Page 145 - EMBRACE Book
P. 145
144 Photo: © 2019 ADRA | Michael Kirkby 145
Ernesto, Philippines
“My wife, Jonnalyn, has been working in Manila as a maid The things we are learning are very helpful, especially for
for seven months. We have three children, ages nine, seven, my children. I teach them everything I learn – especially
and three. My second child, my son Ernesto Jr., is Princess Lorraine. I teach them how to clean, how to
developmentally challenged. He has involuntary movements separate garbage, the importance of covering food to protect
and we don’t know what they are. it from flies, to cover water to prevent insects from breeding.
I teach them all of it.
I am living as a single father now. I work two jobs. So, I must
schedule my day carefully. When to feed the children, when I have become the head of the WASH (Water, Sanitation, and
to bathe, when to do laundry and cleaning. I put a lot of Hygiene) committee. Facilitating the group has helped me to
responsibility on Princess Lorraine, my oldest. overcome some of my shyness.
When EMBRACE began, both my wife and I joined. But now I would like to thank ADRA. Without this project, we would
that she is working in Manila, only I go to the meetings. I not have learned these new things. It has helped my family.
even go to the meetings that are for females only, on my And I feel there has been an improvement in myself.”
wife’s behalf. I don’t have a hard time interacting with the
group, even though they are mostly women.
Photo: © 2019 ADRA | Michael Kirkby
