Dear Friends, Donors and Shareholders of Kuya Center, Eureka... a miracle is unfolding! Sunday 31 st January 2010 marked a NEW milestone for street kids. At the Kuya site a prayer service led by Bro Armin FSC (Kuya Board Chairman/President De La Salle Uni) and friends marked the start of things. The builders moved on site Tuesday 2 nd Feb 2010 and the demolition began! The new Kuya development is underway. The decisions leading to this, the property acquisition, the plan- ning, the demolition and now the rebuilding are explained here. The Start: “How can they sell my home?” queried 11 year old Kenneth three years ago.... In a brain snap I replied to his plea saying, “No one will sell your home Ken- neth – we’ll buy and re-build it”. Thanks to him on that day, a dare and a dream participants, unanimously voted that Kuya should continue its mission as a short term home for distressed, vulnerable, va- grant street kids awaiting rec- onciliation/return to their fami- lies. This was Kuya’s mission re- endorsement. The Property is Acquired: No changes or development until August 2007 when Kenneth saw the owner fasten a ‘FOR SALE’ sign to the wall and challenged me to act. A ‘share’ plan was conceived whereby people would be invited to participate in this endeavour. Kuya’s com- mitment was to continue, while when the Board decided that family skills support and a live-in area for those taking part in immersion experiences be in- cluded – hence the third floor. Brother Dindo Maralit FSC, school principal and talented architect, despite being busy gave his services freely. He took note of our recommendations and produced a solid, low-cost but adequate building plan. Our sincere thanks go out to him. Board of Trustees meetings fol- lowed one after the other - the Board were very generous with their time. Feb 2009 we were most fortunate to get a huge KUYA CENTER....re-building a new home Mga Kaibigan ng Kuya KUYA CENTER FOR STREET CHILDREN Kuya Center for Street Children Volume 10 Issue 1 February 2010 Kenneth spoke up on behalf of so many kids at risk New Kuya: Offices, teach- ing, cooking, dining, lodg- ings for kids, visitors and house parents, education, parental skills training leading to self-employment, kids play/recreation (top) and apartments donors promised to give what they could. Sister Kate and I searched for a suitable, cheaper property nearby but each time we were ‘beaten to the punch’. Fate? God? Who knows? lead us back to the old, by far best site. We asked our landlady Mrs. R. Galsim to review her price. She did so and replied P10,000,000 – a daunting number of zeros! Astonishingly this figure and more (in fact P 10.65 million) was raised in 16 months. This funded not only the property but land taxes, survey and deeds too. This milestone was passed in January 2009. The Planning: In 2007/08, after clarifying the future of child and family support, consultation with professionals and staff, a general plan was developed to ensure there would be adequate space for staff, counselling, teaching, cooking, eating, sleeping, recrea- tion, income creation and visi- tors. The plan was amended was conceived that will impact positively on so many thousands of street kids’ lives in the future. While gestation qualms sometimes turned our dream into a nightmare no miscarriage was forthcoming as Kuya had an astonishing team be- hind it - for it had Team YOU - “Friends of Kuya” who believed in our mission to kids at risk, willing to trust us, to share talents and part with hard-earned cash to ensure a joyful delivery and blest ‘live-birth’. The Commitment: 3rd Feb 2007 - A Meeting attended by many Broth- ers’ Congregations, Friends of Kuya, Business people, all in all about 60 boost from the ladies of the Aus- tralia New Zealand Association who raised an astounding P1.4 million at a Black Tie Ball. I felt this boost plus the number of generous donors both overseas and local turned the tide. I knew our mission had momentum and the new building could start. March 2009 the blessing of the property purchase took place and the moment in history was marked with a time capsule! The Children: 31 st October 2009 staff and children were recon- ciled, relocated or remunerated. Kuya stood empty but street work continued with Brother Rey. January 2010 Mr Ray Narag volunteered his services as ‘Work Supervisor’ – a remarkable and generous offer. We thank Mr. Narag for this important contri- bution. So the baby is re-born - congratulations but we still need your help and ever your interest Mga Kaibigan ng Kuya ... look ahead and let’s... “keep walking” 31st Jan 2010 blessing of property