Pinoy Teener walks „Walk of the World“ for the 3rd time for orphans in the Philippines
Greetings from Munting Nayon News Magazine-The Netherlands
For the third year in a row, fourteen-year old Kyle G. Baleva finished the gruelling 120 kilometer four-day hiking event in Nijmegen, dubbed the “Walk of the World”, on 22 July, and was able to solicit more than €2,000 in pledges and donations from sponsors in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Canada, and the USA. As in the two previous years, proceeds from Kyle’s charity walk will go to the A Hand for an Orphan project of the Children’s Rehabilitation Center, based in the Philippines.
The International Four Days Marches of Nijmegen is considered to be the biggest marching event in the world, drawing in more than 40,000 participants per year. Coming from all over the world, participants walk 30, 40 or 50 kilometers for four days in a row – depending on their age – culminating in a walk through the famed Via Gladiola. Finishers receive the Four Days Medal for their efforts, an official decoration of the Netherlands.
For Kyle though, the real reward for finishing the gruelling four-day marches is the support he gathers for the beneficiaries of the A Hand for an Orphan. “I consider myself very lucky,” he declares, “Both my parents are alive, we enjoy three meals in a day and I go to a good school. Gathering donations to help children who are less fortunate is the least I can do.”
Beneficiaries of the A Hand for an Orphan project are children whose parents have disappeared or have been killed due to political reasons. Through the project, the Children’s Rehabilitation Center helps the children recover from their traumatic experience, by providing psycho-social support and education, medical and legal assistance as well.
According to the CRC, Kyle’s charity walk in 2009 was able to provide nutritional and educational assistance to six of these orphans. Last year, the donations helped finance the Children’s Peace Camp of 2010, where 40 children, aged three to 16 years old, as well as 14 adult-guardians were able to participate. The activities held during the peace camp provided the children and their guardians various forms of self-expression, forming a part of their psycho-social support.
Ma. Esmeralda Macaspac, Executive Director of the CRC, says that political killings and disappearances are still continuing under the administration of Noynoy Aquino, and children continue to lose their parents because of these violent acts. “That is why Kyle’s advocacy remains relevant and we are very grateful for his persistence,” she said.
In its 2nd Quarter 2011 report, human rights organization Karapatan states that there have already been 48 cases of political killings and five enforced disappearances in the first 365 days in office of president Benigno Aquino III.
Asked if he will participate in the 2012 edition of the Four Days Marches of Nijmegen, Kyle enthusiastically replies, “It’s an annual event, right? Of course, I will participate again!”
He continues, “I know that the Vierdaagse Nijmegen is very difficult. But the months of training and the four-day walk is nothing compared to the difficulties that the children in the Philippines face!”