Do you still remember the tragedy that happened 8 years ago in the dumpsite of Payatas, Manila famously known as the Smokey Mountains?  It shocked us when we heard about a massive 50ft wall of solid wastes slid down over hundreds of shanties and undermined number of people.  Many lives were taken and many who are left behind still lives in terror of what happened.

Payatas is a mirror of extreme poverty since most of these people who live near the dumpsite share the same story.  They came from the provinces to the capital city with the hope to better their lives.  Even children at a tender age of 4 years joined in the hunt for food.  They look for scrap metals and plastics so they can sell them in exchange for some change to attempt to help feed their family.  Some children however are determined to go to school even with an empty stomach.

This Christmas, when all we believe that it is the time of giving and sharing, why don’t we take part and give love to the people of Payatas especially the children through Christmas For Payatas charity program.  The charity aims to alleviate the sufferings and to help reduce their dependence on scavenging as livelihood.  They already have some ongoing projects like providing Health Care Services and Skills and Livelihood Training for adults.  They are also trying to develop Literacy Program for the children of Payatas since most kids don’t go to school but choose to help support their family.  With our help, you can put a light to their dreams of becoming teachers, nurses and doctors.  You can help let these children be children.

Press Release:

The landfill in Payatas, The Philippines, is notoriously known the world over as Smokey Mountain. For over 35 years, the smoking dump site has grown to become a stark and heart-tugging reminder of the desperate onditions of humanity.

On a daily basis, children pick through newly arrived garbage to collect material to sell. The earnings made by one child are not enough to even buy food for the day. Hence, entire families are forced to climb the mountain each day, hoping to earn enough to feed everyone. Children as young as four years old are forced to work in this daily struggle for survival.

In response to the plight of these children, Totedaddy.com is working with Lighthouse Center For Children Foundation to bring a little cheer to the children this Christmas.

Totedaddy.com has kicked off with a cash sponsorship of USD 10,000 to enable the children to celebrate Christmas. FusionExcel International has also pitched in a USD 5,000 in cash sponsorship. The money raised will help fund the projects already in place, and help fund additional projects aimed at providing better housing, and a means of livelihood for the Payatas community.

It is hoped that by creating better awareness to the plight of these children, more support can be garnered towards their betterment. Together we can bury poverty!