The Case of Rochilda Mobe
Despite overwhelming odds and distractions from living in a slum area, Rochilda graduated from high school last year at the top of her class. She was immediately offered a full college scholarship by a private university. She was also given an allowance to work at the school library as an assistant librarian ( at 16 years of age, Rochilda by law is not qualified for employment.
Rochilda and her 4 other siblings almost missed going to school last year if it were not for the Back to School Project. Rochilda’s mother said, the family had no money to pay for collectibles of the school incurred from the previous year amounting to P592 for all five kids.
Mrs. Mobe’s husband, a plumber, earns only the minimum wage (P200/day before taxes). Work is uncertain. There are days when, because the company he works for lacks building materials, he would have no work to do.
When this happens, the Mobe family goes without food for the entire day. On those days, Mrs. Mobe says she advises her children to stay home. “I don’t want them to faint in school.” This happens almost every week.
Today Mrs. Mobe has found work as a sewer in the Livelihood Cooperative Center to augment the family income.The Center was founded by Sister Anne Healy of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and assisted by the Rotary Club of Mandaue East to provide a sustainable means of livelihood for mothers in the slum areas of the North Reclamation Area.
Rochilda,16 is shown here( third from left) along with PDG John and Cora Van Laar, Jun Ferreros ( extreme right) and the rest of the B2S children sponsored by the Van Laars during John Van Laar’s trip to Cebu as RI President’s Representative to the Cebu DISCON held March 13-15, 2008.
