Andreas & Doreen Zuberbuehler
From:
Switzerland / Germany
Joined GLOBE:
2014
Field:
Philippines
Project Number
Please always include with your donation!
From:
Switzerland / Germany
Joined GLOBE:
2014
Field:
Philippines
Please always include with your donation!
We moved to the Philippines with 2 children in 2007. Our youngest daughter was born in Manila.
During the first 9 years we worked with two different organizations in orphanages, among street children, in livelihood projects, among indigenous tribes and in disaster relief.
In 2017 we founded the non-profit organization TIMOTHY PROJECT INTERNATIONAL MISSION INC. and opened the Lighthouse in Mindanao to give unwanted, abused and mistreated babies and children a loving and familiar home. The first children we welcomed were previously placed in a juvenile detention center because there was no other place for them. Another baby was with her mother in a hopelessly overcrowded women’s prison before she was brought to the Lighthouse.
The first house quickly began to fill with babies and children. Two children were found in meadows. Just born, they were thrown away. Others were given up for adoption or brought to the Lighthouse because they had been abused.
Therefore, we opened a second home in January 2019.
In December 2018 a group of 5 children were rescued from online sexual exploitation. Since no other place was to be found for the children in all of Mindanao, we spontaneously agreed to take in the 5.
We had been working on the idea of starting a second home for children who had been freed from child trafficking, abuse and slavery for some time. In Mindanao there is a huge need for such an home, one that provides aftercare programs and long-term support, so that these children can return to a normal life in freedom.
In May 2019, we accepted another group of 4 children who were rescued from online abuse.
Cybersex abuse of children is becoming an increasing problem in the Philippines. The International Justice Mission has been working very hard for several years to uncover such cases and train the Philippine police. Meanwhile, there is a good network of police officers from different countries (USA, Canada, Holland and others) who, together with the Philippine police, free children in the Philippines and convict pedophiles in Western countries.
Often several siblings and also neighboring children, who are on the spot, are rescued together during such rescue operations. As a result, larger groups of children often have to be placed together in an aftercare facility such as the Lighthouse.
Whenever possible, we want to integrate children back into their families or extended families. After the court case against the mother was closed, the first kids who were rescued from online abuse were able to go to their grandparents who are now taking wonderful care of them.
Several children have already been reintegrated into their families and some children have been adopted locally. More children are waiting for their adoption or reintegration in the near future.
Sometimes children go to school with hungry stomachs because there is no breakfast or lunch at home. Or they cannot afford the school uniform and school materials.
We support some children and young people from the slum so that they can attend school. They all live in difficult family circumstances and great poverty, but are very motivated to attend school. They dream of a better future and of learning a proper job. We want to help them to break the cycle of poverty.
Wir unterstützen einige Kinder und Jugendliche aus dem Slum, dass sie die Schule besuchen können. Sie alle leben in schwierigen Familienverhältnissen und großer Armut, sind aber sehr motiviert die Schule zu besuchen. Sie träumen von einer besseren Zukunft und davon einen ordentlichen Beruf zu lernen. Wir wollen ihnen dabei helfen aus dem Kreislauf, der Armut auszubrechen.
The school was built in the middle of the jungle, to give children from the Aeta tribe a better future. The Aetas still live in the mountains as nomads. They are often discriminated and disadvantaged by the rest of the people. Unfortunately, the jungle no longer has the resources to enable them to live like their ancestors. So they live in bitter poverty and hopelessness. They are exploited as cheap labor in the rice fields and the meagre wages are often spent on alcohol.
Since the school was founded, there have been many positive changes. The children love going to school and dream of becoming teachers, policemen or nurses. Many families also improved their living situation, they have settled near the school and built much more stable and safe houses.
Since 2019, we have been supporting the daily feeding program for over 60 students, and ensure that children whose parents live further away can stay in the dormitory. We also carry out necessary repairs to the buildings.
We would like to continue supporting the school for a few more years and work towards enabling the Aeta community to run the school without external help.
For information how to donate go to https://timothy-project.online/spenden/