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Second World Day of Help for the Poor, Tondo, Philippines (January 18, 2019)

In response to Pope Francis’ message on the occasion of the Second World Day of the Poor and the celebration of the Year of Youth in the Philippines convoked by the Episcopal Conference, young professionals, teachers, students and families carried out a social cooperation project in the district of Tondo (Manila) on November 18, 2018.

Dubbed the Pakikipagkapwa project (“anyone can help”), it brought together more than 200 volunteers, including two medical teams made up of 80 doctors and medical students and 30 dentists and dental students. They provided assistance to 2,000 families, who were also offered catechism classes, storytelling for children, talks on adolescent education, and oral health and hygiene information for parents, while waiting for their turn to receive medical and dental care.

The project was organized by the Family Cooperation Health Services Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1991 by professionals from various fields in response to a challenge posed by Blessed Alvaro del Portillo.

Their efforts were also motivated by Pope Francis’ invitation to share in the World Day of the Poor through his apostolic letter Misericordia et Misera, during the closing of the Year of Mercy.

Romana, n. 68, January-June 2019, p. 133-134.

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