Brighter Future for Baby C.J.

CJ and his parents - a life on the streets

18 months old C.J. of Iligan City, the Philippines, does not have a home.

His mum and dad have been street children and have become street parents, earning some meager income from helping vehicles to park on the parking lot of a Dunkin Donut store behind the cathedral of Iligan. C.J. and his parents have no roof to cover them, no door to shut behind them, no place to rest and be safe. They sleep on a pile of cardboard in front of a music store - if it rains or shines or there is a storm.

What we want to do to help CJ

A minimal amount to support them can go a long way, which is already saddening, that it is just that tiny amount of money that can mean the difference between a life on the streets and a life in dignity and safety.

We have just today found a simple place for C.J. and his parents to stay and want to continue paying the rent until they are able to do so themselves. They also need to start up a small livelihood. Their dream would be a mobile sidewalk cafe stall and we hope to be able to assist them.

15 Euros pay the rent for one month in the simple shelter we found today ( July 30, 2014). To buy a small mobile sidewalk coffee stall would cost around 200 Euros. I am trying to raise 600 Euros, so we have enough for the rent for more than a year, the caffee stall and some equipment ( a pot, glasses, spoons etc) and some living essentials they need.

I will report on the updates and post pictures of C.J., the house and possibly the coffee stall.

Who are "we"?

My name is Laura Engel, I am from Germany I am a development worker by profession and have been assisting in a local Nongovernmental Organisation (NGO) in Iligan City as adviser on conflict transformation projects for the past 5 years. C.J.'s and his family's issue is not part of my work. It is an entirely private endeavour, because there is no organisation here right  now to assist the children and families living in the streets. My husband, who is Philippino, and his family are also helping me as well as my colleagues from the local NGO I work with. They help to translate, to make sure we assist C.J.'s parents in a way they would want to be assisted and that we pay a local prize for rent, services and goods.

 Why am I helping C.J.?

C.J. is a sweet litte boy.And I know that there are many others out there who also need assistance, but I just can't assist all of them now. And yes, the systems need to change and the duty bearers need to take responsibility. But that is all moving so slow, while C.J. is still living on the streets. And it is little C.J. who touched my heart. Maybe because he is of one age with my son Logan and I have already been handing down Logan's clothes to him for quite some time. When at night I look at my own baby boy, all nicely cuddled up, fed and safe in his crib, the thought of C.J. lying on a cardboard on the street is haunting me. He did not chose this life, he came into this world as a blank page and life has been harsh on him so far. The thought that just a little money and support can already make that big difference for him .... Let's do this together and make a difference! For C.J. and his parents, it would really change their lifes...

Go get funding collects a fee (4%) for donations. If you want to give in cash or transfer directly to my account to help C.J., please get in touch via facebook or through [email protected]. All the people who know me will know, that every Euro raised will be spent for C.J. and his parents, so they don't have to return to living in the streets again.