Highway to heaven

We see them every day — tapping on our windows, curled up on sidewalks, and living in makeshift wooden carts. Sometimes, we hand out a few pesos and food, hoping to at least make a difference for their hungry stomachs that day. Sometimes, we ignore them because somehow they make us feel fear and disgust. But you wake up the next day in your bed with breakfast on the table, and they wake up on the same street with no food, and seeing disgusted faces stare back at them from car windows.

Urban poverty is a major issue so prevalent in our country that we see its existence as a natural part of our urban landscape. They’ve always been there, and will be there for as long as we have streets. But one innovative solution to this problem is taking the homeless from the streets and putting them in clean clothes and making them businessmen and women. Take a ride with Jeepney magazine and start making a real difference in people’s lives.

Ticket to ride

Jeepney magazine is the first street magazine in the Philippines produced by the Urban Opportunities for Change Foundation Inc., and is a member of the INSP (International Network of Street Papers) based in Glasgow, Scotland. Street papers are independent newspapers and magazines sold by homeless and severely disadvantaged people on street corners around the globe. Jeepney magazine has two main goals: presentation of stories reflecting the hearts of the Filipino poor and communicating their needs, struggles and, more importantly, their victories in the midst of those struggles, to an audience that can make change happen. Second, to create and provide jobs that meet or exceed the Philippine minimum wage. Jeepney magazine sells for a street price of P100. The self-employed vendor receives P50 per issue sold. If a vendor sells a minimum of 10 magazines a day, he will be able to earn an income exceeding by 40 percent the Philippine minimum wage. The money you spend every day on that frothy cup of coffee can change the life of someone who needs your help.

Drive for change

Initiated by William and Debbi Shaw from the US, Jeepney magazine is a product of their desire to make real and long-term change in the lives of the Filipino poor. From his travels, William was exposed to different street newspapers and magazines and discovered that it would be the perfect option for the Filipino poor who really want to work but cannot find opportunities for employment. Jeepney magazine provides them with the products and training to sell the magazine in private establishments and street corners. They earn a living and a decent income, building their sense of self-reliance and hope. Vendors are also provided counseling, a savings fund to teach them how to manage their money, seminars, and health care.

Hitch a ride

The first issue of Jeepney magazine came out last March, and already, the results are promising. One of its first vendors, Dennis, started out as a beggar in Cubao at the age of 10. He then moved on to selling cigarettes at the age of 12. Today, at 23, he wears a clean uniform and sells Jeepney magazine in a stall in one of the major malls in Ortigas. It’s easy to just pass by his stall and not take notice, but the next time you spot a Jeepney magazine vendor, try to pick up a copy or two. You might not need any new magazines at the moment, but the vendor needs you to live and survive.

Full parking

“What we really need now are venues for our vendors,” shares William. Some malls have offered free spaces to sell Jeepney, but they need more institutions, establishments and street corners so that more vendors can earn a living. This shortage of venues to sell a street magazine is a situation unique to our country. Every other publication of its kind in the world has received more support from the local government and private institutions. Do you have a few square feet to spare? Make that space count and help the homeless start saving up for a few square feet that they can call their own.

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Visit www.thejeepney.com for more information.