By Cristyl Mae Senajon*

My childhood days were a lot of fun. I would play all sorts of backyard games — tumbang preso, taguan, bahay-bahayan, soccer (the pinoy version), shiatong, and flying a kite with my older brother. I found so much life, freedom, and enjoyment out of those little everyday activities.

Unfortunately, many Filipino children today are victims of poverty, child labor, malnutrition, juvenile delinquency, child prostitution, and the lack of education that they skip childhood altogether and miss out on just having fun.

From 1995 to 2000, a total of 52,576 children “were monitored as having been deprived of their liberty in detention placement, under custodial setting through suspended sentence,” says the Second Country Report on the Implementaton of the Convention on the Rights of the Child submitted by the government’s Council for the UNICEF’s Welfare of Children. About 2.06 million children all around the Philippines are compelled to do labor in crop plantations, mining caves, rock quarries and factories, among others. Out of 10 students who enter Grade 1, less than 2 will finish college.

Despite appalling reports about the condition of the Filipino child, there may be hope for a child-friendly society due to certain social institutions. Kabataang Inyong Dapat Suportahan (K.I.D.S.) Foundation is an example.

KIDS foundation was founded by a group of friends who were simply seeking for ways to help out. This group of friends is composed of actor Diether Ocampo, Lawyer Karina Tanega, Media man Mondo Castro, Graphic artist Egay Bautista and businessman Bene Go.

Before they set up KIDS, Karina and Diet were very active in outreach programs that other people thought they had a foundation of their own. Donations poured in, some of which came from Filipinos abroad. The first came from an overseas Filipino family who donated hearing aid kits. This family has a child who suffers from hearing-deficiency. This was followed by more donations. Diet, Karina and three of their friends realized that they had to organize themselves.

They designed KIDS foundation’s programs to address major child-related problems such as child labor and malnutrition. Reduce, Eliminate, Decrease (R.E.D.) Undernutrition raises awareness on good nutrition. 100 KIDScholar is an educational assistance granted to public elementary students. Isang Milyong Aklat, Isang Milyong Pangarap is a nationwide campaign promoting the habit of reading among the youth. Out of the Streets, Into the Court, is a program with NIKE Philippines promotes sports by building basketball courts in different public schools in the Philippines. Medical Aid is a financial assistance for chemotherapy sessions of cancer patients in the pediatric ward of the Philippine Orthopedic Center.

“Filipinos have this notion of being friendly to women and children that’s why we have specialized focus on these sectors”, says Karina relating to the question whether we have a child-friendly society or not. “We have enough laws to answer these problems but culturally it’s difficult”, she added.

Not so many kids are blessed with a happy childhood because some them are needed early on to labor for their family. For the last two years, KIDS Foundation has been trying to change this. It hopes to be a sanctuary for more kids who are abandoned by society.

“Just remember what kind of childhood you have and wish that you can share that childhood with the next kid,” Karina said.

*Cristyl is program assistant for Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Program at the Ateneo School of Government. For those who wish to learn more about social entrepreneurship and how to become an effective social entrepreneur, the Ateneo de Manila University-School of Government together with Ashoka-Philippines will be running Beyond Bottomlines II: An Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship this coming September 20,2008 (Saturday), 8 am to 5 pm at the Ateneo de Manila-Professional Schools campus in Rockwell, Makati City. If you are interested to attend this seminar, you can send an email to youthventureph (at) gmail (dot) com or contact Katrina Wy at (02) 683-0262 local 141.