Color charcoal. Eleven-year old Jessie knows how it is to be living on the streets; the dirt from the finger nails of the child he is attending to was so much like his once color charcoal nail.
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Batang kalye or street child is name given to a youngster who lives and earns a living on the streets. Batang kalye, a job title. It is only them who would do the job of scavenging at the garbage bins competing with the dogs, asking for loose change and food leftovers from passersby, or maybe watching over your car as you park. With their filthy looks and unpleasant odor, the street children sure work hard each day.
On the occasion of its 9th year Batang Pinangga and its sponsors gave 26 street children from Danao City a worry-free day, in an event called “Trip and Treat at Batang Pinangga” on June 27, 2009.
From Danao City, the children boarded the bus and went to the residential care center. Upon arrival, they were given bath by older resident children of the foundation. The treat included new clothes, slippers, free haircut, nail and ear cleaning, and medical treatment. Lunch, film viewing and parlor games followed.
At around 4pm, bringing with them their gift packs, a portion of their lunch, their old slippers and clothes, the street children went back to their place of residence while some went back to work again.
Batang Kalye gets a day off
Batang Pinangga is grateful of the support of Aktion Wasserbueffel, e.V. Germany, Bauorden - Switzerland, Evelyn Jao of Bluebell Trading Mandaue City, Elsa Barrameda of El Salvador Resort, Geertjan Berman, Karin van Rooijen and Ben Prins of the Netherlands.
The event was heart-warming seeing a child taking care of another. It is equally heartbreaking, seeing how poor and miserable the street children have become through the years with no education, not enough food and no medical care.
