Article by Leo Ganace and Lindsey Quinn. Photos and reporting assistance by Leo Ganace.
The small shack stands next to a rice field in an impoverished neighborhood in Tabaco, Philippines.
"Welcome to our home," says Catherine, mother to 3-year-old Clowie Mae. She guides guests into the ramshackle structure. The former sty is fitted with wooden bamboo slats for walls, and a roof is fashioned from rusting galvanized metal sheets, worn-out tarpaulin and dried coconut leaves. Nearby, metal sheets and tarps cover the family's makeshift latrine.
Standing outside, you'd never know it was home to a family of four.
"This is all we have," Catherine says. "Life has been hard."
The family survives on 1,500 pesos – about US$34 – a month. But, as you'd expect, that meager amount is never enough to make ends meet. The family scavenges for food and often buys items on credit from the local store. "We repay when whatever little money we earn is available," Catherine says.
Living so precariously might seem worrisome enough. But it's not the family's biggest concern. That fear is reserved for Clowie's health. The little girl has frequent bouts of diarrhea and vomiting, becoming desperately dehydrated during each illness. Her legs are blanketed with insect bites and slow-healing wounds, and a sour scent of sickness wafts from her body. She suffers from a lingering, hacking cough.
You can make a difference! To help children like Clowie, visit www.children.org/most-needy.
In spite of this, Clowie and her family have hope: They've registered the toddler for sponsorship. Knowing their daughter will have access to medical care, in particular, brings obvious relief to Clowie's mother.
"I hope sponsorship can help her become better," Catherine says. "That would be the first step."
