My Two Days in Smokey Mountain – Pt 2 of 2

In October 2008, Sean Lau went on a two-day trip to Smokey Mountain in Manila to see first-hand the conditions of the infamous landfill. He came back with lots of photos of the locals living there and the unimaginable living environment. I helped him pen down his visit and this photo essay is the result.

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Photos: Sean Lau / Words: Bernard Aw

There are a small number of children who are fortunate enough to go to a school operated by PCF. Before been offered the opportunity to go to school, these children live each day like the rest of their young friends, working as waste-pickers to supplement the household income.

It is a constant struggle to keep them in school as one school-going kid means one less person to earn money for the family.

On this day, a mini-van filled with school-going children passed by as I was making my way to the Dumpsite school, yes that is the name of the PCF community school. They also operate two other schools: Cemetary School (because it is located at a cemetery) and Baguio School.

The classroom is decorated with colourful art and craft items just like a typical classroom in a Singapore public school. In the classroom, the children get to learn basic subjects such as languages and art.

One of the perks of attending the school is that the child is provided with two hot meals a day during school time. Here, a queue of hungry boys is waiting to be served their breakfast. Today’s breakfast menu is oatmeal with a sliver of condensed milk to sweeten the taste.

The school also has its own medical clinic to provide basic healthcare to the school children, parents and the community. The medical clinic is staffed by in-house nurses and doctors who work on a pro-bono basis.

For the teenagers and adults, there are skills-training courses to equip them with technical skills such as electronic repair skills, sewing skills, jewellery-making and handicraft skills so that they can make a living without resorting to waste-picking.

The flags are made by the children in the school as they learn about the different countries of the world during their lessons.

Ironically, the international community knows little about this place and its poverty-stricken inhabitants, but these “Smokey” children sure know about them.

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End of Part Two. See Part One

Sean is planning to help the kids in Smokey Mountain to be self-sufficient and receive an education so that they will have a brighter prospect. If you would like to know more about the “smokey” project that Sean is in the midst of planning, please leave a comment with your email here.

Edit (29 April 2009): If you would like to donate, please visit PCF website or Sean Lau’s Charity Section.