Helping the poorest of the poor children in the Philippines to have a better life by providing them with PEARLS:
Peace, Education, Aspiration, Respect, Love, Smile.
ULINGAN is a small slum community in Tondo, Manila that sits on a dumpsite and surrounded by charcaol factories that emit toxic smoke; there is no electricity, no access to toilets or sanitation. Children and families have no choice but to live with soot, garbage, mosquitoes, flies, vermin all day and all night. The common meal is "pagpag"(leftover food from fast-food restaurants scavenged from garbage sites) "Pagpag" means to shake away the dirt and maggots in the food.
Join Us for World Read Aloud Day: March 7, 2012
Project PEARLS joined LitWorld, an international non-profit advocating for and working towards global literacy. Together, we will "Take Action for Global Literacy, Celebrate the Power of Words, Change the World." Learn More.
Ulingan and Project PEARLS featured in
National Geographic
Scavenging for Charcoal Fuel in the
Rubbish of Manila
"This soot-covered girl was six years old when the photo was taken, but she didn't know her exact birthday, according to photographer Hartmut Schwarzbach of Argus Fotoarchiv. She had yet to go to school, and instead was searching for scrap metal to help her family. They live near an area where tires are being burned.
Project PEARLS started a program in the Ulingan community to celebrate children's birthdays with cake and candles, ice cream, and noodles (for long life), and gifts and songs. "For most of our children in Ulingan, their birthdays come and go without celebrating or even knowing it," Villa said."
Thank you to all our supporters who made Project PEARLS a testament to what dedicated volunteers can do to make a difference.
