green School in Bali, Indonesia, Abigail currently is investing her time in co-developing WEIP's programs and projects.
In working together to develop the mission, vision, and values of this organization they were about to start in the Smokey Mountain area, it became clear that relationships were of integral value to Manuel, Ben, Abigail and the philosophy of WEIP that subsequently developed. In the following months, Cecilia Martniez-Miranda and Alex Compton, who had already been active in trying to support the work happening in Smokey Mountain, joined in the process of further defining and establishing the organization. The team’s subsequent discussions with David Lippiatt, Executive Director and Co-Founder of WE International in the United States, led to a natural collaboration and partnership based on mutually shared values, beliefs, and philosophies.
The establishment of WE International Philippines evolved from a plan to build on the already existing relationships, ideas and resources of WE International in the United States in a collaborative effort to specifically target issues of poverty and injustice in the Philippines.
