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Global Urban Trek 2008
Manila, Philippines - City Overview
Manila has one of the largest populations in the world. The capital of the Philippines, it's estimated that a quarter to a third of the city's population lives in slums or squatter settlements in various areas around the metro area. Because of the overcrowding, tragedies, such as the trash slide at Payatas, Quezon City in metro Manila, killed about 1000 people who lived and worked there.
Manila's history is a story of 350 years of colonization first by the Spanish, from its founding in 1571, and then by a few other countries. The Philippines finally became independent in 1946, but have experienced a lot of political turmoil and corruption since. Because of the influence of the Spanish, the main cultural religion is Roman Catholicism. Tagalog is the main language of the people, but English is used in businesses, schools, and by the national media.
The Global Urban Trek to Manila is a program focused on developing and challenging young adults through cross-cultural mission training, living incarnationally in poor communities, and working alongside one or more organizations and/or ministries in metro Manila that have had an effective and transformational impact among the poor. Although there will be service components ("doing"), the focus of the program is learning ("being") among native Filipino leaders and communities who have boldly ministered amid difficult places and situations through their holistic understanding of the gospel.
Trek participants will be exposed to some of the following elements: family life participation, church plants, youth and adolescent programs, environmental issues, community development, community intervention, child and family development, outreach, and counseling.
Living Springs Christian Church (LSCC)
LivingSpringsChristianChurches are church plants of the mission agency “Servants.” Pastors for the three LSCC churches we work with grew up in the surrounding slum community and now lead their small churches to not only provide a spiritual home but also function as change agents in the neighborhood in practical ways. One example is pre-school education for children living in slums done in the church buildings with teachers from the churches.Participants enjoy the joys and challenges of incarnational living with host families and will have opportunities to work with children and youth. Read what these students have to say at Tracking the Trek.
- Mission Ministries Philippines (MMP)
Mission Ministries Philippines has a vision to plant a holistic church in every slum community. Examples of the “holistic” aspect of their churches’ ministries include community feeding programs, locally owned start-up pharmacies, and child/adult education programs. Participants live in different slum communities with MMP missionaries, building relationships with their host families and learning from the MMP missionaries. Read what these students have to say at Tracking the Trek. Also explore Laura Abram’s Manila Journal Entries. See also Missions Ministries Philippines. - SmokeyMountain
Smokey Mountain used to be the largest dump site in the world. A whole community of people lived on and around the dump, scavenging for a living. Now Smokey Mountain is covered by green grass and surrounded by 'permanent housing,' apartment buildings for many of the community who used to live in the dump. The dramatic transformation at Smokey Mountain, led in part by Father Ben Beltran, in the last decade has received international attention as an example of what is possible.Participants live with host families in the permanent housing and helping at the Sandiwaan Center for Learing (computer e-learning classes), watching the dance troupe rehearse, and assisting the community’s business ventures. Read Smokey Mountian reports on Tracking the Trek.
- Samaritana
This is an outreach to prostitutes and ministry to former prostitutes. Participants will be exposed to outreach, counseling, friendship and intervention among women in and out of prostitution. People who are gifted in arts and crafts are particularly encouraged to apply. -
Onesimo Foundation
Onesimo ministers among the at-risk youth of the urban poor. It provides shelter, a healing community, schooling, life skills training, and employment opportunities for at-risk youths. Participants will be exposed to friendship and mentorship among the youths, and other aspects of community development and intervention. -
SPECS Foundation
Two home shelters (one for boys and one for girls) house a total of 70 children aged 9-20. Most of the young children are from broken families and/or victims of child abuse. Participants will befriend the boys and girls, provide mentorship to them and assist house parents in managing their daily routines.
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Philippine Leprosy Missions
Participants will work with a local NGO or church in providing services for families affected by leprosy. There will also be volunteer opportunities at the leprosarium. Medical students are particularly encouraged to apply.
Note: Participants who work with victims of leprosy work with treated persons. There is no risk of infection. -
World Vision
Upper-class students who are seriously considering long-term service among the urban poor are particularly encouraged to apply to this site.
World Vision focuses on holistic, transformational development among children. Participants will live incarnationally with families among the urban poor and be exposed to elements of community empowerment and intervention, child and family development, and training in long-term holistic child and community development from a Christian transformational perspective.
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