Caritas Sa Veritas Telethon 2016 "Poverty Reduction Through Education"

“Among our tasks as witnesses to the love of Christ is that of giving a voice to the cry of the poor,” Pope Francis

Caritas Manila, in partnership with Radio Veritas 846, will conduct a telethon for education on June 6, 2016 from 6:00AM to 5:00PM.

This year’s Caritas sa Veritas Telethon focuses on “Poverty reduction through Education”. It aims to raise public awareness on what we – as a Church can do in reducing the rate of poverty, one of the most rampant problems’ in the country.

Caritas Manila believes that education is the most effective developmental program for poverty reduction. Approximately 24 million Filipinos live below the poverty line. Based on studies, poverty incidence drops to 10.7% and 2.4% for households whose most educated member is a college undergraduate and college graduate, respectively.

Only 0.1% poverty incidence occurs in NCR among households whose most educated member is a college graduate; while on the other hand, ARMM’s poverty incidence is highest at 13.1%.

With this, Caritas Manila expands its education program in the poorest regions, focusing in Mindanao and Yolanda-hit areas.

The Youth Servant Leadership and Education Program (YSLEP) is one of the Church’s responses to poverty reduction. YSLEP is the flagship program of Caritas Manila which extends financial assistance to poor but deserving youth, trains and hones the youth not only for academic excellence but also to become servant leaders and good members of the community.

To date, Caritas Manila has produced over 10,000 graduates. Last Saturday, May 28, during its 7th Recognition Ceremonies, Caritas Manila honored 216 awardees for leadership and academic excellence out of the 625 graduates for the school year 2015-2016. Caritas Manila continues to provide educational assistance, values formation workshops, and leadership trainings to almost 5,000 students nationwide.

In this Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, we encourage everyone to support this program to help send more youth to school. It only takes P2, 100 a month (P25, 000/year) to support a scholar and help them to finish college. Also, there is a 98% chance that a household gets out of poverty when there is a college graduate in the family according to Family Income and Expenditure Study in 2009.

Caritas Manila Executive Director, Rev. Fr. Anton C.T. Pascual appealed support to Youth Servant Leadership and Education Program.

“Education is every child’s birth right. Let us prove that poverty is not a hindrance to success. Please support Youth Servant Leadership and Education Program to send more youth to school and help reduce poverty,” Fr. Pascual said.

Listeners can participate and donate in the telethon by calling 925-7931 to 40 or 0917595-LOVE (5083). Phone lines will be open throughout the live broadcast on Radio Veritas 846.

Donations are accepted through our Peso Bank Accounts:

Account Name: Caritas Manila Inc.

BPI Account Number 3063-5357-01

BDO Account Number 5600-45905

Metrobank Account Number 175-3-17506954-3

And online via: http://www.veritas846.ph/ysleptelethon2016/

To know more about Caritas Manila, visit www.caritasmanila.org.ph.