LAURA VICUÑA FOUNDATION, INC.
The year 2006 left a
significant mark in the 16 years of Laura Vicuña Foundation’s dedication,
commitment and passion to serve the disadvantaged sector of our society: the
Children in Need of Special Protection (CNSP) and their families because of
three major breakthroughs:
The first in line is the “National Policy
Conference for the Protection of Child Laborers in the Sugar Industry”
held last March 2006 which was attended by government officials, NGOs and no
less than the big sugar land owners who often send representatives in gatherings
like this. Their commitment to work with Laura Vicuña Foundation augurs a
history of a just, caring and socially responsible sugar industry.
Second in line are LVF’s pioneer hoteliers - the
17 disadvantaged youth participants of the Youth Career Development
Program (YCDP) of Pan Pacific Hotel Manila in partnership with UNICEF.
From the premises of LVF Training Centers, Home for the Recovery and Healing of
Sexually Abused and Exploited Girls, Drop-in Centers and Street Outreach, these
children now trail the path towards productivity and self-reliance through their
5-month training on Hotel and Restaurant Management at Pan Pacific Hotel Manila
and the Hotel Intercontinental Manila.
Lastly is the birth of the LVF’s MILESTONES
, which does not only speak of the Foundation’s accomplishments but also of LVF’s
effort of scaling up its advocacy work to all sectors of our society regarding
the plight of the CNSP, especially the child laborers and those who are
trafficked and sexually exploited.
The Asia Pacific NGO Award in 2005 where LVF was
conferred third place at the Asia Pacific Region became an inspiration to all
the people behind LVF’s achievements to venture into more innovative ideas to
further spread its wings and reach out to more disadvantaged children and youth
within LVF resource boundaries.
With all the great things that have been done,
LVF will remain steadfast in fulfilling its vision of becoming a dynamic and
self-sustaining social welfare organization committed to effectively transform
children to their fullest potential, empowering them to become honest, highly
motivated, productive, and self-reliant members of family, community and
society.