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LCP
Current
Situation
The
following is a description of the Current Situation of LCP (October
2003):
Thirteen
years after its founding, as of April 2003, Little Children of
the Philippines, Inc. (LCP) now serves a constituency of more
than 3,000 low-income Filipinos, children, youth and parents,
in 14 depressed communities/barangays of the province of Negros
Oriental. Based upon information obtained from the sponsorship
office, the average annual family income of LCP families with
a sponsored child is approximately $600. During the past five
years the number of barangays served has increased from eight
to 14, and the number of sponsored preschools from three to eight.
The enrollment in Sunday school has increased from approximately
300 to nearly 2000. Close to 300 children, ranging from age five
to 20, who are victims of poverty and vulnerable to abuse are
sponsored by friends of Little Children of the World.
Twenty-four
of these sponsored children graduated from elementary school this
year, some with honors, and 12 graduated from high school. More
than 90 youth are now enrolled in college, thanks to LCW sponsorships
and scholarships. LCP places every sponsored child in school, provides
tutoring for those who get behind, gives nutritional supplements
to those who are underweight, teaches them special skills and Christian
values, and assists their parents with decent housing.
The
all-Filipino staff at LCP has expanded to 11 full-time and 36
part-time workers plus 18 Youth Enpowerment students on work-study
scholarships. This includes eight preschool teachers with one
coordinator, eleven School on Wheels teachers with one coordinator
and one bus driver, as well as 14 paramedics with one coordinator
and two part-time nurses.
LCP
has grown also in the number of international volunteers who add
considerably to the work force, having increased from only three
in 1991 to 30 or 40 each year. They come from various nations
including the USA, Philippines, Canada, England, Ireland, Sweden,
Italy, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
They use their training and experience to enhance the existing
programs and sometimes even to initiate new ones like the Lice
Treatment Project and the Soup Kitchen. A number of Filipino professionals,
especially physicians, provide service to LCP member families
and LCP volunteers for no cost or at greatly reduced prices. The
local Red Cross has also been helpful in training LCP’s
community paramedics.
The
first unit of a multipurpose building complex was dedicated in January
2003. The second and third buildings were dedicated in November
2003. All of this is made possible through our partnership with
the Consuelo Foundation which is covering the cost of the design
and construction of the new buildings.

A
new, affiliate LCP project was recently launched on the island
of Leyte, thanks to the initiative of Marciana Hope. An LCW-related
center was established in Vancouver, WA to oversee the project
in Ingan, Leyte and to raise funds for its support.
New
developments have also taken place at the Tennessee LCW center
in Etowah. There is now an ongoing Camp Etowah project which includes
an After-school Program for preteens and a Retreat and Training
Center for all ages. The newest program in Etowah is the Single
Parent Ministry which, as it develops, will work hand-in-hand
with the After-school program.
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