Our New Refuge

At the end of May, a team of architects made their way to Cebu and spend a few days with me. We drove around the city, listening to Glee (My current favorite soundtrack to life) and looking at building designs. This team, who call themselves Visioneering Studios, decided to tackle our project as their one pro bono project of the year, and gave their time and energy to developing our new facilities for free. I have to say, at the end of those 2 1/2 days, when they showed me their sketches, I was amazed. I can't believe they were able to design this is such a short period of time! It's beautiful, and they really worked to meet all of our anticipated needs.

(Our new Facilities!!)

The drawing above is what the team went back to California and developed. Isn't it gorgeous?? We have to have a very high fence for security reasons, but they were able to incorporate the building into it and make the front softer and less intimidating. That front building will be admin and counseling rooms, meeting rooms, library and kitchen. Five of the structures in the bottom area will be homes. They can house 6 girls each, and will be set up to accommodate a family style situation (which is much more therapeutic than a group home!). The other structure, is actually an open area that we will use for any kind of meetings or gatherings or programs. The best part is, the property is on a hill, so if people are standing in that open area, they will be able to see the ocean, even with the high wall at the bottom!

(A view of our property, just purchased this week! See the Ocean?)

At the top part of the property, outside of the gate, we will build another home, that can be a transition home. We are finding, with our clients, often times they are older, or have children, and don't fit the requirements for other shelters who offer education or other services. We want to fill that gap. We will build this transition home so that those who are not appropriate for other placements, and can't go home, will still have a chance to go to school, or get a job and save money, before going out on their own.

So much of recovery depends on feeling safe. Safety is accomplished by physical surroundings, structure, and relationships that are built. I have watched girls lives change by the relationships they have built with our staff here. And I'm so thankful that Visioneering drew this concept of safety and relationships into every aspect of their sketch. It just looks... peaceful. Don't you think?

Right now, the MRH board is in the process of fund raising to build this new facility. If anyone wants to help by giving or hosting your own fundraiser, please let me know! We desperately need it to so we can make this sketch a reality!

2010 TIP Report

2010 Trafficking in Persons Report is out. Check it out.

This is the 10th annual report. 177 countries were reported on and the US was one of those for the first time ever. The Philippines is still holding a "Tier 2 Watch List" status. Which means it is still one of the:

Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA’s minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards, AND: a) the absolute number of victims of severe forms of trafficking is very significant or is significantly increasing; b) there is a failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons from the previous year; or, c) the determination that a country is making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with minimum standards was based on commitments by the country to take additional future steps over the next year

For the full list of countries and placements for this years report click here

Death of a Child

Today I attended the funeral of Jomar Sagarino.

Jomar was found when he was 11 years old, but those who lived with him at Happy Horizons said he looked like he was six months old. Jomar was severely disabled, both physically and mentally, and had been rejected and hidden by his family members all of his life. I've been told he was found in something similar to a cage, swimming in h

is own feces. The doctor gave him two weeks to live. A few months later, the doctor said he would not make it past his twelfth birthday. That was 10 years ago.

When I worked at Happy Horizons (2002-2004), every kid had chores they had to do daily, and they would do them in rotations. The boys usually took turns caring for Jomar. Although he had grown in stature (he was probably around 4 feet tall), he needed help with everything: feeding, bathing, exercising his legs, changing his diapers, he was still that baby that had been found neglected.

It was amazing to watch the boys who cared for him. Often, at first, they would be annoyed if it was their turn to take care of Jomar. I could see it in thei

r faces. They would have to sit close to him, while he sat in his wheelchair and they had less free time. But eventually, their hearts would soften, their expressions would change.

Because Jomar was like a baby in other ways. He was sweet tempered, joyful to be around, and enjoyed life. He rarely cried, and he would laugh when you played with him. Sometimes, I would catch one of the boys, who wasn't on "duty," playing with Jomar, and Jomar would recognize his voice. Jomar, as only a baby can, brought joy to lives around him, and taught many children how to love well.

Jomar will be terribly missed, as evidenced by the number of people who were present at his funeral. But, as he finally uses his legs for the first time, by himself, and finds his voice, uninhibited, before God, I cannot wish him to be back here. I can only thank God for giving us a precious gift, a 10 year gift, that taught so many, so much.

Below: Some of the young men who have helped care for Jumar.