Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

"Promote the total well-being of children and youth in the Philippines and enable them to become well-adjusted productive citizens. Provide support including orphanage support, educational, medical, nutritional needs." This is the 28-word statement by the Filipino American International Youth Development Foundation (FAIYDF), clearly emphasizing the rights of the children to a better education and better life.

FAIYDF envisions a future for the children by helping them be self-sufficient individuals to help contribute to the development of the next generation. A nonprofit institution founded to provide programs and services to needy children and youth in the United States and the Philippines, FAIYDF aims to support and prepare disadvantaged kids Compassion is the key word is FAIYDF’s service, as the organization is fully committed in putting their hearts and minds in their work.

FAIYDF’s programs include the Youth Education and Scholarship (YES), which helps sponsor a child for just $0.84 a day. Child sponsorship is the cornerstone of the organization’s work with children and families all over the Philippines. However, it is not a handout to a specific child, but an approach to a long-term development that invites a sponsor to build a relationship with an individual child and family. Each sponsor receives the profile and photograph of the beneficiary and has the opportunity to get to know that child through the exchange of letters, small gifts, holiday greetings or even a personal visit.

Under the YES program are other sub-programs like the Computer for Kids, which enables youth and individuals to gain computer literacy; the Kids School Basics, an outreach program that provides school supplies and personal care products; and the Day Care and Pre-School Programs.

As FAIYDF explained, the Philippine Constitution states that education should always be given priority. The Barangay Day Care Law dictates that a day care center should be established and maintained in every Barangay with at least 100 families. The cost of sending a young child to school can range from as low as fifty pesos to as much as ten thousand pesos.

The organization is determined to provide a stimulating early care and education to promote each child’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive development. They also have a special focus on helping children in vulnerable situations of poverty, natural disasters or armed conflict in Mindanao.