CHRISTMAS season is just around the corner, and in a few days we will be used to opening gifts from parties we acquaint ourselves in attending.
But for some people, these gifts might just mean more to them. Maybe it is through this yuletide season the essence of family and community can be felt—be it related by blood or by passion in serving.
For 48 years the Davao City Boys' Town has been a shelter for boys who came from destitute families.
Boys Town Davao was set up by Dr. Lourdes "Unding" Solis, who at that time was the wife of the chief of Police of Davao. Solis’ vision was help the boys whom she sees begging on city streets and being involved in petty crimes.
She wanted them to have a better life ahead of them, and wanted to be a way to offer to these kids a new experience to life than what they have used to.
The group was incorporated with the vision of providing basic education for boys who need help the most.
But for Boys' Town Davao president Salvador Angala running a center which provides shelter and education for boys from destitute families to school requires a lot of philanthropists to keep their heads above water.
He said that it would need a lot of efforts from different organizations—both public and private to help meet the needs of the boys in the center.
The center in Ma-a has boarding facilities, workshops, and classrooms for special classes in order to attend to the needs of the kids.
Meanwhile, the Davao Boys' Town community recently caught the attention of the Manila community through their creative artwork exhibition.
In 2016, paintings by 50 Boys' Town kids were featured in the “Collective Dreams” by the Alliance Française de Manille (AFM), with the support of the Embassy of France. The exhibit was launched at Alliance Total Gallery in Bel-Air 2, Makati.
And in the exhibit, the dreams of taking more opportunities through having a better life ahead by being professionals in the future are what the kid’s dreams are.
Maybe through this yuletide season, wishing for ourselves is good, but let’s take time in gearing ourselves to become instruments in making others’ wish come true by offering a time in our lives in service for the benefit of others.