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A father and his children we met at the Aroma Dump Site.
They were evicted after a while, and we don’t know where they are now.
Children we met around the dump site.
They scavenge in the city every day.
A picture of children working at Aroma Dump Site.
They pick up recyclables such as bottles, cans, iron or brass scraps and get 50-200 pesos (200-500 JPY) per day.
Streetscape of Aroma Dump Site
July-September, 2014.
Entrance of the dump site in the middle. The New BASURA HOUSE is being built here, and it’s still under construction. It’ll have an upper floor when it’s finished.
Learn what we have done so far through pictures
In 2009, many Japanese people visited the Aroma Dump Site near the old famous Smokey Mountain, located in the Northern part of Metro Manila, Philippines. They all watched Director Shinomiya’s latest documentary film “BASURA” released in June, and responded to what he suggested; they flew across the sea to see where it all began, and started to build one small activity center with the locals to help children working inside the dump site. The construction was completed in 2010 spring, and it became an important hub to do bigger activities as an NPO.
We offer free vaccinations for children, prenatal checkups for women, and provide medicines for free as well. There is also an educational support program (twice a year) and a feeding program which is also being done to improve the nutrition of children. Your donation will help our activities for people living in this unfortunate condition. As an expression of gratitude, donors’ names will be put on the wall of BASURA HOUSE.
I made a decision when I witnessed a child dying in Payatas Dump Site, where I filmed “God’s Children.” I thought that I had to live my life to save more lives of those children. I felt that this is what my life really means. Even when I am not sure whether that child’s life is in danger or not, I will help anybody when I’m asked to. This is why we put 1,000 yen from our wallet every month to build up a small fund to help all the poor children I met in the dump sites. I swear I will leave no one behind anymore.
After the completion of the construction of the former BASURA HOUSE, many Japanese young people have been making use of it as a hub of activities/programs. Those activities include medical, nutritional and educational activities that help children’s lives and hopes there. You can see about our latest activity on our website.
Medical Program
We offer free vaccinations for measles or polio with Filipino volunteer doctors and Manila Health Department. There is a feeding program as well to improve the nutrition of children living inside the dump site.
Educational Program
We provide school supplies to students twice a year when a new semester begins. They can also learn Japanese language if they want to. If you’re interested in teaching Japanese to them, come and join our volunteer tour. The BASURA HOUSE will also be also used by other volunteer groups. We are going to build another center within this year where volunteers can stay over night.
If you have clean (used) clothes, cooking pots, kettles, rubber boots or school supplies that you would like to donate, kindly send them to us at BASURA HOUSE. (Shipping cost is at your own expense.) Japanese staff or Christina, lead character of the film will gladly take care of them.
BASURA HOUSE was built in 2010 spring. Using this building, I really want to save more lives and hopes of kids there. And I really want to see people someday say “Japanese young people DID change the world!”
My dream is to take some people away from this most appalling circumstance and move them to newly cultivated land in the countryside. Their lifestyle there will be self-sufficient; they will grow organic vegetables and make cash by exporting them to Japan. This will be the very first model that will show that how Japanese young people change poverty in the world. We need your support to make it come true!
“BASURA” Director Hiroshi Shinomiya
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Ochiai Keiko
Tokiko Kato
Keizo Nakanishi
Don Konishi
Kameda Koki
Yu Tanaka
Shinichi Tsuji
YOH SHOMEI
MIZUSHIMA,Hiroko
Masahiro Higashide
