This case study comes from Bahay Tuluyan, a partner on our Red Nose Day USA grant 2020-1.
Julie Ann’s* Story
Julie Ann,11, is the second eldest of 8 siblings, and comes from a family with extensive experience of life on the streets.
Julie Ann’s mother moved to Manila from a provincial area in the Philippines as a child, where she stopped studying and started working in a canteen. In this period, she met Julie Ann’s father who was working on the street as a parking boy. The young couple rented an apartment but after losing their jobs, they ended up on the street.
Julie Ann taking part in activities arranged by Bahay Tuluyan
The family has since spent much of their lives on and off the street. Both parents have a history of substance abuse and physical abuse and neglect of their children. Neither Julie Ann or any of her seven siblings have attended school.
Last year, while on the street, Julie Ann’s father was arrested for alleged drug use. Shortly afterwards her mother was stabbed and needed to be hospitalised. With no relatives willing or able to care for the children, and NGO who had been in contact with the family referred the children to the care of Bahay Tuluyan.
Upon admission to Bahay Tuluyan a social worker was assigned to the case and the children were given medical assessments and assisted with basics including food, clothing and safe places to sleep.
In the first few weeks Julie Ann demonstrated challenging behaviours and frequently hurt her siblings. The children recounted stories of abuse they had experienced previously in a government shelter and took time to learn to trust. The siblings hoarded supplies such as soap and shampoo, afraid that they would run out.
Alongside case management, Julie Ann and her siblings have been assisted to participate in a number of developmental activities aimed at helping them transition from the street into a home environment. Positive feedback and rewards have helped them modify their behaviour and contribute positively to the household.
As the children had no literacy or previous education, they have been given basic literacy and numeracy classes. Julie Ann has been able to participate in Safe-Tiki Safety Education with other street-connected children aimed at teaching her basic skills and knowledge to keep her safe from abuse and violence. She really enjoys this interaction.
Four months after she first became involved with Bahay Tuluyan Julie Ann has demonstrated significant changes. She is extremely positive and cooperative. She looks forward to opportunities to get involved and has become a good leader for her siblings, as well as other children in the centre. She has been assisted to have ongoing contact with her mother and Bahay Tuluyan is working with her mother to look for ways for the children to be reintegrated into the family. She is also looking forward to being enrolled in formal school in the coming school year.
*Name has been changed