Posts Tagged ‘Smokey Mountain’

WE International Philippines Launches WE Care – A Medical Care Program

Posted By abee on 03.10.2010 • (0) 

On 21 February 2010, WE International Philippines, in collaboration with Young Focus, Mr. Eberle, Dr. Martin Camara of Intercare and medical doctors from Makati Medical Center (MMC) led by pediatric pulmonologist Dr. Bong Rivera, launched the medical care program, “WE CARE”.

A total of fifteen doctors, including pediatricians, dermatologists, a chiropractic team, and nurses from MMC and St. Luke’s Hospital set up consultation booths in the Gawad Kalinga center in Tondo, Manila to conduct needs assessment, medical-history documentation and thorough medical check-up/assessment to over 200 of WE and Young Focus’ Sponsored Students in the Elementary, High School and University levels, as well as the Out-Of-School Youth group and some 65 in- and out- patients from the Child Center feeding program located on the Smokey Mountain dumpsite.

Private donors from abroad, through Chris Eberle funded and sourced for all medicines and clinical supplies from multi-vitamins and antibacterial medication to various specialized pediatric and adult medicines; which were dispensed immediately, based on the doctors’ prescriptions.

Intercare’s crucial involvement in WE CARE also enabled the identification of early signs of possible physical problems in most of the very young students. WE will now be able to monitor them and hopefully be able to help prevent commonly occurring problems through educational seminars and preventive care from Inetrcare’s chiropractic team.

By April, as a follow through of the initial medical assessment, WE CARE aims to setup a simple medical clinic inside the student center that will be manned by a doctor/nurse team at least one day per week thus ensuring a long-term healthcare support of the Young Focus students and babies and toddlers from the Child Center feeding program.

WE is deeply grateful to all who participated in this very important initiative, and helped make the opening of WE CARE an overwhelming success!

This is only the beginning what will be an ongoing program. WE plan to maintain regular WE CARE Medical Missions throughout the year, and deeply appreciate the willingness of so many to give of their time and donations – in cash, and in kind (medicines and medical supplies). Please let us know if you would like to support upcoming WE CARE events.

Tagged As: Medical Assistance, Medical Mission, Poverty, Smokey Mountain, Tondo, WE Care, WE International Philippines

Posted In: News

WE International Philippines & CROCS Philippines takes students to Manila Ocean Park

Posted By abee on 12.13.2009 • (0) 

On Saturday, December 12, 2009, CROCS Philippines’ Franco and Kitty Limjuco, along with their adorable daughters treated twenty Elementary sponsored students, including Abegail Ofiaza, a 4th grade student their family is sponsoring through school, to an unforgettable trip under the sea at Manila Ocean Park. Complete with the special and extensive display of various jellyfish from around the world, and a magical Mermaids show!

It was an incredibly fun and educational day for the students from Smokey Mountain, topped off by an early-Christmas party-like merienda of spaghetti showered with gifts: backpacks, school supplies and new CROCS shoes for all the children and a big bucket of Noche Buena groceries for their families!

The student coordinators were almost in crisis figuring out how to help carry all the gifts as the children could not carry them all! It was such a memorable day for our kids who were overwhelmingly happy.

Thank you so much again to CROCS Philippines for bringing so much joy to the children of Smokey Mountain!

Tagged As: crocs, Manila Ocean Park, Smokey Mountain, WE International Philippines

Posted In: News

WE International Philippines Relief Operations

Posted By abee on 10.15.2009 • (0) 

Two major typhoons hit the Philippines within the last three (3) weeks. The first one, Ketsana (Ondoy), dumped three (3) times more rain in Metro Manila than Hurricane Katrina in just six (6) hours causing devastating and fatal floods. And Parma (Pepeng), occurring just days after Ketsana, caused deadly landslides in the northern part of the country swallowing up to 80% of Pangasinan, the 3^rd largest rice-producing province in the country, rendering major thoroughfares impassable and leaving areas like Baguio and Benguet – where Igorot tribes still reside in mountains – completely cut-off without power, fuel and unable to receive relief goods, medicines and assistance.

In response to the sudden and great need that resulted from the damage and destruction caused by Ketsana and Parma, members of our team coordinated with and participated in relief operations throughout the metropolis.  Thanks to the generosity of our friends from all over the world, we were able to buy much needed water and food to donate.  The team also organized a unique and environmentally conscious relief operation wherein relief goods were packed in reusable blankets, pillow-cases, towels and bed sheets. The relief bags were distributed to Marikina, Paranaque, Pasig, San Juan, and, with the help of LBC in Rizal – even as some of these areas remained flooded.

Despite the damage, grief and sorrow typhoons Ketsana and Parma caused, they also brought out such awe-inspiring selflessness and generosity in everyone – friends, family and strangers from within the Philippines and abroad.  Amongst the most inspiring, WE International Philippines’ sponsored students and out-of-school youth from Smokey Mountain voiced out their desire to help and joined the WE team in packing and distributing relief bags to the victims of the typhoons as well.

* On Friday, 16 October, South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR), will be doing a missionary flight with the WE International Philippines Team at 6am to Baguio to bring medicines and relief goods: flashlights/batteries, candles/matches, soap, blankets, clothes/underwear, rice, cooking/eating utensils, water purification tablets.  WE will be hiking up to parts of Baguio and Benguet to bring relief and first aid to the people who have been and remain unreachable.

Tagged As: Baguio, Ketsana, Manila, Ondoy, Parma, Pepeng, Relief, Smokey Mountain, WE International, WE International Philippines

Posted In: News

Elle Camara Helps Children in Smokey Mountain

Posted By abee on 08.30.2009 • (0) 

On Sunday, August 23rd, the doctors, physical therapists and myotherapists at Intercare Clinic in Makati generously donated their time and skills and opened up their clinic for WE Help - a fundraiser to benefit WE International Philippines and the children of Smokey Mountain.

The concept of WE Help came from the daughter of Intercare's Founding Partner, Dr. Martin Camara, 7-year old Elle Camara - a little girl with a compassionate heart who has been an inspiration to us all.  This on going project was sparked by Elle’s simple idea to use the tools available to us to help those less privileged and reminds us that it is never too early to start making a difference.

Thank you to everyone who supported this event and thank you to Elle Camara, Martin Camara and all of the Intercare staff for making this event possible and for giving so much of yourselves. It is through partnerships such as these that WE can all truly make a difference!

Tagged As: Elle Camara, Intercare, Poverty, Smokey Mountain, WE Help, WE International Philippines, WE Philippines

Posted In: Fundraiser, News

WE August Student of the Month Award

Posted By abee on 08.20.2009 • (1) 

Left: Regine Sosing, Right: Vicky Joice Dela Cruz

August 2009 winners for the WE International Philippines (WEIP) Student of the Month awards are 4th year high school student, Vicky Joice Dela Cruz, who dreams of becoming a lawyer to "help the poor," and 1st year college student Regine Sosing taking up BS Civil Engineer in University of the East. Regine is also a winner of July's Poetry Writing Amazing Challenge. These student role models are excellent students, very active at the student center and helpful to their student peers and leaders.

The girls were chosen for the great example they set for their fellow students. On Saturday, August 29th, Regine and Vicky were presented their certificates and National Bookstore gift certificate prizes after a celebratory lunch hosted by Outback Steakhouse (Glorietta), WE International Philippines' corporate partner. After lunch, the winners went shopping at National Bookstore. Thank you to Outback and congratulations, Regine and Vicky! WE wish you continued success and excellence in your academics and may you both continue to set such wonderful examples to all of your fellow sponsored students!

For those with Credit Cards, WE International Philippines welcomes REWARDS POINTS donations to claim Gift Certificates from bookstores and drugstores for prizes for WE Sponsored Students and formula, vitamins and other medicines needed in the Day Care Center!

Tagged As: Poverty, Smokey Mountain, Student of the Month, WE International Philippines, Young Focus

Posted In: News

WE Help

Posted By abee on 08.08.2009 • (0) 

Tagged As: Fundraiser, Intercare, Poverty, Smokey Mountain, WE Help, WE International Philippines

Posted In: Fundraiser, News

Birthday Bash in Smokey Mountain

Posted By abee on 08.03.2009 • (0) 

On August 1, 2009 WE International Philippines Co-Founder and Director Cecilia Martinez-Miranda just turned 19 and chose to celebrate her birthday in Smokey Mountain with friends, family and 50 high school and college kids in the student sponsorship program. She toured friends and family around the dump site, took them to visit Ate Victoria's daycare for the community's most malnourished children and then threw a party for the sponsored students. The kids had prepared a few special dance numbers for her, as well as greetings and a beautiful gift - a painting they had made that symbolizes their journey towards a prosperous life and how, no matter how successful they become, they will never forget where they came from. Wishing you a happy birthday, Cecilia, and may you continue to make a difference in the lives of children in Smokey Mountain!

Tagged As: Birthday, Cecilia Martinez-Miranda, Smokey Mountain, WE International Philippines

Posted In: News

A Birthday Celebration in Smokey Mountain

Posted By abee on 07.01.2009 • (0) 

WE International Philippines' Director of Development, Geni Psinakis, celebrated her birthday recently with a group of close friends and more than 40 elementary school students residing in the Smokey Mountain garbage dump. The birthday party was held at a local community center in the area. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade children from our partner's student sponsorship program were entertained with various games and a magic show. In lieu of birthday gifts, Geni had asked her friends to donate books, school supplies, toys and items the kids in need. The event was a wonderful success, and a truly joyful birthday celebration!

Tagged As: Birthday, Geni Psinakis, Smokey Mountain, Tondo, WE International Philippines, Young Focus

Posted In: News

Madonna and Jenly, Smokey Mountain Success Stories

Posted By abee on 05.25.2009 • (0) 

Left: Jenly Pascual, Right: Madonna Flores

WE International Philippines recently had the privilege of seeing two students from the Student Sponsorship Program in Smokey Mountain graduate from college, and shortly thereafter receive job offers from Holy Rosary school in Las Pinas.  Madonna Flores was hired as a Filipino teacher and Jenly Pascual was hired as an elementary school Information Technology teacher.

The girls’ lives have changed dramatically since the time they first began attending school through the Student Sponsorship Program. Madonna and Jenly’s transformational success has served as an inspiration to other sponsored students from the Smokey Mountain area who are currently working to successfully fashion their own individual futures. 

Madonna and Jenly's growth has also touched the hearts of all of the professionals who work on a daily basis to help make this kind of success story a reality. Their victory is a testament to the fact that youth from Smokey Mountain have the ability to succeed and escape the cycle of poverty that plagues the community. WE believe that "success breeds success", and Madonna and Jenly have shown the way!

As a community, WE celebrate their accomplishments, but above all, WE celebrate who they have become as young adults!

Tagged As: Smokey Mountain, Success Story, Tondo, WE International Philippines

Posted In: News

WE International Philippines Spends Christmas Eve at Smokey Mountain

Posted By abee on 12.25.2008 • (0) 

In the true spirit of Christmas, Goodwill Ambassador for WE International Philippines, Rocio Olbes, gathered together a group of compassionate indivi duals to share the  with underprivileged youth residing in Smokey Mountain. Dashing through Manila in a van filled with 500 cookies and five large boxes of shoes, clothes and toys, the group made their way to the Young Focus Student Center to celebrate the Christmas season with the kids.  At WE International Philippines WE believe that a spoonful of compassion blended with a creative community effort to extend compassion is a recipe for success.

Tagged As: Christmas, Smokey Mountain, WE International Philippines

Posted In: News