On a mission to visit several of Stairway’s clients years after they have left the program, one volunteer, accompanied by Stairway’s social worker, gets to see firsthand how some old clients are faring years after leaving Stairway. Read his story below.
We leave with the boat early in the morning and Ate Donna, one of Stairway’s social workers, leads us effectively too and through Manilas crowded streets. We are on our way to meet Rhodel who is a former street child and just completed Stairways residential program in 2014. Anita, who is doing her internship at Stairway, is also joining us. We are both full of impressions from the busy Manila before we even reach our first meeting, travelling by train, jeepny and tricycle. The streets are suddenly narrow and winding. The houses are a low and irregular patchwork of available building materials. We stop at an abraded gate and are immediately greeted by Rhodel’s little brother. He has a big smile and prying eyes.
We are led through the gate into a small courtyard to meet Rhodel and his mother. We are welcomed into their single room home and are happy to be placed in front of the swinging fan. They live 4 people in this very small space and are soon to be joined by an older brother.
During our informal interview, it is striking how confident and insightful Rhodel talks about his past, the time at Stairway and his future. In the doorway, a frayed yellow dream catcher is swinging as a reminder of Stairway and a signpost to the path he has chosen. Rhodel is happy and his smile and laughter only leaves for some short moments when he talks about his hard time in the streets. He is now waiting to be able to continue school and is in the mean time helping the neighbor who is an electrician. With the money he is earning he helps his little brother with school materials but most of it is saved for the future. He dreams about having his own cell phone.
Rhodel’s mother has been sitting outside the room during our talk. It is as if she is carrying a heavy burden and while she is telling her story about her lost children, there are traces of guilt and despair. A mother who lost all hope to find her son but who finally has been able toreunite parts of her family. She looks down in the stained cement when she expresses her gratitude. It has been an overwhelming meeting but we leave Rhodel and his family with a feeling of hope.
Meeting a mother
With Ate Donna is a letter from one of the boys at Stairway. He knew about our trip and asked her to deliver the letter to his mother,if possible. His mother has not contacted him in many weeks and he is afraid she has abandoned him.
Once again Donna leads us through Manilas jumble in the search for the boys family. When we reach the busy corner where they usually have a small stand to sell cigarettes the spot is taken by somebody else. Donna continuous her search and suddenly she recognize the mother’s boyfriend who is standing under a faded parasol on a nearby corner. After some conversation a little brother leads us to their home. It is an even smaller room, no windows, no bed, just a concrete floor. There is no light and when we all get in it feels so crowded and dark that I suggest we go out in the street instead.
Ate Donna delivers the letter and it is a heartbreaking moment when she starts to read. Big tears of joy and longing are rolling down her cheeks when her son writes about all the things he has learned at Stairway. “Mom, I can read and write and I can even speak some English…” he says. The letter was sealed by a braided bracelet, which is now tied around the little brothers wrist. It was only because of a broken mobile phone charger that the connection was disrupted and after a small donation for a new one it can hopefully be reestablished.
Meeting the Police
The following days we continue to meet people who have a relation with Stairway. We meet a police officer thatis working at the women and children’s desk in one of Metro Manilas police stations. She tells about how much Stairways training program regarding children’s rights and prevention of child sexual abuse has meant for her both personally and professionally. The child friendly space in her office that Stairway provided, the donated computer, the anatomically correct dolls and the change of her colleague’s attitudes when dealing with these crimes. Later the same day we meet the police chiefs who gives us the same view but from their perspective. Stairway’s advocacy program has given their work better status, professional investigations and a higher rate of convictions.
Meeting Raymond
We meet more people who have been in contact with Stairway. Raymond, also a former street child who performs outside a mall to save money for his education, people from deaf organizations, mentally challenged and more former Stairway kids whom all share life changing moments, cherished memories and the familiar feeling of Stairway. Their eyes light up, smiling and you can feel the special connections.
It has been some inspiring days and a privilege to meet all of them who have Stairway in common. I was well informed about Stairways work before but now I have a deeper understanding of the impact. For a few days I was able to walk in Stairway’s footsteps.