Universal rights of children are food, shelter and love. Unfortunately lots of children in the Philippines do not have access to basic needs. Home of Hope is a home for abandoned children. Some children have no parents anymore, others have parents who can no longer take care of them due to poverty, addiction or imprisonment.

Every single person who visits Home of Hope, leaves with a knot in the stomach. One feels like moving heaven and earth to improve the situation of children in Home of Hope. One wants to adopt and give love, food and shelter to these beautiful but damaged children. But most of all one will feel helpless. Our chairman Louis did feel helpless but learnt that we can all contribute a little ourselves to improve the situation of children in the Philippines.

Home of Hope is located in the outskirts of the city of Bacolod. The barangay is called Hadumanan, behind a fence and a gate lies the home for abandoned children with director Ritche Olivares. Ritche Olivares is a very warm and loving lady who dedicated her life to helping abandoned children. She started Home of Hope many years ago.

The children in HoH are sponsored by American couples. Unfortunately the needed 6000 pesos per child per month is hardly met. Ritche has to juggle with little allowance for food and schooling for the children. That is also the reason why she can currently accommodate only 24 children as she can't afford to take more kids in. The government encourages children to live with extended family as much as possible, but even this program is hard for Ritche to expand due to lack of finances.

When I visit Home of Hope 10 kids are having dinner in the dining hall. They are between 3- 8 years old and all so cute. The food is simple, mainly rice and some veggies, but the children are very focused on their meal which they are really enjoying. I feel sad as I learnt the heart breaking background stories of two little boys in the age of four and six years old. It sickens me that there are people who are willingly hurting children. Again I feel helpless , there is only so little that I can do.... I really respect Ritche and her staff who are doing within the utmost of their power to give these children a home.

If you wish to contribute to the well being of children in the Philippines please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it