MANILA, Philippines—For Rene, 17, the chance to sing “Make Me Serve” was a rare opportunity to give something back to British Ambassador Peter Beckingham and his wife, Jill.

This dedicated couple had worked tirelessly to help uplift the lives of 400 students attending the PCF (Philippine Christian Foundation) Community School in Vitas, Tondo.

The school was built in 2003 to educate the children who used to work as trash-pickers, and Rene was among a small group taking part in a special performance late last month honoring and saying goodbye to the Beckinghams. The ambassador’s posting had ended and the couple were preparing to return to London.

(The Beckinghams departed on Saturday. Ambassador-designate Stephen Lillie is to officially start work on August 12.-Ed.)

As PCF patron and trustee for the past four years, Jill Beckingham played a critical role in helping these children achieve what they never dreamed possible.

But while the 75 children, faculty and staff gathered during the Beckinghams’ last visit in order to convey their appreciation in word, song and dance, it was soon also clear that the couple were there to say farewell but not goodbye.

‘You can’t walk away’

Jill Beckingham was introduced to the PCF project three weeks after her arrival in the Philippines in 2004, and has been its No. 1 supporter ever since her first visit to the dumpsite communities.

The school in those days was half its current size in terms of physical space and student population, but the impact of what she saw had a ripple effect.

“Once you have seen the smiling faces of those living in abject poverty with filth everywhere, you can’t walk away. You just want to help,” she said.

Jill recalled that it was the putrid, pervasive smell that most “got to” her. “Every breath of air these people take smells like a garbage dump,” she said.

The well-traveled Beckinghams agreed that these communities were the worst examples of poverty they had seen anywhere in the world.

“There are so many deserving cases in the Philippines, but this is the worst,” Jill said. “The fact that people are living in garbage and living off garbage by recycling is just unimaginable.”

Dignity

Yet, despite the dire conditions of the dumpsite communities, the ambassador’s wife was amazed by the residents’ spirit: “The children come to school clean, with a smile on their face. They have a dignity about them and they value everything. This is something we should take back to Britain because we do have poor people in Britain but they don’t have the same dignity.”

Having visited the area hundreds of times, she also found it wonderful that nobody had ever come begging or asking for money.

“Everyone is courteous, and although they scavenge to earn a living, these people are proud of what money they do make,” she said.

Meeting British national Jane Walker, PCF founder/visionary and president, further opened the door through which Jill would eventually lead many other people.

“She was doing an amazing job—educating them, feeding them, giving them a chance in life,” Jill said of Walker. “I thought if she can do it, all I can do is support her as much as I can.”

Ambassador Beckingham recalled his first impression of Walker: “I was immediately struck by what an enormous job she was doing and how incredibly difficult it was. I was impressed at what an unassuming lady she was—there was no selfishness. She had obviously been completely won over by the needs of the children and was simply working to fill them.”

Raising funds

The problems inherent in a dumpsite community may seem overwhelmingly complex at times, but the solution for opening the door to a brighter future for its children is relatively simple.

Said Jill Beckingham: “Once they have an education, they have a chance for a better life. Without it, they are destined to be illiterate and the only opening is to be scavengers.”

Although the British Embassy has no available funds to help projects such as PCF, the ambassador’s wife found many creative ways to use her position to help.

For example, she brought “everybody known to man down here, particularly British visitors, because I wanted them to see what a British national has done.”

In fact, “I brought anyone who I thought could open a few doors in England,” she said.

Her efforts helped PCF raise several million pesos from personal and corporate donations, as well as network with Philippine groups and corporations that also provided support.

Said Jane Walker: “She has personally waded through the dumpsite showing visitors around, and has worked with me to develop new programs such as a clinic and feeding programs. [She also] attended endless planning meetings to help secure land for the new school.”

Difference

Jill Beckingham smiled. “Everybody who comes down here ends up wanting to help in whatever way they can,” she said. “You have to be pretty heartless to see the conditions and not help. And no matter how little you may have to give, it is easy to see the difference it makes in these children’s lives.”

Acting as a bridge between the school and those who might be able to help push its projects was just one need Jill filled. She also launched imaginative fundraisers, such as casino nights and having the PCF choir sing outside the ambassador’s residence to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s birthday.

During times when their goals seemed impossible to meet, Jill was inspired by Walker’s commitment.

“So many times when we tried to get land, containers, funding, we got caught in a cycle of one-step-forward-two-steps-back. Yet Jane’s tenacity and commitment were incredible. She was always smiling and absolutely convinced that it’s just going to work!” Jill said, adding:

“Many people come to this area with good intentions to help, but because conditions are so difficult, they end up leaving. PCF will not leave.”

World’s biggest

Much of the money the Beckinghams helped raise has helped make possible PCF’s most innovative and ambitious project yet—a new school large enough to educate 1,000 children until college level.

With 72 shipping container vans making up the walls and classrooms, the structure will be the world’s largest school made from recycled materials. It is scheduled to open in February 2010.

The project is a true collaborative effort involving contributions of money or services, expatriate and Filipino volunteer architects and engineers, and corporate donations of containers and building supplies by APL Co. Ltd., Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., Holcim and Hyder.

Since the current school is in a converted warehouse located in the heart of a squatter area close to the Pier 18 dump, the new school a-building on Smokey Mountain will make a world of difference to the students.

Less odor from the garbage being sorted around the school, less rat and insect infestations, more safety and no flooding are among the benefits, as are proper facilities (computer rooms, libraries, a science lab, a self-service canteen and play areas for the kids).

Most of the elders are unschooled, which makes providing the parents basic skills as important as educating their children.

Courses on good parenting, financial planning, family planning, nutrition, prenatal and primary health care, reproductive health, and advice on how to recognize sex predators are also offered.

And because PCF believes in a holistic approach to helping the community, it provides adult literacy courses, remedial classes, family counseling, an advocacy program focused on children’s rights, a livelihood and skills training program on making products from recycled materials, and even materials for house repair.

More to be done

Ambassador Beckingham spoke with pride of PCF’s work: “To see something actually growing from one of the poorest areas of Manila is very exciting. What has been accomplished is tremendous and very imaginative. And I am delighted that in a very small way, there has been some British involvement.”

Jill Beckingham plans to return to the Philippines for the opening of the new school, and will continue her fundraising efforts from London in her new role as chair of the UK board of trustees of PCF.

“We still have 50 percent left of the new school to complete, and once it’s open, we need to cover the running costs. Feeding the children alone will cost P750,000 a month. I will knock on the doors of whoever has funds to give. There is still so much more that needs to be done…” she said.