About Bukang Liwayway: Dawn for the Poor

Little children rummage through huge piles of garbage. One by one they pick up treasures from another man's garbage. Millions who live in poverty have had to learn to use everything, even trash. In so many squatter areas in the Philippines nothing seems to be wasted - except lives! So often the poor cannot see any value in their lives and never realize their full potential.

Health Care

In the urban poor areas, where nutrition and health care are poor, it is important for the members of the community to become more aware of the necessity of a properly balanced diet and a way to promote adequate health. Bukang Liwayway endeavors to provide inexpensive medication for the community whilst providing seminars and workshops on good food, sanitation and health care.

The challenge is to provide these services whilst involving members of the community in taking part and then in running them. In every step of the program it is important that members of the community are involved in suggesting needs, discussing plans and taking part in the solution.

Livelihood Programme

The program now offers opportunities for youth and mothers to become involved in producing craft-work for sale in the Philippines and also abroad. These products include hand-made cards and bookmarks as well as larger cross-stitch designs. Natural talent and skills can be found among the urban poor. The greatest challenge is for quality control and to increase the market abroad for these products.
Livelihood seminars have been given in Welfareville and other areas to those who are interested in joining the program. There are now 74 workers employed in this program. The products are already being sold in England, Singapore, Canada, Australia, Japan, and the States, Germany and other European countries as well as in the Philippines The pictures, cards and bookmarks are sold under the name Yunik Krafts .

Visit the Dawn for the Poor Website .