FOSTER PROGRAM

While Tiwala runs various programs for street children, inner-city youth and indigent communities (see projects page), our main focus is to rescue orphaned, abandoned, abused and street boys from their plight. Tiwala has chosen to focus on rescuing boys between the ages of five and fifteen years, as our research has shown that there are many cases of abandonment, street living and child abuse (including sexual abuse) among boys in our region, there being very few options for their safety and rehabilitation.

Tiwala runs a Foster Program, whereby registered and licensed foster parents enter into a partnership with Tiwala in order to foster children as a collaborative effort. These foster families reside on Tiwala’s premises where Tiwala facilitates the family units in the following ways:

Provides Housing & Facilities for Foster Families
Places Children in Foster Family Units with DSWD-Licensed Foster Parents
Provides Financial Support to Children within Foster Families
Provides Medical Treatment to Children
Enrols Fostered Children in Tiwala’s Educational, Spiritual & Recreational Programs
Provides Counsel & Psychological Treatment to Children
Monitors & Oversees the General Wellbeing of Children within Foster Family Units

TIWALA VILLAGE CONCEPT

Tiwala’s long term vision is to develop a working cooperative on an agricultural farm in the Bicol Region where our Foster Program can be established and expanded. In order to avoid an institutionalized setting, Tiwala plans to facilitate a community of foster families, who will live within one large village compound, hence Tiwala Village. This community will be a natural, organic and child-friendly environment in which children can heal, grow and learn.

Apart from the foster homes, Tiwala will establish the following programs in and around Tiwala Village, for the benefit of the fostered children and the extended community:

Alternative Learning System (ALS) and Tutorial Programs
Extra Mural Activities & Workshops (art, music, drama, sport and recreation)
Christian Formation, Bible Studies & Worship
Counselling
Skills Training
Subsistence Farming
Livestock Farming
Income-Generating Projects
Community Outreach & Integration Programs

In addition to the family care and nurture these boys will receive on a daily basis within their foster families, they will automatically be enrolled in the above programs, thus providing them the opportunity for a holistic lifestyle.

Each foster family unit will have certain responsibilities within the compound, with regard to subsistence farming, having the compound running as a cooperative.

Tiwala plans to build six individual cottages to be used as foster homes, with each home accommodating 10 boys and two foster parents. Through being a part of Tiwala, the boys will not only have their emotional and physical needs met, but will experience the Father Heart of God. Our hope and assurance is in the power of God to heal, comfort and make whole these broken little lives.