About Stairway - Daily Management (Detail)

	The People behind Stairway Founders and managers Stairway is an independent, non profit, Non Governmental Organization founded by Monica and Lars Jorgensen in 1990. They are the dedicated and charismatic driving forces behind the center, making commitment, creativity and mutual respect the key words of the daily life at Stairway. Lars Jorgensen was born in Denmark in 1960. Monica Jorgensen (then Ray) was born in California, USA, in 1964. Monica and Lars first met in Taiwan, where they both studied Chinese and taught English to Taiwanese students. During a visit to the Philippines they were astonished by the serious violations of children's rights in many parts of the Philippine society, and they consequently decided to build up a canter for promotion of children's rights in the Philippines and beyond. With their own money (made by repeating periods of teaching in Taiwan) they managed to build a center for street children in the beautiful surroundings of Puerto Galera on the northern coast of Mindoro Island. The first financial assistance to run the increasing number of programs came in during 1994 when the Danish International Development Assistance, DANIDA, decided to help support Stairway's programs. The partnership with DANIDA lasted up till year 2001, when DANIDA crossed their time limit for supporting upcoming projects. During the 90's Stairway developed to cover not only a residential care center for particularly disadvantaged street children, but also a wide range of creative advocacy programs, capacity-building networks, and camps, workshops and seminars for children and professionals. Stairway's programs are now funded by a number of private and official donors from several countries. Monica and Lars are the daily managers of Stairway Foundation. They live at the Mindoro center with their two children, Zachery and Izana
	The Stairway Staff as of primo 2007 Nancyline P. Agaid Department : Advocacy and Capacity Building. Designation : Senior Trainer and Advocacy Officer Nancy is seasoned social worker with a couple of decades of experience in working with street children and other child right issues. Prior to joining Stairway January 2007, Nancy was the Program Manager of the Street Education Program of ChildHope Asia Philippines wherein she gained extensive experience as Resource Person / Trainor for Seminars among NGO’s / GO’s on themes related to street education. Nancy is covering a multitude of tasks in networking, training and other advocacy activities.
	Albert B. Agbing Department : Residential Care Designation : House Father As House Father, Abet’s main responsibility is to create and maintain a family-like atmosphere for the resident children in the center. He teaches livelihood skills and sports to the kids aside from supervising them in their daily tasks. He has been part of Stairway since January 2006.
	Donnalyne U. Baccay Department : Residential Care Designation : Residential Social Worker Donnalyne is the social worker responsible for the Residential Program of SFI. Her background as a medical social worker has been of great benefit as we deal with many cases of tuberculosis and other serious diseases amongst the children I residence. Donna’s responsibility includes the case management of all children and proper placement of each one of them after their one year stay at Stairway. Donna joined SFI on May 15, 2006.
	Amihan B. Bajade Department : Advocacy and Capacity Building. Designation : Advocacy Officer Amihan started out as a Residential Social Worker at Stairway back in 1997. She left SFI in 2001 to work as Para-Legal Social Worker at Medecins Sans Frontiers. Amihan came back to SFI in 2004. She is presently working as Advocacy Officer, Trainer and Counselor of victims of child sexual abuse. Like most other SFI staff, Amihan takes on a wide range of tasks in relation to networking, training and other advocacy activities.
	Filipina G. Bonilla Department : Residential and Advocacy Designation : Computer Teacher, Advocate Susan is a former beneficiary of Stairway Foundation. She is a very talented actress and singer. A member of TASK (Talented Ambitious Street Kids), Susan is one of the actors in SFI’s theater piece, Cracked Mirrors. She also played a lead role in Goldtooth, A Street Children’s Musical, which toured Europe in 1999. As part of SFI’s Advocacy Program, Susan is motivated by her aspiration to promote and uphold children’s rights. Aside from being the Computer Teacher in the Residential Program, wherein she teaches basic computer skills to resident children as well as to the community scholars, Susan is also the Computer Administrator. She is currently back to school taking up a college degree in Software Development at AMA Computer Learning Center.
	Rhea P. Buela Department : Administration and Finance Designation : Administrative Officer One of Rhea’s main responsibilities includes ensuring that all reporting requirements of SFI’s funding partners are met on time. Likewise she is tasked to oversee the overall administrative functions. On joining SFI, she is pleased to work with an excellent team and contribute to the success of the organization. She considers the best training she has received has been the work itself which is both demanding and challenging. Rhea has been with SFI since May 2006.
	Necitas B. Caringal Department : Residential Designation : Cook Nanay Cita joined SFI in November 2006 as a Cook. One of her children is a recipient of our Community Scholarship Program.
	Marc Dave E. Dacula Department : Residential Designation : Cook A former beneficiary of Stairway Foundation, Dave graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management degree from Our Lady of Fatima University. He recently joined SFI as a full-time staff, taking charge of the kitchen.
	Genalyn Jane E. Dayanan Department : Residential Designation : Cook Nanay Jane started working at SFI as a Cook since March 2006. She is a mother of 2, one of which is a recipient of our community scholarship program.
	Rodelyn S. Dejino Department : Residential and Advocacy Designation : Assistant Teacher, Advocate Rodelyn is a former beneficiary of Stairway Foundation, from which she has undergone intensive drama therapy which has served her both therapeutically and artistically. Through numerous acting assignments under SFI, she has developed into a charismatic and talented actress and singer. Rodelyn is a member of TASK (Talented Ambitious Street Kids) and is one of the actors of Stairway’s theater piece, Cracked Mirrors. She played one of the lead roles in Goldtooth, A Street Children’s Musical and the lead voices in SFI’s 2 animations (Daughter and A Good Boy). As part of SFI’s Advocacy Program, Rodelyn has inspired many young people. Rodelyn is likewise a Teacher in the Residential Program, teaching English, Science, and Music. She is currently pursuing her college education, taking up Business and Office Information System at AMA Computer Learning Center.
	Ysrael C. Diloy Department : Advocacy Designation : Advocacy Coordinator Ace graduated from the University of the Philippines Diliman with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Community Development. He joined SFI in September 2005. As Advocacy Coordinator, Ace has been instrumental in the escalation of SFI’s Advocacy Program. He spearheaded the adoption of a new CSAP pilot area in Silang, Cavite and has been responsible in different project proposals pertaining to CSAP Program.
	Mario D. Fulgencio Department : Residential Designation : Messenger / Driver Mario is a former beneficiary of Stairway Foundation. He came back to the center in December 2006, working as Messenger / Driver. He also helps in supervising the residential children in some of their activities and also in the maintenance of SFI.
	Laurence Pocholo N. Gutierrez Department : Residential, Advocacy Designation : Jhao is a former beneficiary of Stairway Foundation. He is a member of TASK (Talented Ambitious Street Kids) and is one of the actors of Cracked Mirrors, SFI’s theater piece. He also played one of the major roles in Goldtooth, A Street Children’s Musical back in 1999. Jhao is in charge of the maintenance of the generator and the solar power. He also teaches sports and supervises the residential kids in some of their activities.
	John Cris T. Junayon Department : Residential Designation : Peer Motivator John Cris has been with Stairway since his debut in Goldtooth, A Street Children’s Musical. He has used his musical talents to land a job as a disc jockey at a local disco in Puerto Galera. John Cris is back at Stairway as peer motivator where he assists the children in their daily task. He also teaches sports.
	Eleno S. Pampilo Department : Residential Designation : Janitor Eleno has been with Stairway longer than any other staff. He is in charge of the overall maintenance of the center.
	Antonio G. Ramos Department : Residential Designation : Resident Artist Tonio is our young artist in residence. He is responsible for the lights and stage design of SFI’s theater piece, Cracked Mirrors. He is also the artist behind SFI’s silk-screened shirts with social messages, and a majority of the colorful murals and paintings to be found around the premises of the center. He teaches drawing and painting to the children, and he is also helping in the maintenance of SFI. He likes to spend his free time composing music.
	Mercy D. Silva Department : Residential, Administration and Finance Designation : Teacher, Cashier Mercy has been with Stairway since August 2001. She is the coordinator of the non-formal education for our residential children. She is also in-charge of our community scholarship program. As her teaching position is only part time, she has recently taken on the position as cashier.
	Ma. Aleah G. Taboclaon Department : Residential and Advocacy Capacity Building Designation : Psychologist Aleah is the most recent addition to the SFI team, having been hired since July 1, 2007. She is a candidate of MA Clinical Psychology from the University of the Philippines Diliman. She previously worked as Crisis Counselor at Women’s and Children’s Crisis Center.