Street life is so vulnerable ?

Children are exposed to sexual abuse, violence, exploitation by peers and adult and possibly to be engaged in prostitution. Many children make a living such as car washing, car watching, begging, scavenging, petty theft and selling rugby which has a greater risk of exploitation and health hazard to support themselves and their families.

Yet, children opt to be on the street and disassociate with their families for one or more reasons:

•        broken homes
   
•        neglect and child abused
   
•        school drop-outs
   
•        below poverty income
   
•        peer pressure and older siblings

An alternative place

... is a dire need for street children for an intervention to feel safe and to belong. It is a place for children to respect one?s uniqueness and individuality, that each one?s gift and capabilities be recognized and affirmed. It will provide an atmosphere of trust and teambuilding to overcome fear and aggression. Also, it will be a place that allows and motivate children to create and experience a new spiritual orientation, that touches the core ?of being? where hope, love and faith come from.

As an empowered individual, he/she will build a transformed family, community and a responsible citizen.

With this in mind, Gugma sa Kabataan (?Love for Children?), is a non-government, non-profit organization founded in December 2004 which was duly registered with the Securities and Exchange commission on May 15, 2005 CN200527120. Also, it is registered in Development of Social Welfare and Development. As a social welfare agency it aims to reaching out the street children in Cagayan de Oro.