The military campaign of the government of former-President Joseph Estrada against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Mindanao has displaced nearly 300,000 people and intensified both rural and urban poverty in the region. Hundreds of houses and shacks of relocated families had sprung up around the Payatas garbage dump near Quezon City when the enormous pile of garbage collapsed after heavy rains in June 2000. More than 400 houses were destroyed and 242 people perished in the avalanche of trash. Though Estrada was replaced by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, through the efforts of “People Power II,” the need for economic, political, and social reform in the Philippines continues.

Children Braving the Storm, a project of The Children’s Rehabilitation Center, addresses the psychological trauma of children who have witnessed the violence of militarization and suffered the loss of family and friends in Payatas. It also aims to teach the children advocacy skills, while building a network of public support for meeting their needs. This year, the Fund will support a follow-up rehabilitation program for twenty priority children directly affected by the Payatas tragedy, as well as initial outreach to an additional fifty Payatas children. The program includes individual and group therapy, visual arts, public speaking workshops, and theater arts workshops. The participating children will create a presentation for the celebration of Human Rights Day, which will then tour in schools and communities to raise awareness and gain support around issues affecting children in this area. Visit the website of the Children’s Rehabilitation Center.