Smokey Mountain is located in Tondo, Manila. This is where 20,000 families call their home. Most of them scavenge through the garbage to survive. Many parents teach their young kids to do the same… thus, the cycle of poverty continues to remain for generations.
Here is an excerpt from our blog when our founder traveled to the site with partners, WE International Philippines.
I Thought I Knew:
“Every day, a child wakes up to the smell of garbage, combine that with the gases below the mountain of trash. Every day, a child searches the piles of trash. Every day, a child’s hopes disappear. Is there a way out of this? For many, this is life.
I never knew that layers of trash can ignite gases below and that is why there are holes in the mountain for the combustible gases to expel from.. Thus the smoke that comes out of it. This is why its called Smokey Mountain.
Thousands of families live on this mountain. Its so hard to see the children who play barefoot on the toxic ground. Homes are built on top of accumalated trash. I cant even begin to explain the smell. It stays in your nose hours after the visit.
I saw children scavenge through the garbage looking for any disposables like plastics or metals. Every kilo of metal a child gathers is 20 cents in their pocket. How can a child live like this? Should we allow it?
This tour was the most eye-opening out of everything I have experienced thus far. I had never seen anything like this. I didnt even think this existed. Ive been sad and confused at the same time. I kept asking myself Why? I dont know how we as human beings can allow for this to happen. Its amazing but its happened for generations.
I hope my pictures and video will show you a glimpse of what I experienced. I hope you question why this exists.”
