Mac-Mac* wakes up at 4:30am, stirred by loud shouts and bangs from outside. He crawls off his mattress, on which he sleeps with the rest of his family, and his tiny frame stumbles the two meters to the opening in their tiny shack that is their home. He emerges from the door frame, the only entrance to the single room that houses all six of his family. The outline of his ribs are visible on his chest, and dirt is still smeared across his face. It’s been about 5 days since his last shower, mostly because the family don’t have their own toilet facilities, but also because no-one’s keeping track of it.

His parents are still asleep, curled up together with his siblings to try and squeeze between the thin, wooden walls. He wanders outside and sees some older boys fighting with each other along the streets. He doesn’t know why, rarely do people see why, but he runs up to watch.

.......

Mac-Mac wanders around for a few more hours until eventually someone gives him food just to get rid of him. He tries to join in playing with some of the other kids around. But, weak from hunger and easily angered from low blood sugar, he can’t control his temper and the game turns into a fight. This cycle is repeated for lunch, and later for dinner, and indeed for the first 6 years of his life.

The neglect, trauma, and abuse he suffers on a routine basis will, one day, essentially kill him. Not today, and not tomorrow. But the trauma and neglect throughout Mac-Mac’s childhood will mean that if the average life expectancy in the Philippines is 68 years, Mac-Mac can expect to live to around 48.

*Mac-Mac’s real name has been changed for child protection concerns

You can read the full story here: 

http://fairplayforall.org/2017/11/14/faces-of-payatas-meet-mac-mac-why-childhood-trauma-is-the-number-one-health-problem-anywhere/

So here's what we're looking to do. We know that childhood trauma predicts big health outcomes, physically and mentally. People who have experienced 6 of the 10 categories of childhood trauma live an average of 20 years less. The link above explains this in more detail. 

Through 2018, then, we are looking to expand the Fairplay School to include a Pre-School class. Pre-School children will be there to play, learn basic hygiene, and have a safe, positive space; a grounding from which they can begin to learn emotional intelligence (EQ). The Kinder class begins the basic literacy program, where they learn to become literate in numbers, reading, writing, and EQ.

To do this we need to fund (Philippine labour laws pay 13 months for the year):

Pre-School Teacher: P15,000/month*13 months = P195,000 (£2,950)

Kinder Teacher: P15,000/month*13 months = P195,000 (£2,950)

Teaching Assistant: P10,000/month* 13 months = P130,000 (£1,950)

For a full year, this ensures 30 of the most vulnerable children are engaged, learning, and safe. With your support, together, we can level the playing field for these kids. Provide opportunities they don't otherwise have. 

If you'd like to give and live in the Philippines then please contact us directly to avoid any bank charges. See our website at: www.fairplayforall.org