Who hasn't seen them - the stands of aid organizations in marketplaces, with pictures of suffering children and the moral question: "Don't you want to help?" And yes, of course many people want to help - when it becomes tangible. This story tells of a moment when help became very real - in Angeles City, Philippines.
Help for children in Asia begins with encounters
"Don't you care about the suffering children in Africa?" or "Wouldn't you like to help children in Asia and make the world a better place?" - You often hear questions like these from paid advertisers for aid organizations in the marketplace on Saturdays. Do we like helping people in need? Of course we do. But being convinced by paid advertisers? Hardly. There are huge distances between us - a person from the Palatinate, Berlin or Stuttgart - and the children in Africa, Asia or Latin America. This distance often makes it difficult for us to really feel the suffering and to feel a deep desire to help.
For some people, this means a welcome distance, for others a painful boundary of humanity. But sometimes these boundaries disappear - even if only for a short time. Help for children in Asia can have many faces, and my personal encounter in the Philippines showed me this impressively.
This time, my journey took me to Angeles City in the Philippines as part of my work placing international trainees and skilled workers. I regularly travel to Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and other Asian countries to meet my cooperation partners. From Angeles City, I was supposed to travel on to Manila. But before I continued my journey, I wanted to experience real life on the ground: To sit, drink and eat where the locals do.
An encounter with consequences
I was sitting in a small bistro on the sidewalk, waiting for my burger and fries - a typical American dish that is very popular in the Philippines. Meanwhile, a small child approached me and persistently asked for change. For us in the West, 50 cents is hardly worth mentioning. But even kind-hearted people know that giving money to begging children can be questionable, as it could encourage begging in the long term.
That's why I didn't give any money at first. But shortly afterwards, I saw the child's mother collecting bottles and immediately understood how great the need really was. A few minutes later, they were both sitting at the table with me waiting for their food, which I ordered for them. With the help of the waiter, who translated, the mother told me her story. Although the local language is English, the poor often only speak Tagalog, as they lack an adequate education.
She talked about two failed marriages and her three daughters. Her eldest daughter ran away with a partner, her middle daughter, only 14, became a drug addict and was admitted to a rehab clinic by the state - a fate that often ended fatally in the course of former President Duterte's "War on Drugs". Her first husband was shot dead, the second is in prison.
The next morning I was already waiting with breakfast, and Patricia was probably able to enjoy a swimming pool for the first time in her life - interrupted only by good food, which I also ordered. Anyone who has never felt real hunger can hardly imagine the joy a simple meal can bring. This happiness was contagious and I felt deeply fulfilled.
The mother explained that Patricia did not have an official birth certificate, but that this was necessary for school enrollment. She also lacked school supplies, which are hardly cheaper in the Philippines than here. We went shopping together - for school materials, clothes and other essentials.
Finally, we treated ourselves to cake and snacks in a café. My mother calculated how much it would cost to travel to her hometown to get the birth certificate. I gave her the money she needed before we parted ways - me to Manila, her back to her difficult life. But I sincerely hoped that I had given hope with my small help for children in Asia.
By the end of the day we had done all the shopping we could at short notice and were approaching the inevitable farewell.
This encounter moved me deeply and showed me how valuable such small acts of humanity are. We are certainly not perfect people, we all carry our burdens. But we can all contribute some kindness.
What I was able to give - and what I received
We are certainly not always perfect people. But if we are prepared to do something good despite our imperfections, we counterbalance our humanity. This Help for children in Asia was not a planned action, but a spontaneous, genuine moment of encounter. And it also enriched my life.
The next step: support in Mongolia
This article was written a few months after I met Patricia and Teresa. With their permission (name changed), I would like to show what help can achieve.
The next trip is coming up in August: to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. There I would like to find out about trustworthy ways to support children and young people. At the same time, of course, there is also work to do: Business contacts with local partners especially in the context of my Brokerage activities. This is not an official charitable work, but a private initiative with the aim of establishing contacts with affected persons and, if necessary, local aid organizations.
Anyone who would like to contribute or get involved is welcome to contact me. Contact us.
Outgoing links:
Info@Roj-Auf.de
063412666748