SaBaNa Project 

An activity center, SaBaNa Center, is made available where former child scavengers are provided alternative ways of earning a living while allowing them to study under the Educational Assistance Program. Tutorial sessions and ALS review sessions are also offered at the Center.

The Sanayan ng mga Batang Nananambakan Center (Center for Former Child Scavengers) or SaBaNa is an endorsed project to ERDA by the International Labor Organization – International Programme in the Elimination of Child Labor in the Philippines (ILO-IPEC) in 1991. It is primarily created to eliminate child labor in the dumpsite of the infamous Smokey Mountain in Tondo, Manila.

Its flagship program are the LEARN and EARN.

The LEARN provides alternative learning enhancement activities to child scavengers to develop their potentials, self confidence, leadership skills and organizational management, improve cognitive and academic comprehension, creative talents in singing, dancing, composing songs and animation.

The EARN program allows the children and their family members to become aware of alternative and creative ways of earning or supplementing their income.

Among its support programs include Educational Assistance Program (EAP), Alternative Learning System (ALS), Health, Sanitation, and Nutrition Programs, Livelihood Generation, Advocacy and Capability Building Programs.

These comprehensive programs and services were recognized by the government to be effective strategies in eliminating child labor in the dumpsites. Same approach and programs are being studied and replicated in other dumpsites such as Payatas dumpsite in Quezon City.

Through these various programs given to children like theatre arts and music, SaBaNa’s beneficiaries were able to compose, record, and produce an album entitled NO BORDERS. It is a compilation of original Filipino songs on Children’s rights, child labor, justice, and peace.

SaBaNa for the past 9 years was able to reach out directly to 2,500 children and youth and indirectly to 2,000 families.

Currently, the center serves close to 600 former child scavengers are able to have access to education and values formation.

Location:

SaBaNa Center