On 25 June 2012, approximately 70 children and youth from five barangays (villages) in Park Avenue, Pasay City launched an exhibit of their artwork at the Pasay City Hall in Metro Manila, Philippines. This was the culminating event after ten months of participating in several art workshops organized by CFSI under the Park Avenue Initiative (PAI). By providing training and an outlet for artistic expression, CFSI seeks to increase their creativity and self-confidence, as well as promote their welfare.

Through the PAI, CFSI is getting young children back into school and providing them a safe gathering place, school supplies, nutritious snacks, and mentors to help them with homework. Also, CFSI is helping youth from the area participate in special job skills training programmes, learn about reproductive health, and carry out start-up livelihood initiatives.

These children and youth have been very busy, honing their creativity and artistic skills in art workshops. Over the past ten months, Lena Kueck and Hedda Schattanik, volunteers from Germany, have been organizing training sessions at CFSI Headquarters. Lena and Hedda are working with CFSI under a partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the German Society for International Cooperation.

CFSI Director for Philippine Programme Vladimir Arcilla Hernandez, GIZ Philippines Country Director Wolfgang Moellers, and Atty. Glenn Agranzamendez of the Pasay City Mayor’s Office cut the ribbon for the exhibit opening.

Park Avenue, where the CFSI Headquarters is located, is a highly congested, low-income area of Pasay City. Poverty, low levels of education, poor employment prospects, the sex trade, and drug trafficking put children and youth at risk. To protect children and youth and promote their welfare, CFSI started reaching out to the community in 1999, and formalized this involvement as the Park Avenue Initiative in 2004. At present, the project focuses on child protection, education, youth development, livelihood, and reproductive health. At present, the community is actively involved, with organized groups for children, youth, and women. In addition, the Pasay City local government is supportive of these efforts.

With photos from Lala Ruiz/CFSI