Global Reach: Grantee Partners

Virlanie Foundation

​Context:

Currently , the Philippines have a projected 85.2 million population. The youth comprises more than 40% of the total population. Of this, 21% are enrolled in high school, tertiary and vocational schools, 22% are young peasants, 21% are contractual young workers in the urban areas, 36% are unemployed and out of school and 4% are working students. Aside from low educational attainment, unemployment and exclusion of young people with special needs, this segment of society is also the most vulnerable to suicide, self-inflecting behaviour, early pregnancy and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). In the context of Virlanie, the issues faced by the young people are limited job opportunities particularly for those with low educational attainment and young people with special needs. Furthermore, these young people are survivors of abuse, abandonment and neglect who long for affection and have a tendency to experience mental health issues, which result in engaging in unhealthy relationships, a decline in interest in education and teenage pregnancy.

Organisation:

The Virlanie Foundation (Virlanie) was established in 1992 by the French social worker Dominique Lemay. In 2017, Virlanie established its strategic priorities for the following 5 years along seven pillars: Street, Community, Residential, Health & Psychosocial, Education, Integration and Advocacy. Its aim is to reach out to the most in need children to accompany them in rebuilding their life with their family or through Virlanie when no family can be found. The 1st to 6th Pillars are the journey that brings the children/youth to build their confidence and ability to live healthy independent lives; the 7th Pillar - Advocacy - will enable them to carry their beliefs, know-how and experience to other regions to help more children lead better lives.

Current Grant:

EMpower's 5th grant to the Virlanie Foundation (Virlanie) enables Virlanie to run 4 program components: 1. We continue our support to the Independent Living Program (ILP) to empower 26 young people 10 to 24 years old in their journey towards independence through a series of trainings. 2. We continue to support the activities of The Rising Youth (TRY), a Virlanie youth-led organization with 35 members, most of them 15 to 24 years old. 3. We are newly supporting the setting up of a higher quality vocational skills training component that shall lead for the first time to sheltered employment for 32 Young People with Special Needs (YWSN) 10 to 24 years old. 4. We are newly supporting 90 young people 10 to 24 years old living in marginalised communities Virlanie operates in with 4 distinct workshops. Beyond, at the organizational level, Virlanie is investing in: monitoring, evaluation and learning; leadership and management; human resources; financial management and financial sustainability with our funding.

Primary Location: Manila, Philippines

Website: http://www.virlanie.org/

Funded Since: 2017

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Posted 09 October 2019