Okay. Contrary to my Catholic upbringing, I'm not fond of street urchins either. I ignore them most of the time. I don't give them money. I don't validate their existence at all.
But I do also harbor a plan to keep them off the streets which, if I'm lucky, I can help implement during my lifetime. However, I'm not confident at all if I can ever execute it, which is why I'm sharing it in this blog, hoping that someone with means can think of it as a good idea and go for it.
The germ of the idea comes from the movie, Pursuit of Happyness, and the seafarer's dormitory, Pier One. The problem this idea intends to solve is that of the disconcerting number of street dwellers who are residing along Davao's thoroughfares at night.
Apparently, little action has been done to solve this issue since these street dwellers don't harbor any economic value at all. Apart from the usual problem of littering and the possible tarnishing of Davao's (or should it be Mindanao's?) image as a "Land of Promise", these people typically don't bear the marks of a social nuisance. They do not cause violence or widespread chaos and they do leave the footsteps of establishments once morning comes. In short, they are invisible; souls hidden under newspapers at night, shadows who vanish with the morning.
They are also not attractive beneficiaries for CSR programs. In addition to being anonymous, this group is likewise fragmented and do not share the same identity let alone a shared physical location. Even a socially responsible company would find these facts frustrating and would instead invest their money towards more appealing and easier ventures like, say, sponsoring an orphanage or a GK community.
Yet, I believe these facts can be surmounted and it's simply akin to reintegrating these outcasts into society by teaching them the proper skills and providing them the necessary opportunities.
With this, I'm talking about a special shelter for the homeless, which not only provides temporary shelter for these dwellers but also provides a meeting point from where the rest of the world can reach out to this demographic.
First, let's start off with the shelter. I'm talking about a community dormitory from where these street dwellers can stay for the night, a building complete with shower rooms and a warm dinner. It's going to be something like what you saw in the movie, with beds and everything else.
But this is not its only purpose. The dormitory will serve as a locus for all the other charitable efforts that will follow. It will help focus the philanthropic ventures of many to increase efficiency and impact.
Crucial to this purpose, the dormitory will feature a job opportunities board for these dwellers. Initially, jobs posted will be that of low-quality jobs as befits the skill level of the would-be dormitory residents. These jobs might usually feature postings for house helpers, laborers, and other blue-collar work. Those who want to post jobs onto the board (contractors, homeowners, foremen etc.) will be screened and will be charged a small "posting" fee to supplement the income of the dormitory. It is my hope that as the years trod on, more and more companies will be inclined to post jobs suitable to medium-skilled workers.
Apart from the jobs board, the dormitory will also feature a seminar hall which will be the venue for skills development classes (either from TESDA or other NGOs). House helpers can greatly benefit from these classes because these can provide them with free skills to pursue other streams of income apart from their work as chimays.
But perhaps, the greatest appeal of this dormitory is its ability to attract CSR programs from both institutions and corporations. Since the dormitory concentrates the beneficiaries into just one place, it is easier to conduct activities which will directly affect these street dwellers. On top of this, it is going to be easier to attract funding because the dormitory has a name, a name that people can write on their checks, post on their websites, or place on banners (ex: This program is through the initiative of *ehem* Prospero "Trapo, este,...Boy" Nograles).
To finish this post, let me just say that this is merely an idea. I mean, before this dormitory can even be considered, there will have to be a battery of analyses and feasibility studies which will determine the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of this project.
And this suits me just well. What's important is that someone or some group is considering turning this idea into a reality.
But I do also harbor a plan to keep them off the streets which, if I'm lucky, I can help implement during my lifetime. However, I'm not confident at all if I can ever execute it, which is why I'm sharing it in this blog, hoping that someone with means can think of it as a good idea and go for it.
The germ of the idea comes from the movie, Pursuit of Happyness, and the seafarer's dormitory, Pier One. The problem this idea intends to solve is that of the disconcerting number of street dwellers who are residing along Davao's thoroughfares at night.
Apparently, little action has been done to solve this issue since these street dwellers don't harbor any economic value at all. Apart from the usual problem of littering and the possible tarnishing of Davao's (or should it be Mindanao's?) image as a "Land of Promise", these people typically don't bear the marks of a social nuisance. They do not cause violence or widespread chaos and they do leave the footsteps of establishments once morning comes. In short, they are invisible; souls hidden under newspapers at night, shadows who vanish with the morning.
They are also not attractive beneficiaries for CSR programs. In addition to being anonymous, this group is likewise fragmented and do not share the same identity let alone a shared physical location. Even a socially responsible company would find these facts frustrating and would instead invest their money towards more appealing and easier ventures like, say, sponsoring an orphanage or a GK community.
Yet, I believe these facts can be surmounted and it's simply akin to reintegrating these outcasts into society by teaching them the proper skills and providing them the necessary opportunities.
With this, I'm talking about a special shelter for the homeless, which not only provides temporary shelter for these dwellers but also provides a meeting point from where the rest of the world can reach out to this demographic.
First, let's start off with the shelter. I'm talking about a community dormitory from where these street dwellers can stay for the night, a building complete with shower rooms and a warm dinner. It's going to be something like what you saw in the movie, with beds and everything else.
But this is not its only purpose. The dormitory will serve as a locus for all the other charitable efforts that will follow. It will help focus the philanthropic ventures of many to increase efficiency and impact.
Crucial to this purpose, the dormitory will feature a job opportunities board for these dwellers. Initially, jobs posted will be that of low-quality jobs as befits the skill level of the would-be dormitory residents. These jobs might usually feature postings for house helpers, laborers, and other blue-collar work. Those who want to post jobs onto the board (contractors, homeowners, foremen etc.) will be screened and will be charged a small "posting" fee to supplement the income of the dormitory. It is my hope that as the years trod on, more and more companies will be inclined to post jobs suitable to medium-skilled workers.
Apart from the jobs board, the dormitory will also feature a seminar hall which will be the venue for skills development classes (either from TESDA or other NGOs). House helpers can greatly benefit from these classes because these can provide them with free skills to pursue other streams of income apart from their work as chimays.
But perhaps, the greatest appeal of this dormitory is its ability to attract CSR programs from both institutions and corporations. Since the dormitory concentrates the beneficiaries into just one place, it is easier to conduct activities which will directly affect these street dwellers. On top of this, it is going to be easier to attract funding because the dormitory has a name, a name that people can write on their checks, post on their websites, or place on banners (ex: This program is through the initiative of *ehem* Prospero "Trapo, este,...Boy" Nograles).
To finish this post, let me just say that this is merely an idea. I mean, before this dormitory can even be considered, there will have to be a battery of analyses and feasibility studies which will determine the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of this project.
And this suits me just well. What's important is that someone or some group is considering turning this idea into a reality.
1 comment:
Nice! I've been toying the same idea for a while and just that. It entails a lot of funds and logistics.
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