A residential centre that provides care and support for the female children of sex workers.
Balay Banaag is a Marist Sisters project. AMS works in partnership with all the Marist congregations throughout Asia and the Pacific as we aim to walk together as a global family to eradicate poverty.
Balay Banaag is located in Davao City and has been in operation since 2010. Balay Banaag is a residential centre that provides care and support for the female children of women in prostitution There are currently ten girls in the care of Balay Banaag aged between 6 and 18 years old. Balay Banaag creates a nurturing environment so that these children can reach their potential and not fall prey to human traffickers.
Balay Banaag undertakes four key activities that contribute to strengthen the rights and future of these children:
- Facilitate formal elementary and high school education;
- Provide psychosocial counselling and values formation;
- Conduct skills training for the Balay Banaag children and those in the community; and
- Conduct parenting classrooms in the community.
The Marist Sisters and lay staff implementing this program are qualified social workers and counsellors and have vast experience working with vulnerable children. Through the support of the project, Balay Banaag hopes to also engage with the mothers of the children to build their capacity so that they can one day offer quality care to their child.
To learn more about this project or to support children caught in this cycle visit: https://bit.ly/2LdSKfJ