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24 September 2004

ST BERNARD'S STUDENTS CYCLE FOR RIGHTS OF EXPLOITED CHILDREN 

Andrew Gurrisi from St Bernard's College, Essendon has provided the following information about the recently completed Just Cycle event in aid of the Bahay Tuluyan Foundation for the protection and empowerment of abused and exploited street children in the Philippines. The following is an edited version of the talk Andrew gave at a recent school assembly prior to the ride.

"There are about 100,000 children living on the streets in Manila and about 1.5 million total homeless people in the Philippines. This means that there are many young children who cannot afford to go to school or to rent or buy a home As a result children lack their basic needs. The people can't afford a one-bedroom home so they live wherever they can, which sometimes means living in a rubbish dump with children sleeping on rubbish. Children also collect cans to feed and clothe their families.

This is why we do the Bahay Taluyan Just Cycle bike ride - to help provide the bare necessities to some young children. The event is a five-day riding tour from the Mornington Peninsula to Melbourne, advocating children’s rights and increasing global awareness of related issues. Two teenagers from the Philippines will be joining the ride and speaking to schools around the state. This year we have 23 students participating. This group, along with representatives from Bahay Tuluyan, will complete the final leg of the ride from Parade College Bundoora to St. Bernards."

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