The local government unit (LGU) of San Jose de Buenavista, Antique, in partnership with the Let Us Care Foundation, Inc., recently opened a facility that will accommodate girls in difficult circumstances.
The facility, named as "Let’s Care Home for Girls", is an initiative of the Let’s Care Foundation based in The Netherlands with the Let Us Care Foundation, Inc. as its partner organization in the Philippines.
The shelter occupies the 299 square meters abandoned ice plant in Brgy. 4, near the San Jose Sea Port. It will be operated by the foundation free of lease for 20 years as per memorandum of agreement signed between the LGU and Let Us Care Foundation.
According to San Jose Mayor Rony L. Molina, the ice plant is an idle asset of the LGU, a discarded thing until the foundation turned it into a beautiful and significant structure.
Erna B. Vinkers, founder of Let’s Care Foundation, said the Let’s Care Home for the Girls will serve as a temporary shelter for girls five to 17 years old who are victims of sexual, physical and/or emotional abuse, forced into prostitution and neglected children.
Girls who are below five years old or 18 years old and above are special cases that could be accepted in the shelter as per assessment of the social worker and approval of the program administrator.
Let’s Care Home for Girls aims to provide a 24-hour alternative family care and healing to girls whose needs cannot be adequately met by their own families and relatives over a period of time due to circumstances and condition beyond their control.
"This (home for girls) shows that we Antiqueños are caring, especially to the less privileged," according to Antique Governor Exequiel B. Javier. (PNA) /MP
No comments:
Post a Comment