The "Buhay Ko sa Smokey Mountain" project aims to teach 25 scholars from the Smokey Mountain Community how to document and share their lives via prose, photos, videos through personal blogs. The workshops will be taught by prominent Photographers, Writers and Directors. The Manila Jaycees, together with Young Focus Foundation, are working together to empower these kids with the tools and skills to tell their story. Our hope is that the global community is given a glimpse of these childrens lives and more attention will be given this marginalized sector of society.
he Junior Chamber International (JCI) is a leadership development organization which provides young people an opportunity to develop and learn social responsibility, entrepreneurship, and the fellowship necessary to create positive change. The Manila Jaycees is the pioneering chapter in the Philippines and in Asia. Its very first project was helping clean up liberated Manila in 1945 from the debris of WWII. Since then it has become the most awarded JCI chapter worldwide owing to innovative projects such as the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines, the Ten Outstanding Policemen Awards, and the Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Awards.
Young Focus Foundation is a non-government organization that has taken it upon themselves to be a catalyst for change to break the cycle of poverty and uplift the standard of living of the children of Smokey Mountain through education. The foundation is registered under the Securities and Exchange Commission and is accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Young Focus aims to improve the social well being of the youth in the Smokey Mountain community by means of education and personal support. It is with their effort that over 300 children in the community have access to quality education and after school support. These 300 students range from elementary to collegiate level.
The Buhay Ko Team
Chair
Ibba Bernardo
Vice Chair
Alvin Tsoi
Sponsorship and PR
Howard Paw
Head Teacher
VJ Sianghio
Fund-raising
Dexter Que
Friends
Graphic Design
Alia Rasul
Webdev
Bing Tan
Bloggers and Teachers
Vince Golangco and Hannah Villasis
Art Ilano
Rody Lacap
Aids Tecson
Partners
Rangefinder Pilipinas
Thousandminds.com
wheninmanila.com
flaircandy.com
Underground Logic
MoAnima.com
M2Comm
