About Virlanie Foundation

The Virlanie Foundation, Inc. (VFI) is a private non-sectarian child caring institution in Metro Manila, Philippines. The foundation serves children found living in the streets as well as those referred by other institutions. Virlanie works to prevent the future physical and psychological abuse of children. It envisions empowered children see a brighter future for themselves.  It cares for more than two hundred (200+) children in its twelve (12) homes and three hundred (300) children through its out-reach programs.

Virlanie was founded in 1992 by Dominique Lemay, in partnership with Filipinos. Since that time, Virlanie has looked after more than 11,000 children in Metro Manila. Virlanie bases its dozens of projects and support services on three main programs: residential, support, and outreach.

VISION: Empowered children for a brighter future.

GOAL: Virlanie Foundation, Inc. extends developmental services to children for them to become self-reliant, productive, independent individuals using the family atmosphere and reintegration to normal community life.
 

What does the foundation do?

Virlanie provides children a home. A family.

12 homes serve as the home to more than 200 children every year.  Children can be in a Virlanie Home for as  short as a few months to many years depending on their needs.

Apart from food, shelter and clothing, Virlanie provides children with opportunities to study, finds ways to try to re-unite children with their families (if they are capable of caring for the children),  and endeavors to give children psychological intervention, and assistance with their legal cases.

Virlanie, through the help of individuals, organizations and companies provides nutritious meals for all 240 babies, toddlers and children, formal schooling and educational support and psycho-social developmental activities.
 

Why Virlanie Foundation Inc.?

Virlanie Foundation Inc. is one of the largest non-sectarian, non-profit organizations in the country that cares for street children.  It has cared for more than 11,000 children in the last 16 years.

Virlanie is unique in that the foundation is not a center – it’s a home. A home where the prevailing atmosphere is that of a family.   It has a father, mother and aunts who care for and provide formation to the children.

This home to street children, called Virlanie has been able to change the lives of many young people who otherwise, would have stayed in the streets, and would have not developed into responsible individuals.   Consider this: In the last three years, Virlanie has re-united 368 children with their families, progressed 97 young adults to independent living and help 10 children to get adopted.  Data shows that, of the above, 235 are still with their families, 83 are working and 45 are still studying.
 

Partnership with Virlanie

Virlanie welcomes donations of cash and in-kind.  But it also harnesses the skills and generosity of volunteers – Filipinos and foreigners alike.   The foundation sees the value of people as resources and therefore accepts short and long term volunteers to help care for the children.

Filipino corporate partners are encouraged to spend time with the children, be it at play or through structured activities.  The aim is to give individuals from the corporate sector the opportunity to ‘do something’ that they like and that will benefit the child as well. From this, there have partnership which developed to a variety of cooperative actions.  Some corporates have chose to field volunteers every weekend, some have become regular donors and volunteers, others decided to give Virlanie students the opportunity to learn a skill.