SITUATION OF THE CHILDREN

    Majority of the families in the community are members of the Roman Catholic Church. They believe that at least for a member attending a regular Sunday Mass is enough to maintain their faith. There are other Evangelical and or Christian fellowships in the community and a very strong polarity between these group of believers sometimes give an atmosphere of confusion and mistrust due to lack of proper understanding of true faith.

     There are families who have already entrusted their faith and belief in Jesus Christ. In some communities there are mixed feeling and understanding due to the living situation of the people. For those who could hardly make both ends meet, there is always a choice whether to attend Sunday Mass, Worship Service, Bible Studies or go to work even on Sundays to provide for the needs of the families.

     In our communities there are children who can pray, attend Bible studies and participate in children’s worship. Of the total one hundred forty four (144) children in our center, sixty percent (60%) can lead in prayer, about 98% (136) can regularly attend Bible studies and Sunday Worship.

     The greatest obstacles for children and their families in knowing fully Jesus Christ is their poverty situation and the promise of abundance in the middle of always wanting and lacking in their daily struggle in life.

Intellectual/Vocational Situation

     There are many Public Schools in the communities, however the ratio between the number of children per classroom per teacher is very alarming. Upon the observation of the staff , one class is made up of from 35-45 school children. In this case the atmosphere can no longer be conducive for learning.

     It is noteworthy to mention the prevalence of very young and dependent population of children in the communities. Say for an area with 500 families, an average of 2000-2100 children can be counted who need school classroom. In our comminutes 90-95% are attending schools. The age of these school children ranges from 6-13 years old.

     In our communities, a population of 135 children in the primary we can experience and observe that from 133-134 can graduate from primary school. These graduate can also attend the secondary or high school. These graduates can also attend the secondary or high school with about 1-2% drop out in the end of the school term. There are also Vocational Schools in the area mostly computer or secretarial courses.

     Because of the poverty situation and lack of job opportunities in the communities parents and leaders expect the early employment of the graduates to help each family members also finish their studies and be of help in income generation. They expect short term courses and easy employment.

     The greatest educational problem in the community is the ever increasing cost of education and less and less job opportunity for the heads of the families. Poor classroom atmosphere and lacking in school facilities hinders the learning process and interests of the children. However in spite of these problems in education help children develop their special of mass media communication help children develop their special talents and interest of the children. However in spite of these problems in educational opportunities, the strong effect of mass media communication help children develop their special talents and interests. In sports the greatest hindrance is lack of available spaces sports and recreation.

Social/Moral Situation

     The most pressing social/moral issues are those concerning child abuse and exploitation. The pressure of struggle and survival leads children to work at an early age to help families meet their needs. Drugs and substance abuse due to lack of recreation facilities and playgrounds. Alcoholism can lead also to child sex abuse and also cases of incest in some areas.

     Religious institution are also lacking advocacy regarding casual pornography in tabloids and magazines being sold in the side streets. Mass media like television and prints as well as cinema can also contribute to social and moral laxity.

Physical and Health Situation

     In general, parents are able to provide at least three square meals for their children. But as to the quality in terms of sufficient and nutritional value it is barely enough.

     As the staff in Child Development Program, my honest opinion in terms of health and nutrition only 50-60% of the children in the communities are relatively healthy in terms of proper nutrition. The common health problems are common colds, allergies leading to asthma due pollution and congested living condition and also under nourishment due to improper dietary habits.

     However in spite of this common health problems, Barangay health centers and church social outreach programs provide assistance and health care for the people in the communities. The local officials and even the national government assure the people of a regular local and national immunization and oral vitamin supplement.

     The most pressing health needs are indirectly being affected by the income level of the families. Nutritional food, clean a spacious recreational and play areas and continuos supply of clean and potable water are inadequate.

     Clean water for daily use, both for body hygiene, food preparations and cleaning is not sufficient year round. Water if ever available has to be purchased from water delivery supply from adjacent communities. Another consideration is its safety in terms of direct use and storage system. Water being sold are very expensive and has to be transported for a distance because of narrow pathways in the communities. There are cases that people has to fetch water for a kilometer or two.

     Housing are predominantly crowded, lack proper ventilation and usually made of light-mixed materials that are usually not heat resistant. Sanitation is also questionable due to accumulation of garbage before collection and the presence of open canals that can hoard various disease carrying insects and rodents. Latrines if ever available is another source of health problem due to its proximity to the kitchen and bedrooms. It is also hazardous to the health of children because it is always water dependent for cleaning whereby expensive water is also limitedly and carefully used.

Emotional Development

     Sometimes emotional state of the children are very much dependent on spiritual and intellectual maturity of the parents. It is very sad to point that a family who is wanting in life are those with the most number of children. Can true loving atmosphere survive in a situation where parents' concentration is to find what they are going to eat each day of their live. And if its really difficult situation parents allow their children to stop studying so they work at a very tender age just to meet the daily needs of all the family members. In situations like there FHI and social outreach of Christian churches in the communities are remaining safe and secured solution for them.