THE LAURA VICUÑA FOUNDATION, INC.

The Laura Vicuña Foundation, Inc. which was organized in 1990 is a noble partnership between the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (more popularly known as the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco) and some distinguished lay professionals/collaborators to address the needs and problems of streetchildren. The Foundation aims to ensure continuity and convergence of educational and development interventions to empower children to become honest, productive and self-reliant Christian citizens. It has evolved an integrated development program called the Journey of Hope.

The Foundation utilizes community and center-based approach. It has a multi-stage program and centers namely:
[1] Child Protection Clinic in Taguig, Marikina, San Juan, Manila and Quezon City;
[2] Community-based Program for Children and Families located in Sta. Mesa, Manila;
[3] Residential Shelter located in Cubao, Quezon City;
[4] Training Centers in Sta. Mesa, Manila and Victorias City, Negros Occidental;
[5] Group Home; and,
[6] LINK Program.

THE LAURA VICUÑA FOUNDATION, INC. is ... :

A non stock, non-profit, charitable, cultural and social welfare corporation duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC);

A social welfare and development agency accredited by the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD); A non-government organization (NGO) recognized by the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC) for its sound financial system;

and operates Technology Centers accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)

History

1980s saw the increase in the number of streetchildren plying the streets of Metro Manila. Sr. Anna Maria Mattiusi*'s anxiety for these young souls led her to dream of giving these children a home, where they can experience care, love, a sense of belonging and where consequently receive Christian formation and vocational training echoing Don Bosco's dream and mission that every poor child be a contributing member of the society he/she is in.

She set out to realize a vision with the following guiding philosophy that in every young, there is a seed of goodness which love and integral education can grow into fullness. Don Bosco's Preventive Education characterized by reason, religion and loving kindness will be the axis of the program.

(*Sr. Anna Maria Mattiusi, FMA was then Provincial Superior of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians or Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco)

1989 - Preparations for setting up the foundation. Fund raising commenced with the million peso signature campaign which raised a million peso seed fund held in trust for the streetchildren project.

1990 - Sr. Anna Maria met with Jesuit friends, legal and business luminaries where the establishment of the foundation was conceived. The Laura Vicuña Foundation, Incorporated was duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a non-profit, charitable, cultural and social welfare corporation on August 27. The registration was correspondingly approved on September 19. A community based program - Drop-In Center for streetchildren was opened in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

1991 - The first streetchildren's Christmas party for 1,500 children was held on F. Manalo Street in Cubao, Quezon City.

1992 - A Residential Center for the rehabilitation of streetchildren in especially difficult circumstances was opened in Cubao. The Drop-In Center in Tondo, Manila was opened. An Informal Skills Training program for streetchildren was opened occupying two classrooms of the Don Bosco School in Sta. Mesa, Manila. The Laura Vicuña Foundation was duly licensed and accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

1994 - The study "An Evaluation of the LVFI Program: A Basis for a Proposed Sustainable Scheme in Development for Streetchildren" conducted by Sr. Maria Victoria P. Sta. Ana, FMA was approved by an academic panel. Hence, the Integrated Development Program for Streetchildren, The Journey of Hope.

1995 - LINK (Launching to Industries Networking and Kickoff), a job placement program, was launched.

1996 - The Residential Center focused on sexually abused girls. The Laura Vicuña Technology Center was inaugurated.

1997 - The Group Home was established.

1998 - Construction on the Community Development Resource and Training Center (CDRTC) for working children, youth and women in Negros Occidental commenced.

1999 - The Laura Vicuña Women Development and Training Center in Hacienda Malihao, Victorias City, Negros Occidental was inaugurated.

2000 – The LVF Street Camp, envisioned by LVF Board of Director, Mrs. Victoria Cuisia, was launched to commemorate the great jubilee year. Beginning in 11 strategic areas in Metro Manila and Quezon City, the Street Camps were facilitated by the LVF Staff and VIDES Volunteers.

2004 – LVF was the only Philippine NGO awarded by Winrock International with funding for its Community-based Innovations to Reduce Child Labor through Education (CIRCLE) Project. LVF-C.O.M.E. (Community Organizing and Mobilization towards Education) Project was launched in Negros Occidental

2005 - LVF was awarded Best NGO in the Philippines and third place in the Asia Pacific NGO Awards organized by the Resource Alliance and Citigroup Foundation.

2006 – In partnership with Winrock International, LVF convened the "National Conference for the Protection and Development of Child Laborers in the Sugar Industry", a first ever in the history of the Philippine Sugar Industry and a bold step to unify efforts in combating child labor in the sugar plantations. It is later dubbed as Children of the Canes I: A National Conference".

Also in this year, LVF entered into a tripartite agreement with Pan Pacific Manila and UNICEF for the implementation of Youth Career Development Program (YCDP), a five-month intensive training in prestigious hotels in Manila like Dusit Thani, Intercontinental, Pan Pacific, Diamond, Crowne Plaza/ Holiday Inn Galleria and Bellevue.

2007 – LVF reached new heights in the international scene with its representation in the 51st UN Session of the Commission on the Status of Women and an opportunity to conduct a parallel session on Empowering the Girl Child. Sr. Marivic presented a paper on LVF's Networking Strategies.

LVF was also granted 5-year accreditation by the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC).

2008 – The LVF Street Camp was turned over to VIDES.

The first ever mall-based advocacy session for child protection was held during the Foundation's celebration of the National Children's Month at Ali Mall in Araneta Center, Cubao.

This year also marked the commencement of LIFT SACSEC (LVF's Initiative to Fight Trafficking, Sexual Abuse and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children) to intensify the Foundation's advocacy work in schools, parishes, and high risk communities.

2009 - Through an opportunity grant from Global Fund for Children (USA), LVF Executive Director Sr. Maria Victoria P. Sta. Ana, FMA presented the Foundation's best practice in the Recovery and Healing of Trafficked Girls in the First Interdisciplinary Conference on Human Trafficking organized by the University of Lincoln, Nebraska (USA). LVF was also granted a 3-year accreditation by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

2010 – Highlighting the 20th year of the Foundation was the soft launch of its Child Protection Clinic (CPC) Program, an offshoot of LVF's Community Outreach in high risk communities in Metro Manila. The LIFT SACSEC later evolved to become CPC ACTS (Child Protection Clinic on Wheels Advocacy against Child Trafficking and Sexual Abuse) to intensify the Foundation's preventive approach to child trafficking.

2011 – LVF receives the Maya Ajmera Sustainability Award as Global Fund for Children's exceptional grantee partner of the year. With the prestige comes a cash prize of 25,000 US Dollars.

Concluding LVF's 20th year celebration is the conduct of Second Children of Canes National Conference in partnership with ILO-IPEC Manila, the Global Fund for Children (USA) and the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), which sparked a national movement of collaboration among key players and stakeholders to eliminate child labor, other forms of abuse and exploitation in sugar growing communities. DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo challenged in his keynote speech that if LVF holds this in Bacolod City, he will fund it.

Another highlight of the year is the launch of LVF's Child Protection Clinic on Wheels, a customized van which brings advocacy, learning, and preventive services closer to high risk communities.

2012 – Laura Vicuña Foundation wins the 2012 STARS IMPACT AWARD in London for the Protection Category in the Asia Pacific Region. The Foundation was chosen out of the 302 short-listed NGOs from over 1,000 applicants in 14 countries. On July 12 and 13, LVF holds the Third Children of the Canes National Conference in partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government under the leadership of Secretary Jesse Robredo, paving the way for an area-based network for the protection and development of children in sugar growing communities. LVF also hosted the Global Fund for Children's South East Asia Knowledge Exchange Conference from August 29 to 31 at Bayleaf Hotel Manila.

Who is Laura Vicuña?

Blessed Laura Vicuña is a model that the Salesian Sisters hold up to every girl. She was a pupil at the mission school of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Junin de los Andes, Argentina. Laura lost her father at a young age and her mother, driven by poverty, lived with a rich rancher without the benefit of marriage. Laura herself was in danger from the evil designs of this unscrupulous man who wanted to make her another victim. But Laura stood the test, she chose to leave her mother and stay with the Sisters. With them her Christian life reached the peak of heroism by offering her life for the conversion of her mother. Laura was not yet thirteen when her prayer was heard. She was beatified on September 3, 1989. The Salesian Sisters believe that in every street girl there is a Laura Vicuña waiting to bloom.

For more information on Laura Vicuna, please go to : http://hmaciste.fmachile.org/

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