School of Life – ACAY Missions Philippines

ACAY Missions Philippines – School of Life Program

ACAY Mission Philippines began in 1997, with an innovative approach to restoring dignity to the lives of young men and women who have survived various types of trauma and abuse. By providing a familial and nurturing environment that offers a sense of belonging and safety, these young adults are able to rebuild their self-esteem and prepare a plan for their future as independent adults.

The School of Life is a residential home for girls aged 16 to 21 years old that have experienced abuse, neglect, abandonment and other traumatic experiences in their family lives. By offering them refuge from their often-abusive families, and providing them with safe housing, nutrition, health care and vocational training, these young women are able to prepare for their next step towards self-sustainability.

History

In 1997, a small team of 3 sisters from the Missionaries of Mary Sisters settled in Manilla where they soon discovered that there were many children on the streets being exposed to drugs, alcohol, exploitation and all kinds of violence. The majority of NGOs in the area were focused on helping young children but very few were willing to help children from the ages of 14 years old into young adulthood. This is why the Missionaries of Mary Sisters founded ACAY Missions Philippines which has been helping traumatised teenagers and young adults heal from their past traumas while working towards financial independence. ACAY offers psycho-social interventions, family interventions as well as legal interventions to protect these young men and women from their past abusers.

The ACAY residential home was only a safe haven at first for these young adults, but over the years ACAY has been able to give more and more opportunities to them through their vocational training, computer literacy training, and their new entrepreneurship hub. Through this educational support, these young adults are able to learn a trade so they can look for employment and become self sufficient once they leave the School of Life program.

Mission

The mission of ACAY Missions Philippines is to offer holistic and innovative approaches of restoration wherein youth and families in difficult circumstances will re-discover the dignity and meaning of life and take the lead in becoming agents of change.

 

The Project supported by the Caritas Pro Vitae Gradu Charitable Trust

Thanks to our support, ACAY Missions Philippines are able to cover the living expenses from June 2022 to May 2023 of the 30 women who reside at their School of Life residential home.

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We support activities in a variety of sectors in the social field, more specifically the relief of poverty, the improvement of education, the access to health services, the assistance to migrants and refugees, the protection of families and life