about keofi
From 35 clients in the first year of operation started in Ermita, Manila, Kaibigan Ermita Outreach Foundation, Inc. (KEOFI), also known as Kaibigan Foundation, was able to expand its number of clients to 100 in 1988 and 150 by 1990. In 1994, there were 225 and the numbers gradually increase to 300 in 1998. Today, around 400 children and 300 families are being served by Kaibigan.
At first, educational assistance – provision of financial support for schooling and monitoring by social workers – was the only service available from KEOFI. In its second year, however, with the addition of new staff, health care, livelihood and recreational programs were added. By 1992, guidance and counseling, leadership training, job creation, placement services and residential care/rehabilitation were also being implemented. A landmark was reached in 1996, when one of the “graduates” of the Center became staff member. This was in the context of developing the children’s responsibilities in running their own affairs. By 2001, four members of the staff were former clientele of the Foundation.
In 1998, a reproductive health program began, with support of several donors. In 2002, KEOFI became more focused and streamlined its programs and services into four major programs (education, outreach, temporary shelter and community organization). Parents’ participation was given new attention through community organization program. In reviewing its programs in 2005, the Foundation concluded that the shelter program was not having sufficient impact because of the difficulty of reuniting children with parents, the main intent of the program. Most of the children were being referred to other centers better equipped for long-term assistance to these children. Meanwhile, the additional focus on parents since 2002 was proving increasingly successful to the extent that many have become volunteers and partners, monitoring children’s schooling and mobilizing other parents to participate in a similar way. As a result, the shelter program will be discontinued and the attention to the communities and parents strengthened in future. Heath care, livelihood, recreation, guidance and counseling, leadership training, job creation, placement services and reproductive health will continue as components of the revised programs.
KEOFI is an independent, non–profit, non-governmental organization – fully registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, duly registered, licensed and accredited with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and granted 5-year accreditation with Philippine Council for NGO Certification. Founded in 1986, by a French Canadian, Mr. Alain Pronovost, KEOFI has long been working in partnership with children, women and communities in District 5 of Manila. Over the years, various developmental programs and services have been organized to facilitate empowerment. KEOFI has therefore been extremely influential in improving the lives of its target groups through education and community building, in particular by encouraging its beneficiaries to analyze issues through collaborative efforts as well as to plan and act together for the common good. Together, KEOFI and its partner communities are continuously combating poverty and thereby turning the tables of their lives from destitution to empowerment.
KEOFI has impacted massively on the lives of thousands of children who have directly benefitted from its education and community organizing programs and many other services. KEOFI has focused for more than three decades on reaching out to and helping street and urban poor children and their families. Educating the poorest of the poor has always been a top KEOFI priority, and with this aim it has already transformed the lives of thousands of impoverished kids. Many KEOFI alumni have succeeded beyond all expectations and dreams. What makes KEOFI truly unique is the fact that many former and current staff were themselves beneficiaries of this small foundation. They are former street or urban poor children decided – all at different times -- to return to the very foundation which gave them an education, guidance, care, training, and guidance when they themselves were impoverished. Remembering that it was KEOFI that gave them their chance in life, they have chosen to come back to give the same life changing opportunities to today’s KEOFI children. That itself is a big impact already to begin with.
KEOFI believes that part of its mission is to get communities to change their mind sets or perspectives of children, of their needs and capabilities, and to get communities to prioritize the needs of children. KEOFI ensures that in all its child-focused activities children have a voice through active participation especially in issues that directly concern them. Community activities pivot on upholding children’s rights and increasing awareness of these rights. KEOFI will concentrate on child protection while organizing will be its main approach to accomplish the goal of the organization.