#BAYANihan: Bringing hope to survivors of abuse

BPI Foundation, the social development arm of BPI, recently extended financial assistance to CAMELEON Association, Inc. (CAMELEON), an organization that has been working for the protection and healing of young girl-survivors of sexual abuse in the Western Visayas region.

The donation amounting to Php 100,000 will be used for the restoration of CAMELEON’s newly-opened rehabilitation center in Silay City, Negros Occidental, which houses 26 girl-survivors of sexual abuse and eight CAMELEON staff members. The facility was severely damaged by flash floods brought about by heavy rains last January 2021.

“Extending a helping hand to those badly affected by natural disasters has always been a part of our Bayanihan advocacy,” said BPI Foundation Executive Director Owen Cammayo. “Being able to contribute and help CAMELEON in the fight against sexual abuse is a huge bonus.”

The rehabilitation center, which aims to provide a safe and therapeutic environment for the girl-survivors, saw 20% of its land area being washed out and a significant portion of the fence that protects the center destroyed by strong floods.

Expressing her gratitude for the donation, CAMELEON Executive Director Heide Foulc said, “The amount will have a huge impact on our efforts to provide a safe and therapeutic environment for the girls that will strengthen and heal them from traumatic experiences. At CAMELEON, we recognize that our work will not come to fruition without the help of organizations like BPI Foundation, which continuously supports our holistic and long-term mission to end sexual violence in Western Visayas.”

Currently, the girl-survivors and staff are kept safe with a makeshift fence made of galvanized iron sheets.

To know more about BPI Foundation, follow its Facebook and Instagram pages and visit www.bpifoundation.org.