What is TULUYAN?
TULUYAN is an outreach program for the empowerment of street families in Manila initiated by the Community of Benedictine Sisters in December 2008 in response to the growing number of homeless families. It provides a drop-in shelter where street families may come during the day to avail of its facilities for taking a shower, washing clothes, taking a nap, use the restrooms, cook their food, etc.
TULUYAN also offers street families opportunities for education / formation, leadership and other skills training which will help them regain their self respect and rehabilitation.
VISION
A community where every family/ individual earns enough to meet basic needs, aware of their dignity as persons and participates in the building of God’s kingdom where justice and peace and integrity of creation prevail.
MISSION
Offer opportunities for formation, leadership and skills training for the economic upliftment of street families that will help them regain self respect and rehabilitation.
Why TULUYAN SAN BENITO?
According to the latest Social Weather Station survey (SWS 2009 3rd quarter), more than half of the total number of Filipino families consider themselves poor, while two in every 5 say they are “food poor”.
The first category refers to general poverty. 53% of household heads representing 9.7 million families consider themselves poor. The second category means there is not enough food to eat. 41% of families or 7.5 million said they were “food poor”.
The new hunger figure represented an estimated 3.5 million families or 300,000 more than the estimated 3.2 million hungry families as of Sept. 2009. Moderate hunger went up from 14.5% (2.7 million families) to 15% 2.8 million families. Severe hunger went up 3 points (550,000 families) to 3.8% (700,000 families).
Street dwellers or street families give a face to these cold statistics; they are the voices that are not heard, not included in any census because they are very mobile. They live on the street in their wooden pushcarts or “pedicab” (bicycle with side seat) that serves as home at night and as working place for gathering and transporting garbage during day time.
Of late, even the pushcarts disappeared after police confiscated them. Most of the street dwellers have very little schooling which makes it even more difficult to find work. They try to earn a bit by gathering garbage from the streets and sell these to junk shops.
Programs and Services
Shelter Services
Education/ Formation Program
Cementina Projects for Cemetery Dwellers in Pasay Cemetery
Social Services
Livelihood
Self-Help Initiatives
Health Feeding
Educational Support
Advocacy Program
