06 May 2016 - Strongly believing in the importance of an active collaboration and constructive engagement with non-government organizations Philippine Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg and Head of the Philippine Mission to the European Union Victoria Bataclan met with two Belgian NGOs doing collaborative work in the Philippines, on separate occasions, upon their kind requests.
Ambassador Bataclan assured the parties involved that the Philippine Embassy is always supportive and will continue to assist individuals, non-government organizations and entities who are working for the betterment of the Philippines and of Filipinos.
Ambassador Bataclan acknowledged their good works for the Philippines and encouraged them to continue informing the Embassy of their programs.
ETM (CHILDREN OF THE THIRD WORLD)/VIRLANIE FOUNDATION
On April 27, Ambassador Bataclan met with Mr. Albert Barroo, President of Kinderen Derde Wereld vzw/ Enfance Tiers Monde asbl (Children of the Third World) and Mr. Johan Maricou, Honorary Ambassador of Belgium.
Mr. Barroo briefed the Ambassador on the activities of ETM all over the world, and especially in the Philippines through the Virlanie Foundation. ETM is a contributor to the Virlanie Foundation in Manila.
ETM finances a holistic program for street children, including girls with a history of sexual abuse, and children and adults with disabilities. Virlanie also takes care of hundreds of children confined in prisons of Manila and Bacolod. Its founder, Dominique Lemay, who came to the Philippines in 1987 was awarded the Chevalier (Knight) in the French Legion d’honneur for his 26 years of work in the Philippines.
Mr. Barroo and Ambassador Maricou informed the Ambassador of the arrival of The Masaya Choir in Belgium as part of their 2016 European Tour from May 5 to 27. The Choir, composed of children and young adults from the different Virlanie Homes and outreach urban communities will perform in Poperinge, Belgium on May 14 at the Trefhuis Domaine de Lovie.
LIFE PROJECT FOR YOUTH (LP4Y)
President of Life Project 4 Youth Luxembourg Mr. Jean-Marie Demeure, President of Life Project 4 Youth Belgium Mr. Michel Naguet-Radiguet, Ms. Margaret Ledoux, wife of former EU Ambassador in Manila and Mrs. Cecille Capacete-Hurst, President of Philippine-Luxembourg Society (PLS) made a courtesy call on the Ambassador at the Philippine Embassy on April 13.
The LP4Y, created in 2009, aims to assist the social and professional integration of young adults (17-24) facing extreme poverty and exclusion: former prisoners, victims of violence, disabled, out-of-school youths, street dwellers etc. The challenge was to set up “Life Project Centers” near poverty-stricken areas.
In the Philippines, Vietnam, India and Indonesia, LP4Y creates opportunities for integration of young people coming from extreme poverty and exclusion.
In July 2012, LP4Y decided to set up a Life Project Center (LPC), also called the Green Village which will serve as a training center; a model eco-village for the surrounding community; and a center for excellence providing training for professionals who ‘run’ the Center.
LP4Y is strongly supported by Belgian and Luxembourg development cooperation funds. END
