446 street kids graduate from scholarship program

CEBU, Philippines -   To recognize their persistence to obtain education so as to uplift their lives despite the difficult situation they went through, the Cebu City Task Force on Street Children yesterday recognized over 400 children in need of special protection who graduated this year under the task force’s scholarship program.

  Some 100 alumni, who are now successful in their respective careers, also attended the recognition to extend their gratitude to the task force especially to the city mayor’s wife Margot Osmeña, chairperson of the Task Force on Street Children.

CCTFSC executive director Annabeth Cuizon said that the 446 graduates were in addition to the more than 7,200 graduates produced by the task force through the help of different member agencies since its creation in 1986.

 The 446 graduates are composed of 193 elementary graduates, 210 high school graduates and 59 college graduates. Of these figures, four graduated with honors in college, 18 graduated with honors in high school, and seven graduated with honors in elementary.

 She said that they are producing 300 to 400 graduates every year in all levels. Just last year, they had around 500 graduates.

 Scholar’s tuition and other financial expenses are shouldered by the 27 member agencies of CCTFSC while the Task Force is in charge of providing leadership training, capability training and other life skills training including summer camps and more activities that will help them grow as ideal citizens of the city.

 Yesterday, as a simple token to their hard work, graduates were given gift certificates and those with honors received additional gifts.

 Osmeña told graduates to keep on dreaming and to never lose hope because the city government will always be behind them to protect and ensure that their lives will be improved.

 She added that seeing some alumni attend the event and seeing them now successful, it is her who should thank them for serving as living testimonies to inspire and give hope to others.

 As for Cuizon, she said that through their scholarship program, they have already produced computer engineers, nurses, teachers, police and even members of the Mayor’s Management Team.

 “These children come from broken families and some have dysfunctional parents but look at them now. What we aim is to give them second chance in life, to make them realize ang kapobrehon is not the end of their dreams,” Cuizon said.

 She said that these children have no parents but they were able to finish schooling. “So we want to tell the parents that if you want to see your children successful someday, be responsible enough so you can provide the needs of your child,” Cuizon added. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)