In the small community of Pilar Sorsogon lives Elai, a 17-year-old Grade 12 student with big dreams. She is a consistent honor student and one of the many young lives changed by Project Sagip. Elai’s journey is a story of hard work, hope, and how the right support can lead to a brighter future.
Elai is the eldest of four siblings. From an early age, she was raised by her grandparents, as her parents had to leave their home to work in Manila in search of better opportunities. Her grandparents, despite having limited means, took on the responsibility of raising her, providing not just financial support but also the love and care every child deserves. The love her grandparents gave was immense, but resources were scarce. Their primary source of income came from fishing, a livelihood that barely met their daily needs.
From a very young age, Elai was introduced to the harsh realities of poverty. At just ten years old, she began helping her grandparents by selling fish and vegetables around their community. This became a routine where she would start as early as 6:00 a.m., walking through the barangay until all her goods were sold. Sometimes she would finish by 11:00 a.m., but often she would extend until late in the afternoon to ensure that all goods would be sold. Even on weekdays, she skipped school to help earn money, sacrificing her education just to make ends meet. Her school attendance suffered, and there were days she simply couldn’t go to class because she lacked even the smallest amount for allowance or fare.
In 2020, a turning point came when Project Sagip selected Barangay San Antonio as one of its target communities, aiming to support 50 children identified as engaged in child labor. Elai was among the 50 children from her barangay who were enrolled as project beneficiaries. Project Sagip initiated comprehensive interventions that addressed the root causes of child labor while empowering both children and their families. The project conducted awareness-raising sessions focused on children’s rights and the harmful effects of child labor. These sessions were not only for children but also for parents and local duty bearers, creating a shared understanding within the community.
Elai, like many others, gained a deeper appreciation for her rights as a child. She learned that what she had been doing for years was not simply “helping”- it was child labor, and it was harming her development. The project also offered capacity-building activities that trained children to identify pressing issues in their community and create child-led solutions. To address the economic challenges that drive families to allow children to work, Project Sagip provided livelihood training and seed capital worth ₱10,000 to families of child laborers. Elai’s family was among the recipients. They also received vegetable seedlings through the help of the municipal agriculture office to start a home garden.
Elai said, “The money we received from the project was a big help to us. My grandmother saved it and used it for my school allowance and other school needs. We also used part of it for our home garden, which my Lola now takes care of.”
The local government unit of Pilar showed its support for the project by also providing funds to give extra capital amounting to 5,000 to families of child laborers. This helped families continue and grow their small businesses, making the support more sustainable even after the project ended.
The initiative not only provided a source of income but also planted the seed of hope. What once seemed like an impossible dream of finishing her studies suddenly became within reach.
With these changes, Elai was finally able to focus on her studies. She stopped selling and returned to school full-time. She started doing better in class and was more determined to become a psychologist someday. She shared, “If I wasn’t part of the project, I might have stopped studying because we didn’t have enough money for my school expenses.” Her story reflects the painful choice many children face: to work and survive or to study and dream.
Beyond the classroom, Elai’s transformation extended to her community. Through the project, she became an officer in their Barangay Children’s Organization. From 2022 until today, she has held several leadership roles, actively participating in the planning and implementation of child-led activities that address community issues such as child labor, teenage pregnancy, waste management, and malnutrition. With pride, she shared, “In Educo, I realized that child labor and child work are different. Through learning sessions and capacity-building, my parents and I were able to understand this. That realization helped me focus on my studies and stop working.”
She also found her voice as a child advocate. “I was given the opportunity to fulfill my role as a member of the community. I was able to speak out about children’s issues and help lobby for programs and projects to address them. We were able to take part in creating solutions to the problems we identified,” she said. Today, Elai no longer walks the streets selling fish and vegetables. Instead, she walks through the halls of her school, filled with hope and purpose. She is now a leader among her peers, an inspiration to others, and an example of how change is possible when a child is given the right support.
Her grandmother continues to manage their home garden, which has become a small but steady source of food and income. It has contributed not only to their sustenance but also to their food security.
As a new school year approaches, Elai remains hopeful and determined to finish her secondary education, knowing it is her gateway to a becoming a psychologist.
“I am proud that at present, I am now a withdrawn child laborer,” she said. “As I recall my struggles, it was truly hard. There were times I wanted to give up and just keep working, because I could earn a little. But thanks to Project Sagip, I was able to stop working and continue my studies.”
Elai now sees herself as part of the solution. “Whenever I encounter children in our community who are working, I remind them that this is prohibited and share what I know about child labor.”
She also offers a heartfelt message to parents:
“Please don’t let your children work to support the family. Let them enjoy their childhood and focus on their studies. A brighter future awaits them if we let them be part of community initiatives and support their education.”
To local leaders and duty bearers, she expresses her gratitude:
“Thank you for listening to children’s voices and taking action. It has boosted my confidence and inspired me to express myself even more. Please continue supporting children’s initiatives and address these issues one step at a time.”
Elai’s story is more than just a success story; it is a symbol of what happens when a community comes together to support its children. From a child burdened by poverty and labor to a confident student and child rights advocate, Elai’s journey shows us that real change is possible. It takes a village to raise a child, and in Elai’s case, that village helped her find her voice, reclaim her dreams, and inspire a brighter future for others.
