Saving abandoned and orphaned children in the Philippines has been Geelong nun Kate O’Neill’s life for nearly the past 20 years.
She has experienced both joy and heartbreak since 2002, helping about 40 ‘street children’ a year escape a brutal life of poverty .
She knew one boy from birth, whose mother abandoned him while his father was in and out of jail.
“He was supposedly in the care of his grandfather, however he was always crawling, then walking as he got older, on the side of the putrid road,” she said.
“He never had clothes on and was filthy, so obviously very rarely took a bath.
“When I arrived he would always put his hands out for a hug or, when able to run, would run up and jump on me for a hug.”
Kate returned to Kuya Center For Street Children in 2016 after a short Geelong vacation, and on her first day back:
“This little guy ran to me yelling, ‘Sister Kate! Sister Kate!’ and jumped up for a hug,” she said.
“It was only after I asked his name that I came to know it was my little boy from the street.”
The now clean boy recently completed his first year of school, Kate said.
But her and her colleagues’ “hands” were “tied” when they tried to help eight children with drug-addicted parents.
Four of the children had repeatedly asked for help but the centre could only take them with parental permission or by government order, Kate explained.
“The children were scavenging and stealing during the day and expected to bring the money home to the parents at night,” Kate said.
“The parents did not want to lose their source of income.”
A government assessment allowed the parents to keep their children at home, limiting Kuya Center to providing non-formal education, counselling and health support.
“Sadly one was hit by a car (while) running across the road after stealing some vegetables to take home for the family meal,” Kate said.
“He was killed at the age of 13.”
After a short visit to Geelong this month Kate returned to Kuya Center.
“The children are like any other(s) I guess. They crave for and desire the attention, love and care of parents,” she said from Manila.
But too often orphaned and abandoned children turned to a life of crime or scavenging to survive.
“Often they have become involved in using illicit substances to help dull their pain and hunger.”
But Kuya Center mellowed the children’s tough street personas and helped them access much-needed education and support, Kate said.
“They like to play, they even like to go to school, as it’s a privilege for them to access formal education.”
St Michael’s Parish in Bell Park had raised an “amazing” $140,000-plus since 2013 towards Kate’s efforts, which left her “deeply touched”.
“The kids here are amazed that people who live so far away care for them and want to help them,” she said.
Melbourne-based Filipino band The Quinals and Harmonico Filipino will join forces at Holy Family Catholic Church at 2pm on 19 October in the parish’s latest fundraiser for Kuya Center.
Tickets and details are available at St Michael’s Parish office by phoning 5278 1343.
