Lewis Hamilton recently spent two days in the Philippines with the UNICEF charity to make a short film about street children. The clip will be played during Soccer Aid, on Sunday 27th May 2012, to be shown on ITV1. Lewis took the time to met some of street children in Manila, the countries capital, to find out more about their lives.
It is estimated that up to 85,000 children live and work on the streets of the Philippines. Many of these will never see a days schooling, and there life expectancy is very short.
During his trip, Lewis met Reynold (pictured), a ten year-old boy called who even at this tender age already has to look after both his two younger brothers. They live in an old wooden cart near the local market, with Reynold having to work and beg to try and feed his family.
Lewis said –
The young boys and girls who I have met today are really fantastic children, but they are living without the simple things that most people take for granted, like food, clean water and a safe place to sleep at night. It shouldn’t be like this.
UNICEF and their partners in the Philippines are working tirelessly to provide essential street children such as Reynold with –
- mobile education services
- regular health clinics
- nutritious food
- counselling
- support
in an effort to help get them off the streets and into a safer community environment. Let’s hope that one day Reynold will be able to live a better life, as how can a 10 year old child become the family bread winner. Truly astounding.
