The John D.V. Salvador Foundation

SMDP Expands in 2012: Five New Children, a New Cottage and More Pigs Help Children Thrive

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 04:39:31 +0000

SMDP expects five new children in the New Year. This will bring the total number of children to 101, the first time that the orphanage has accommodated more than 100 girls and boys.

The children are enjoying a nutritious diet thanks to the expanded pig farm, which is now a regular source of meat for them. Of the 40 young pigs in May 2011, SMDP kept 10 females and the litter of one of them. The rest were butchered and a few pigs were sold to the market. A pig usually provides meat for three days for children and adult helpers.

In addition, the four students sponsored by JDSF are all making good progress. Two passed their entrance exams, one is already in his second year of accounting at college and the last is working on his English to pass the entrance exam in spring 2012.

The SMDP guesthouse “Basco” and the last of the six cottages have been built (painted bright pink). Basco can accommodate up to 14 guests, and currently houses students from the Netherlands and Australia who are doing their practical field work at SMDP.

“We are excited at accomplishing so much at the beginning of the new year,” says JDVSF chair Lizelle Salvador. “I can’t wait to see how our wonderful progress will help our children succeed in 2012.”

JDVSF Board Member Hugo Banziger Spends Christmas Eve at St. Martin de Porres

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:20:40 +0000

The children perform the Christmas story

JDVSF board member Hugo Banziger spent Christmas Eve with the children of St. Martin de Porres. Holy mass at 4 pm was followed by a fabulous Christmas show for which the kids had trained for several days.

A group of girls danced to “Feliz Navidad,” while the youngest boys performed a break dancing routine in oversized white baseball hats. There was also a choir who sang “Silent Night” and a play that recreated the shepherds on the holy night when they found Jesus. The light in the big dining hall Comedor was switched off, and kids marked the moving morning star with torchlights. Boys wearing Arab headgear played the shepherds and the youngest acting as the holy child clapped his hands in the crib when the shepherds arrived.

The fabulous festivities were followed by a delicious Christmas meal and a movie for the older children – the younger had to go to bed after dinner.

The boys performance

Dancing

Check Signing Advances the Halfway House

admin — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:19:50 +0000

Board Members Sign for First Down Payment

JDVSF Board Members Sign for First Down Payment

The Tondo Site Cleared and Ready for Construction

On 27 December 2011, Carmelita Salvador and Rhoneil Fajardo, board members of the JDVSF Manila, signed the first checks for the Tondo halfway house supporting graduates of SMDP who are pursuing education and work opportunities in the city. The checks will cover the invoices from Reynaldo L. Faminial who was awarded the drilling and piling contract. Work is scheduled to commence by mid-January.

Construction Progress for Halfway House

admin — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 03:14:30 +0000

A brand new fence around the construction site now replaces an older one destroyed by a typhoon this year

Initial steps have begun in Tondo, Manila for building the half-way house, which will support graduates of SMDP who are pursuing education and work opportunities in the city. A new fence was built around the site to replace an older one blown away during a powerful typhoon earlier in the year. Also, workers have started demolishing the old structure to get the new site ready for construction. “We are very excited at being another step closer to helping our graduates,” says JDVSF chair Lizelle Salvador.

Demolition begins to get the new half-way house site ready for construction

Celebration: London Fundraiser Supports Upcoming Projects

admin — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:14:12 +0000

London friends and family of The John D.V. Salvador Foundation attended a highly successful fundraising event on October 13. More than 132 guests gathered until after midnight in the lively London neighborhood of New Bond Street to learn about the work of the JDVSF and progress over the last year. In opening remarks, JDVSF chair Lizelle Salvador shared good news: the building permit had arrived the previous day for construction of the half-way house in Tondo, Manila. The facility will support graduates of St. Martin de Porres who are pursuing education and work opportunities in the city. Lizelle also shared photos of the new Tondo site and of the children’s village. The proceeds from the evening exceeded last year’s by 50 percent. “The generous giving at the event will ensure that the Foundation’s projects can continue,” says Lizelle. “Without our supporters, none of our important work would be possible.”

Back to School

admin — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:24:29 +0000

St. Martin de Porres children have happily returned to school. JDVSF’s partnership with Angelicum College in the Philippines will allow them to finish their formal education.

The children are participating in Angelicum College’s home-study based Re-entry Education Alternatives for the Poor (REAP) Program. While older students are provided with printed study materials, younger ones who can’t read are instructed by a teacher whose salary is funded by JDVSF. Volunteer facilitators from the college are assigned to administer achievement tests to ensure quality learning, to conduct consultation with the students if they have difficulty in the lesson, and to facilitate the learning of the difficult parts of the lessons.

Groundbreaking Ceremony for Half-Way House

admin — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 15:22:16 +0000

(LEFT) Barangay Chairman Luisito Reyes and Regional Director at Chalice International Gregory Forbes break ground. (RIGHT) Father Boyet blesses the half-way house construction site.

On July 28, 2011, a small group of friends of St. Martin de Porres gathered in Tondo, Manila for the groundbreaking ceremony of the half-way house, which will support graduates of SMDP who are pursuing education and work opportunities in the city. After a few words, Father Boyet blessed the site and handed it over to the workers. Construction of the house will begin in August.

St. Martin de Porres Welcomes Piglets

admin — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 15:24:10 +0000

View of piglets and their enclosure

Close up of one of the piglets

A year ago, St. Martin de Porres children received an unexpected gift from visitors: two piglets! With much enthusiasm, a small pig farm was built at the opposite end of the rice paddies. Only a year later, there are already 39 piglets. For no additional cost, they are raised on leftovers and home grown food and are now a happy, squeaky bunch of animals. In the village market, where they will be sold, an adult pig fetches around USD 85. This new revenue will contribute to covering St. Martin de Porres day-to-day expenses.

July Visit from Down Under

admin — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:01:24 +0000

St. Martin boy is tutored by an Australian student

July Visit from Down Under

In July, 16 students from St. Aloysius College, a Jesuit school in Sydney, Australia, visited the St. Martin de Porres home for children (SMDP). The students were there as part of St. Aloysius’ three-week intensive service-immersion experience.

They stayed at the home for four days and enjoyed playing with the children and tutoring them. The St. Martin kids welcomed the opportunity for social interaction. They also boosted their conversational English skills in the process.

In addition to helping out the children in St. Martin the Australian students also visited homes for the elderly, provincial jails and other orphanages in the Philippines.

JDVSF Founder Profiled in Christian Science Monitor

admin — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 22:22:10 +0000

JDVSF founder Marisol Lizelle Salvador was profiled in the Christian Science Monitor on June 27, 2011 in the “People Making a Difference” section. In this article, Marilyn Jones writes about Lizelle’s history and her motivation to create the John D.V. Salvador Foundation.

View the full article at csmonitor.com.