Canada helps Bajaus in new community

MANILA, Philippines - Canada is helping indigenous Bajaus settle in their new community by providing food and school supplies for children and livelihood skills for women.

The Canadian embassy through its Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) has partnered with the non-governmental organization God’s Love for Indigents Ministry (GLIM) to support migrant Bajaus living in Pampanga, having been displaced from their original homes in Western Mindanao.

More than 100 Bajaus now have access to child and youth development activities to improve their literacy, while adults have opportunities for livelihood training on rug-making, jewelry-design and gardening.

In a recent visit to their community in San Simon, Pampanga, Canadian Ambassador Christopher Thornley witnessed how Bajaus have been improving their living conditions.

“It is wonderful to see the shared commitment of GLIM, its volunteers, and the local government in supporting the Bajau people. I am delighted that Canada is a partner in this effort to empower these marginalized and vulnerable members of the community,” Ambassador Thornley said.

Perla Villanueva, GLIM director, said her organization has been supporting and organizing the Bajau community in the neighboring town of Apalit since 2004. “GLIM has been encouraging Bajau children to study in the formal public school system. A few of these children have received academic recognition, reinforcing GLIM’s resolve to work more for their social and economic development,” she explained.

GLIM’s strategy is similar to the Philippine government’s conditional cash transfer program. Bajaus participating in the various training sessions receive food provisions. “The program is motivating the Bajaus to fully participate in the training, and proving a real option to peddling on the streets. In giving parents a means of livelihood, we have seen that the children who were often used in the past to solicit money are now being protected from the dangers of the street,” Villanueva added.

The Bajaus have been displaced from their traditional homeland in parts of Western Coastal Mindanao due to a number of factors including poverty, commercialized fishing and civil strife. Currently, over 10,000 Bajau migrants live in various places in Central Luzon.