Our Impact in the Philippines
Bahay Tuluyan is a children’s rights organisation based in the Philippines.
Bahay Tuluyan’s programs and services are aimed at preventing and responding to abuse and violence against children in the Philippines. They work in three areas in the Philippines; Manila, Laguna, and Quezon, delivering social services and programs on the street, in communities, and within its centres.
BTPA was established primarily to support the work of Bahay Tuluyan.
“Having worked with Bahay Tuluyan for nearly 20 years, I can say with absolute certainty that the support BTPA has provided over the years has changed, and saved, lives. We absolutely could not do what we do without this support.” – Catherine Scerri, Director of Bahay Tuluyan
Latest Annual Report
BTPA is please to share its 2023 Annual Report with its supporters.
During 2023, BTPA’s committee develop a strong vision, mission and plan for the next five years. It shows that BTPA have been able to exceed its agreed annual donations to Bahay Tuluyan. In additional to supporting BT with day-to-day expenses, the funds raised were able to ‘put a roof on it’ at the centre in Laguna and buy two new vans to help transport children and staff at Bahay Tuluyan.
KidsView returned in 2023 and over 1200 students participated in the program designed to education Australians about issues of global justice and equality.
We’ve Raised over $2,000,000
Donations from foundations, sponsors, schools, and individuals have surpassed $2,000,000 in the six years to June 2023.
These donations go to special appeals, major projects, and the day to day costs of supporting children at Bahay Tuluyan.
Current and Past Projects
In addition to funding for day-to-day operations, BTPA has undertaken major goals to improve the long term operations, sustainability, and impact of Bahay Tuluyan.
Australians have been generous with donations of cash, goods, and time.
By keeping our overheads to a minimum, we have made a real difference in the operation of Bahay Tuluyan and the futures of some of the world’s most vulnerable kids.
A Home on The Farm
Bahay Tuluyan operates a farm – the food bowl for the children. It is also a teaching farm, giving young people valuable hands-on skills and training in organic agriculture. 25 young people train on the farm each year, earning income for their education and gaining practical skills and experience.
When the farm was set up, a small, two room ‘bahay kubo’ (cottage) was built above the water pump to provide basic accommodation for young people staying there. This cottage is now very dilapidated and no longer safe for children or youth. Without appropriate accommodation BT could not continue to offer vocational training to youth or keep running the farm.
BTPA has raised money so that Bahay Tuluyan can build a new house to accommodate young farmers. This house will be able to accommodate 8 – 10 young people at a time in safe and secure housing. It will directly benefit at least 150 children over the next 10 years. It was funded in 2022 and will be built as soon as possible.
Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. This proverb also works for rice and other farm produce.
Responding during COVID-19
The areas where Bahay Tuluyan works in the Philippines went into complete lockdown due to COVID-19 in March 2020.
Schools remained locked down for more than two years, with many children not returning to school until late 2022.
For the many children, youth, and families that Bahay Tuluyan works with, who normally barely survive day-to-day, this lockdown was devastating. Bahay Tuluyan committed to providing food relief packages to the extremely vulnerable communities. Bahay Tuluyan’s brave front liners helped to make sure that families got this much-needed help. Your support allowed us to make it happen.
The pandemic was severely felt by the world’s vulnerable. Luckily, buoyed by Australian’s generosity, Bahay Tuluyan stepped up and met the challenges.
Education for vulnerable children
A recent campaign of BTPA has secured ‘1000 Years of Education’. With these funds, Bahay Tuluyan commits to sending at least 100 students to schools each year for a decade. Every child has a right to an education and Bahay Tuluyan supports children to access and stay in school.
Education changes lives and BTPA has enabled hundreds of students to attend school.
KidsView Reach
We have established partnerships with more than 150 Australian schools and involved over 200 volunteers. KidsView will be running incursions and conferences during 2023. Visit the KidsView tab for details.
Since inception, we have run 500 KidsView events, reaching thousands of school students and creating change makers for a socially just world.
Connecting Children to Bahay Tuluyan
In 2019, BTPA replaced the Mobile Unit for Bahay Tuluyan.
The Mobile Unit is a truck specially modified to be able to provide services to children on the street and in very disadvantaged communities.
The Mobile Unit program aims to improve the capacity of children living or working on the street to protect themselves from abuse or exploitation through the provisions of services, food, support, and protection.
This Mobile Unit will ensure staff and volunteers can reach vulnerable children reliably and safely.
The Mobile Unit reaches vulnerable children across Manila.
Construction of Bahay Tuluyan’s Centre in Manila
The ‘Home of our Own’ campaign enabled Bahay Tuluyan to construct a new centre in Manila.
This centre includes a drop-in centre; emergency and residential shelter; and a classroom for bridge education.
It also includes a social enterprise consisting of a guesthouse and cafe (Makabata).
This social enterprise assists in creating education and employment opportunities for young people and assists in generating income for Bahay Tuluyan.
The construction of this centre was a major accomplishment for Bahay Tuluyan, made possible partly through BTPA’s support. It was opened in 2011.
The Centre in Manila has provided a secure base for Bahay Tuluyan to run its operations.
Farm Enterprise for Food Security
BTPA raised funds to establish Bahay Tuluyan’s Makabata Nature Farms in Quezon and Laguna.
The Nature Farms are social enterprises, youth training programs, and generate significant quantities of food for the children in Bahay Tuluyan’s care.
They use natural farming techniques to produce rice, pork, chicken, fruit, and vegetables. Excess produce is prepared for the market, creating supplementary income for Bahay Tuluyan.
The Nature Farms provide food for the children under Bahay Tuluyan’s care.
Youth Training and Long Term Viability
With a Friendship Grant from the Australian Government, Bahay Tuluyan were able to expand their Nature Farms operation, train staff and invest in infrastructure and machines to ensure its long term success.
The young adults get the opportunity to learn farming skills – which increases their chances of employment and their capacity to grow food for their families. #friendshipgrants
By investing in our youth we are creating a future where they can earn an income and break the cycle of poverty.
Get in Touch. Get Involved.
Bahay Tuluyan Philippines Australia has a tireless volunteer committee.
It's our committee's dedication that ensures BTPA achieves its mission.
We are always open to applications for new committee members!
21 Cooper St, Essendon 3040
Call Us: (+61) 0403 117 923
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