Island Kids Philippines holds benefit event in Switzerland

Island Kids Philippines (IKP) held on 21 August 2015 a charity event at Calvinhaus in Berne. The event was attended by over 100 guests and patrons from across Switzerland.

 Photos (L-R): IKP bus ferrying children and adult beneficiaries; IKP adult beneficiaries learn new skills under  vocational education conducted in partnership with TESDA

In his presentation, Mr. Thomas Kellenberger, IKP Founder, shared the latest projects and activities of IKP, which includes providing elementary and vocational education at the IKP’s Community Learning Center; scholarships for high school and college students;  and adult education for parents of children beneficiaries.

IKP, to date, provides elementary education to 450 school-aged children at the Foundation’s own Community Learning Center under the supervision of the Department of Education. After completing elementary education, the children are sent to public high schools, and eventually to colleges/universities. 

 Photos (L-R): Adults learn technical skills; school-aged children enjoy provided with formal education

Older children without any formal education attend classes at the Alternative Learning System (ALS) which is also offered at the Community Learning Center. Through the ALS, these students are able to accomplish their basic education in a shorter period of time and in a class setting suitable for their age group.

Since January 2015, IKP, in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the local government of Cagayan de Oro City (CDOC), has also been offering vocational skills trainings such as sewing/dressmaking, baking, electrical, plumbing, computer hardware repair, engine-tune-up, etc., to young adults and adults from the waste-picker community. 

 Photos (L-R): male adults learn electrical repair work; beneficiaries of IKP’s dental mission

IKP hopes that the education it provides to children and the vocational courses for adults will one day empower the beneficiaries, and through them, their families, and eventually the entire waste-picker community in CDOC.

Apart from providing education to the children and adults in CDOC, IKP is also involved in a rehabilitation project in Ormoc City in Leyte, which was one of the areas devastated by typhoon Haiyan in 2013. In partnership with NACSEA Relief, a charity organization of the New Apostolic Church, IKP is helping in the reconstruction of houses of the typhoon victims. 

Photo: IKP Founder Thomas Kellenberger (extreme left) with the IKP children beneficiaries

IKP is also raising funds for the construction of three cottage-type shelter homes for the Foundation’s residential care program for street children, its major project for 2015-2016. These shelters are to accommodate children in a family-like setup conducive to their successful rehabilitation.

 IKP was conceived in 2007 after its founder, Mr. Thomas Kellenberger, then a member of the Canton Berne Police, returned to Switzerland from what was supposed to be a touristic trip to the Philippines. Upon seeing the situation of some kids in the dump sites in Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao, in southern Philippines, Mr. Kellenberger started a pilot project with four children as beneficiaries. The project has now become a well-known charity organization in Cagayan de Oro City. END