[Music] [Applause]
I’m a 15 year old girl homeless unable
I’m a 15 year old girl homeless unable to claim benefits and with a substantial
to claim benefits and with a substantial
to claim benefits and with a substantial amount of trauma behind me to severely
amount of trauma behind me to severely
amount of trauma behind me to severely change my perception of life people and
change my perception of life people and
change my perception of life people and relationships life back then was all
relationships life back then was all
relationships life back then was all about trauma I worked my way from the
about trauma I worked my way from the
about trauma I worked my way from the bottom up in the newspaper industry to
bottom up in the newspaper industry to
bottom up in the newspaper industry to the lofty heights of senior management
the lofty heights of senior management
the lofty heights of senior management managing 28 newspapers but my personal
managing 28 newspapers but my personal
managing 28 newspapers but my personal life was in a mess full of fear
life was in a mess full of fear
life was in a mess full of fear isolation and desperate loneliness at
isolation and desperate loneliness at
isolation and desperate loneliness at the age of 33 I started to question my
the age of 33 I started to question my
the age of 33 I started to question my life purpose sewing newspapers didn’t
life purpose sewing newspapers didn’t
life purpose sewing newspapers didn’t really have the same appeal as it used
really have the same appeal as it used
really have the same appeal as it used to and I have this nagging feeling that
to and I have this nagging feeling that
to and I have this nagging feeling that there was more to life than my current
there was more to life than my current
there was more to life than my current experiences so I decided to take a
experiences so I decided to take a
experiences so I decided to take a sabbatical from my job I traveled to the
sabbatical from my job I traveled to the
sabbatical from my job I traveled to the Philippines to think about my future
Philippines to think about my future
Philippines to think about my future when I got there the first thing I did
when I got there the first thing I did
when I got there the first thing I did was read a newspaper and I read stories
was read a newspaper and I read stories
was read a newspaper and I read stories of families who were living in
of families who were living in
of families who were living in broken-down trances small dark being
broken-down trances small dark being
broken-down trances small dark being bulldozed demolished by bulldozers to
bulldozed demolished by bulldozers to
bulldozed demolished by bulldozers to make way for new roads well I’d never
make way for new roads well I’d never
make way for new roads well I’d never seen a shanty before I’d never seen a
seen a shanty before I’d never seen a
seen a shanty before I’d never seen a squatter area I didn’t know what they
squatter area I didn’t know what they
squatter area I didn’t know what they looked like so I jumped in a taxi and I
looked like so I jumped in a taxi and I
looked like so I jumped in a taxi and I asked the taxi driver to take me to the
asked the taxi driver to take me to the
asked the taxi driver to take me to the worst got an area that he knew he wasn’t
worst got an area that he knew he wasn’t
worst got an area that he knew he wasn’t keen he said it wasn’t safe for white
keen he said it wasn’t safe for white
keen he said it wasn’t safe for white women so I promised that I’d stay in the
women so I promised that I’d stay in the
women so I promised that I’d stay in the taxi but as soon as we got to the shanty
taxi but as soon as we got to the shanty
taxi but as soon as we got to the shanty area I jumped out for a closer look
area I jumped out for a closer look
area I jumped out for a closer look because I couldn’t believe what I was
because I couldn’t believe what I was
because I couldn’t believe what I was seeing families living in these dark
seeing families living in these dark
seeing families living in these dark tiny shacks there were no bigger than a
tiny shacks there were no bigger than a
tiny shacks there were no bigger than a small garden shed there was
small garden shed there was
small garden shed there was in water no electricity no sanitation
in water no electricity no sanitation
in water no electricity no sanitation the the walls are made of second-hand
the the walls are made of second-hand
the the walls are made of second-hand pieces of wood that were nailed together
pieces of wood that were nailed together
pieces of wood that were nailed together and there were rusty sheets of
and there were rusty sheets of
and there were rusty sheets of corrugated metal that were put on top
corrugated metal that were put on top
corrugated metal that were put on top with an old car tyre to make the roof I
with an old car tyre to make the roof I
with an old car tyre to make the roof I felt sick in my stomach that families
felt sick in my stomach that families
felt sick in my stomach that families would actually call these places home
would actually call these places home
would actually call these places home and I know this sounds really horrible
and I know this sounds really horrible
and I know this sounds really horrible but our animals they live in better
but our animals they live in better
but our animals they live in better living conditions than these families
living conditions than these families
living conditions than these families did and in the distance I could feed see
did and in the distance I could feed see
did and in the distance I could feed see two little boys one of them was was
two little boys one of them was was
two little boys one of them was was dragging a sack behind him and the other
dragging a sack behind him and the other
dragging a sack behind him and the other had a hook in his hand and I didn’t know
had a hook in his hand and I didn’t know
had a hook in his hand and I didn’t know what they were doing so I followed them
what they were doing so I followed them
what they were doing so I followed them and I followed them up to a dirt dirt
and I followed them up to a dirt dirt
and I followed them up to a dirt dirt track again I couldn’t believe what I
track again I couldn’t believe what I
track again I couldn’t believe what I was seeing because there were hundreds
was seeing because there were hundreds
was seeing because there were hundreds of children everywhere some of them just
of children everywhere some of them just
of children everywhere some of them just as young as two years of age and they
as young as two years of age and they
as young as two years of age and they were knee-deep in rubbish foraging
were knee-deep in rubbish foraging
were knee-deep in rubbish foraging around looking for pieces of plastic and
around looking for pieces of plastic and
around looking for pieces of plastic and metal to put in their sack the tiny
metal to put in their sack the tiny
metal to put in their sack the tiny bodies were bruised and cut and dirty
bodies were bruised and cut and dirty
bodies were bruised and cut and dirty and the smell on this dump site was so
and the smell on this dump site was so
and the smell on this dump site was so pretty
pretty
pretty I just wanted to gank there was what in
I just wanted to gank there was what in
I just wanted to gank there was what in food and Hospital waste and the abattoir
food and Hospital waste and the abattoir
food and Hospital waste and the abattoir it had dumped a load of carcasses and
it had dumped a load of carcasses and
it had dumped a load of carcasses and the air was thick with his black smoke
the air was thick with his black smoke
the air was thick with his black smoke where they were burning charcoal and car
where they were burning charcoal and car
where they were burning charcoal and car tires
tires
tires there was nothing dignified about this
there was nothing dignified about this
there was nothing dignified about this place and yet this place was the place
place and yet this place was the place
place and yet this place was the place where I had my epiphany moment this was
where I had my epiphany moment this was
where I had my epiphany moment this was the place where everything in my entire
the place where everything in my entire
the place where everything in my entire world changed because when I looked at
world changed because when I looked at
world changed because when I looked at these children I realized that their
these children I realized that their
these children I realized that their entire lives were destined to be spent
entire lives were destined to be spent
entire lives were destined to be spent living and working in other people’s
living and working in other people’s
living and working in other people’s trash I realized that they were not able
trash I realized that they were not able
trash I realized that they were not able to change their own futures and the
to change their own futures and the
to change their own futures and the hopelessness of that well it reminded me
hopelessness of that well it reminded me
hopelessness of that well it reminded me of how I used to feel when I was a child
horrible things were happening to me and
horrible things were happening to me and I wasn’t able to stop them and it took
I wasn’t able to stop them and it took
I wasn’t able to stop them and it took me back to a really dark place time that
me back to a really dark place time that
me back to a really dark place time that I had tried to forget my childhood was
I had tried to forget my childhood was
I had tried to forget my childhood was problematic difficult my sister and I
problematic difficult my sister and I
problematic difficult my sister and I have been separated by the courts and
have been separated by the courts and
have been separated by the courts and and
and
and – eight years apart before the courts
– eight years apart before the courts
– eight years apart before the courts granted my mum custody back of my sister
granted my mum custody back of my sister
granted my mum custody back of my sister I was well looked after
I was well looked after
I was well looked after but the essential ingredients for a
but the essential ingredients for a
but the essential ingredients for a healthy secure childhood were definitely
healthy secure childhood were definitely
healthy secure childhood were definitely missing my father had one of the most
missing my father had one of the most
missing my father had one of the most explosive tempers my mother was a
explosive tempers my mother was a
explosive tempers my mother was a nervous wreck she was so emotionally
nervous wreck she was so emotionally
nervous wreck she was so emotionally unstable she tried to commit suicide and
unstable she tried to commit suicide and
unstable she tried to commit suicide and actually so did I at the age of twelve
actually so did I at the age of twelve
actually so did I at the age of twelve when I was 15 my parents sat me down and
when I was 15 my parents sat me down and
when I was 15 my parents sat me down and they said to me look we don’t want you
they said to me look we don’t want you
they said to me look we don’t want you living with us anymore you know we we
living with us anymore you know we we
living with us anymore you know we we want you to either go into care go to
want you to either go into care go to
want you to either go into care go to social services or you can live with
social services or you can live with
social services or you can live with your aunt and uncle
your aunt and uncle
your aunt and uncle they live in Cornwall well of course I
they live in Cornwall well of course I
they live in Cornwall well of course I went to sit with my aunt and uncle
went to sit with my aunt and uncle
went to sit with my aunt and uncle because they were in Cornwall I thought
because they were in Cornwall I thought
because they were in Cornwall I thought wow this is amazing this is a fresh
wow this is amazing this is a fresh
wow this is amazing this is a fresh start just what I wanted but two months
start just what I wanted but two months
start just what I wanted but two months after being there my uncle raped me so I
after being there my uncle raped me so I
after being there my uncle raped me so I found myself in Bournemouth homeless and
found myself in Bournemouth homeless and
found myself in Bournemouth homeless and alone but I was one of the lucky ones
alone but I was one of the lucky ones
alone but I was one of the lucky ones because I managed to get a job in a
because I managed to get a job in a
because I managed to get a job in a hotel as a living chambermaid and that
hotel as a living chambermaid and that
hotel as a living chambermaid and that managed to save me from the horrors of
managed to save me from the horrors of
managed to save me from the horrors of living on the streets but I was still
living on the streets but I was still
living on the streets but I was still haunted by my past I threw myself into
haunted by my past I threw myself into
haunted by my past I threw myself into work drugs drink anything to escape and
work drugs drink anything to escape and
work drugs drink anything to escape and now I am now in front of these children
now I am now in front of these children
now I am now in front of these children on this dump site and I can see the
on this dump site and I can see the
on this dump site and I can see the despair in their faces and really all I
despair in their faces and really all I
despair in their faces and really all I want to do is put my hands in my pocket
want to do is put my hands in my pocket
want to do is put my hands in my pocket and give these kids all the money that I
and give these kids all the money that I
and give these kids all the money that I have and just tell them that I hope
have and just tell them that I hope
have and just tell them that I hope everything works out for them I just
everything works out for them I just
everything works out for them I just wanted to run away but I remembered the
wanted to run away but I remembered the
wanted to run away but I remembered the teacher who didn’t report the bruises
teacher who didn’t report the bruises
teacher who didn’t report the bruises that she found on me and the social
that she found on me and the social
that she found on me and the social workers who didn’t believe my story and
workers who didn’t believe my story and
workers who didn’t believe my story and the doctors that didn’t treat my my
the doctors that didn’t treat my my
the doctors that didn’t treat my my illnesses and my eating disorders and
illnesses and my eating disorders and
illnesses and my eating disorders and eventually the police woman who told me
eventually the police woman who told me
eventually the police woman who told me to run away because my uncle was going
to run away because my uncle was going
to run away because my uncle was going to rape me again I was the professional
to rape me again I was the professional
to rape me again I was the professional and I I was the one who had the ability
and I I was the one who had the ability
and I I was the one who had the ability to help and what kind of person would I
to help and what kind of person would I
to help and what kind of person would I be if I didn’t help these children I
be if I didn’t help these children I
be if I didn’t help these children I didn’t want to be the same as the doctor
didn’t want to be the same as the doctor
didn’t want to be the same as the doctor the social worker the teacher the
the social worker the teacher the
the social worker the teacher the policewoman I could see that the cry of
policewoman I could see that the cry of
policewoman I could see that the cry of help in there
help in there
help in there and so I decided that I would do
and so I decided that I would do
and so I decided that I would do everything I possibly could to try and
everything I possibly could to try and
everything I possibly could to try and give them a better future I went back to
give them a better future I went back to
give them a better future I went back to England and I decided that I build them
England and I decided that I build them
England and I decided that I build them a daycare center of 60 children from my
a daycare center of 60 children from my
a daycare center of 60 children from my own savings and started to study about
own savings and started to study about
own savings and started to study about why there were child labor issues in the
why there were child labor issues in the
why there were child labor issues in the Philippines and how I could run a
Philippines and how I could run a
Philippines and how I could run a charity and I quickly realized that the
charity and I quickly realized that the
charity and I quickly realized that the daycare center was never going to make
daycare center was never going to make
daycare center was never going to make that much difference to the children I
that much difference to the children I
that much difference to the children I really needed to be able to give them an
really needed to be able to give them an
really needed to be able to give them an education and give them the the tools
education and give them the the tools
education and give them the the tools and the resources they needed to change
and the resources they needed to change
and the resources they needed to change their own future I shared this
their own future I shared this
their own future I shared this information with my sister and she said
information with my sister and she said
information with my sister and she said she’d help me fundraise and so with that
she’d help me fundraise and so with that
she’d help me fundraise and so with that I went back to the Philippines I sat
I went back to the Philippines I sat
I went back to the Philippines I sat down with the parents and I said to them
down with the parents and I said to them
down with the parents and I said to them what else did would you like me to do
what else did would you like me to do
what else did would you like me to do for you and they said educate our
for you and they said educate our
for you and they said educate our children don’t let them live like us and
children don’t let them live like us and
children don’t let them live like us and they directed me to this really old
they directed me to this really old
they directed me to this really old dilapidated warehouse it was filthy oh
dilapidated warehouse it was filthy oh
dilapidated warehouse it was filthy oh we all went down and we cleaned it we
we all went down and we cleaned it we
we all went down and we cleaned it we painted it I bought secondhand furniture
painted it I bought secondhand furniture
painted it I bought secondhand furniture and a big sign outside saying teachers
and a big sign outside saying teachers
and a big sign outside saying teachers apply within and that was the beginning
apply within and that was the beginning
apply within and that was the beginning of the school there were so many
of the school there were so many
of the school there were so many challenges in trying to get this charity
challenges in trying to get this charity
challenges in trying to get this charity in this work for these children off the
in this work for these children off the
in this work for these children off the ground in this 15-minute presentation
ground in this 15-minute presentation
ground in this 15-minute presentation I’m never going to be able to tell you
I’m never going to be able to tell you
I’m never going to be able to tell you them but there are a couple of things
them but there are a couple of things
them but there are a couple of things that really stick out in my mind and one
that really stick out in my mind and one
that really stick out in my mind and one of them was today that the children came
of them was today that the children came
of them was today that the children came to school and they were so fidgety they
to school and they were so fidgety they
to school and they were so fidgety they were so hungry they couldn’t concentrate
were so hungry they couldn’t concentrate
were so hungry they couldn’t concentrate so I used to feed them a really really
so I used to feed them a really really
so I used to feed them a really really good meal and give them snacks and I
good meal and give them snacks and I
good meal and give them snacks and I kept weighing them and measuring them to
kept weighing them and measuring them to
kept weighing them and measuring them to make sure they began in waiting and
make sure they began in waiting and
make sure they began in waiting and growing but they weren’t so I took them
growing but they weren’t so I took them
growing but they weren’t so I took them to the pediatrician and as soon as the
to the pediatrician and as soon as the
to the pediatrician and as soon as the pediatrician found out where these
pediatrician found out where these
pediatrician found out where these children came from the first thing he
children came from the first thing he
children came from the first thing he said to me was oh my goodness he goes
said to me was oh my goodness he goes
said to me was oh my goodness he goes they’re riddled with intestinal worms so
they’re riddled with intestinal worms so
they’re riddled with intestinal worms so I’ll give you a chocolate milk drink
I’ll give you a chocolate milk drink
I’ll give you a chocolate milk drink give this to the children it would get
give this to the children it would get
give this to the children it would get rid of the worms well this is where I
rid of the worms well this is where I
rid of the worms well this is where I made my first monumental mistake because
made my first monumental mistake because
made my first monumental mistake because I worm 250 children on a Thursday yeah
I worm 250 children on a Thursday yeah
I worm 250 children on a Thursday yeah you can you you know don’t you what
you can you you know don’t you what
you can you you know don’t you what happened on the Friday when they all
happened on the Friday when they all
happened on the Friday when they all came into school yeah we always were
came into school yeah we always were
came into school yeah we always were them on a Friday night
them on a Friday night
them on a Friday night the second the second thing was is that
the second the second thing was is that
the second the second thing was is that the children kept missing days from
the children kept missing days from
the children kept missing days from school though you know even though we
school though you know even though we
school though you know even though we were providing like wonderful services
were providing like wonderful services
were providing like wonderful services for them they still kept missing their
for them they still kept missing their
for them they still kept missing their days from school and asked the parents
days from school and asked the parents
days from school and asked the parents why and they said all whether the
why and they said all whether the
why and they said all whether the courser children needed to go to work
courser children needed to go to work
courser children needed to go to work well I didn’t understand that you know
well I didn’t understand that you know
well I didn’t understand that you know why did the children need to go to work
why did the children need to go to work
why did the children need to go to work so I asked the parents if I could live
so I asked the parents if I could live
so I asked the parents if I could live with them just for a couple of weeks
with them just for a couple of weeks
with them just for a couple of weeks just you know so I could understand what
just you know so I could understand what
just you know so I could understand what was going on the one thing I know is
was going on the one thing I know is
was going on the one thing I know is that sometimes when you make those
that sometimes when you make those
that sometimes when you make those courageous steps and you do it out of
courageous steps and you do it out of
courageous steps and you do it out of deep love and concern for another person
deep love and concern for another person
deep love and concern for another person wonderful things can happen and what I
wonderful things can happen and what I
wonderful things can happen and what I discovered was it wasn’t the parents
discovered was it wasn’t the parents
discovered was it wasn’t the parents forcing the children to go to work far
forcing the children to go to work far
forcing the children to go to work far from it it was these beautiful children
from it it was these beautiful children
from it it was these beautiful children they wanted to go to work because they
they wanted to go to work because they
they wanted to go to work because they were tight that if they don’t work they
were tight that if they don’t work they
were tight that if they don’t work they don’t eat and if they don’t eat they
don’t eat and if they don’t eat they
don’t eat and if they don’t eat they starve and their brothers and sisters
starve and their brothers and sisters
starve and their brothers and sisters might starve with them as well so they
might starve with them as well so they
might starve with them as well so they joyfully went to work on the dump site
joyfully went to work on the dump site
joyfully went to work on the dump site with their parents there was no
with their parents there was no
with their parents there was no resentment or bitterness in them and yet
resentment or bitterness in them and yet
resentment or bitterness in them and yet their childhoods were being robbed from
their childhoods were being robbed from
their childhoods were being robbed from them as they bear the weight of
them as they bear the weight of
them as they bear the weight of adulthood on their shoulders they will
adulthood on their shoulders they will
adulthood on their shoulders they will work together as a team so now I’m on
work together as a team so now I’m on
work together as a team so now I’m on the dump site with the families and a
the dump site with the families and a
the dump site with the families and a lot of them didn’t know what I was doing
lot of them didn’t know what I was doing
lot of them didn’t know what I was doing there but they didn’t care they just
there but they didn’t care they just
there but they didn’t care they just kept showing me what waste was valuable
kept showing me what waste was valuable
kept showing me what waste was valuable what waste I needed to pick to put in my
what waste I needed to pick to put in my
what waste I needed to pick to put in my sack and I was a pretty bad waste picker
sack and I was a pretty bad waste picker
sack and I was a pretty bad waste picker because even after four hours I didn’t
because even after four hours I didn’t
because even after four hours I didn’t have much to my slack and the kids used
have much to my slack and the kids used
have much to my slack and the kids used to feel really sorry for me these two
to feel really sorry for me these two
to feel really sorry for me these two keep putting their waste in my sack you
keep putting their waste in my sack you
keep putting their waste in my sack you know when your face is like two inches
know when your face is like two inches
know when your face is like two inches away from the ground because you had to
away from the ground because you had to
away from the ground because you had to bend down like really close to the
bend down like really close to the
bend down like really close to the ground to see the little pieces of
ground to see the little pieces of
ground to see the little pieces of plastic and metal that you needed to
plastic and metal that you needed to
plastic and metal that you needed to pick up you know that smell was like a
pick up you know that smell was like a
pick up you know that smell was like a thousand times worse and the ground was
thousand times worse and the ground was
thousand times worse and the ground was moving you know because of their maggots
moving you know because of their maggots
moving you know because of their maggots and everything that was on the ground I
and everything that was on the ground I
and everything that was on the ground I was thinking this has to be the worst
was thinking this has to be the worst
was thinking this has to be the worst job on the planet
job on the planet
job on the planet it can’t be another job worse than this
it can’t be another job worse than this
it can’t be another job worse than this working in other people’s trash
working in other people’s trash
working in other people’s trash physically exhausting and you know on
physically exhausting and you know on
physically exhausting and you know on the dump site there were like hundreds
the dump site there were like hundreds
the dump site there were like hundreds and well thousands of plastic bags
and well thousands of plastic bags
and well thousands of plastic bags everywhere all over and everybody would
everywhere all over and everybody would
everywhere all over and everybody would be like job in there hooks in the
be like job in there hooks in the
be like job in there hooks in the plastic bags and they’ll be giving them
plastic bags and they’ll be giving them
plastic bags and they’ll be giving them a good shake and they’d be like liquid
a good shake and they’d be like liquid
a good shake and they’d be like liquid to coming out of them but they were
to coming out of them but they were
to coming out of them but they were looking for little pieces of plastic or
looking for little pieces of plastic or
looking for little pieces of plastic or metal or anything
metal or anything
metal or anything that they could that they could recycle
that they could that they could recycle
that they could that they could recycle so I just copied them and what I didn’t
so I just copied them and what I didn’t
so I just copied them and what I didn’t realize is that as I was shaking these
realize is that as I was shaking these
realize is that as I was shaking these bags this liquid actually was was human
bags this liquid actually was was human
bags this liquid actually was was human waste you know because the thing is
waste you know because the thing is
waste you know because the thing is there’s no sanitation on that dump site
there’s no sanitation on that dump site
there’s no sanitation on that dump site so the only way they could get rid of
so the only way they could get rid of
so the only way they could get rid of their human waste was to put it in a
their human waste was to put it in a
their human waste was to put it in a little tiny piece of newspaper tie up in
little tiny piece of newspaper tie up in
little tiny piece of newspaper tie up in a plastic bag you know and throw I
a plastic bag you know and throw I
a plastic bag you know and throw I called it the rappin throw method and so
called it the rappin throw method and so
called it the rappin throw method and so as I’m busy you know shaking these bags
as I’m busy you know shaking these bags
as I’m busy you know shaking these bags trying to copy them you know I’m just
trying to copy them you know I’m just
trying to copy them you know I’m just getting covered in excrement the same as
getting covered in excrement the same as
getting covered in excrement the same as they were all I wanted at the end of the
they were all I wanted at the end of the
they were all I wanted at the end of the day was like a hot bath you know just
day was like a hot bath you know just
day was like a hot bath you know just desperate for that and I think the
desperate for that and I think the
desperate for that and I think the mothers they knew that so they came and
mothers they knew that so they came and
mothers they knew that so they came and they gave me this bowl of water was
they gave me this bowl of water was
they gave me this bowl of water was about four inches of water cold water in
about four inches of water cold water in
about four inches of water cold water in it and a tiny tiny piece of soap about
it and a tiny tiny piece of soap about
it and a tiny tiny piece of soap about the size of a ten pence piece and I’m
the size of a ten pence piece and I’m
the size of a ten pence piece and I’m concentrating so hard because I’m really
concentrating so hard because I’m really
concentrating so hard because I’m really scrubbing because I just want to get all
scrubbing because I just want to get all
scrubbing because I just want to get all this you know all this experiment and
this you know all this experiment and
this you know all this experiment and everything and the smells off me and
everything and the smells off me and
everything and the smells off me and I’ll obviously looking at what was going
I’ll obviously looking at what was going
I’ll obviously looking at what was going on around me but you know just for a
on around me but you know just for a
on around me but you know just for a second I looked up I mean I looked up
second I looked up I mean I looked up
second I looked up I mean I looked up there was about 300 Filipinos all stood
there was about 300 Filipinos all stood
there was about 300 Filipinos all stood around me watching me take this bath on
around me watching me take this bath on
around me watching me take this bath on the dump site I suppose they weren’t
the dump site I suppose they weren’t
the dump site I suppose they weren’t used to seeing white women do that
used to seeing white women do that
used to seeing white women do that afterwards we we went back to other
afterwards we we went back to other
afterwards we we went back to other shanty and we tipped all of our waste
shanty and we tipped all of our waste
shanty and we tipped all of our waste that we collected that day and we
that we collected that day and we
that we collected that day and we segregated into little piles of plastic
segregated into little piles of plastic
segregated into little piles of plastic and metal and we took it to a man he had
and metal and we took it to a man he had
and metal and we took it to a man he had a great big light weighing scales and he
a great big light weighing scales and he
a great big light weighing scales and he weighed the waste for us and then with
weighed the waste for us and then with
weighed the waste for us and then with the money that we had learnt that day we
the money that we had learnt that day we
the money that we had learnt that day we went off and bought some rice and
went off and bought some rice and
went off and bought some rice and noodles and that was our evening meal so
noodles and that was our evening meal so
noodles and that was our evening meal so we all had it on one plate eating with
we all had it on one plate eating with
we all had it on one plate eating with our hands children at night they wrapped
our hands children at night they wrapped
our hands children at night they wrapped up my feet in their clothes because they
up my feet in their clothes because they
up my feet in their clothes because they said that the rats might come in and
said that the rats might come in and
said that the rats might come in and wrap nibble my hard skin their life was
wrap nibble my hard skin their life was
wrap nibble my hard skin their life was so horrific and yet they carried on just
so horrific and yet they carried on just
so horrific and yet they carried on just normally just like we do you know they
normally just like we do you know they
normally just like we do you know they laughed they chatted they cooked the
laughed they chatted they cooked the
laughed they chatted they cooked the cleaned you know even though their
cleaned you know even though their
cleaned you know even though their shanty their house was a shanty it was
shanty their house was a shanty it was
shanty their house was a shanty it was on a stinking rubbish dump you know they
on a stinking rubbish dump you know they
on a stinking rubbish dump you know they still swept the floors everything was
still swept the floors everything was
still swept the floors everything was still clean they grew accustomed to
still clean they grew accustomed to
still clean they grew accustomed to things like the rats you know the rats
things like the rats you know the rats
things like the rats you know the rats were enormous on this dump site and they
were enormous on this dump site and they
were enormous on this dump site and they were like this big you know goes out a
were like this big you know goes out a
were like this big you know goes out a continuous all
continuous all
continuous all of food and they got mange a lot of them
of food and they got mange a lot of them
of food and they got mange a lot of them and it’s two words that should never be
and it’s two words that should never be
and it’s two words that should never be put together rats and mange because you
put together rats and mange because you
put together rats and mange because you know they just look absolutely
know they just look absolutely
know they just look absolutely terrifying they’ve got no hair and and
terrifying they’ve got no hair and and
terrifying they’ve got no hair and and the insects it’s so many insects spiders
the insects it’s so many insects spiders
the insects it’s so many insects spiders as big as your hands cockroaches when
as big as your hands cockroaches when
as big as your hands cockroaches when they fully grown they grow wings they
they fully grown they grow wings they
they fully grown they grow wings they fly everywhere and they all have like
fly everywhere and they all have like
fly everywhere and they all have like skin diseases you know and and all loads
skin diseases you know and and all loads
skin diseases you know and and all loads of sickness diarrhea sicknesses and just
of sickness diarrhea sicknesses and just
of sickness diarrhea sicknesses and just so much so much suffering going on but
so much so much suffering going on but
so much so much suffering going on but they just carried on with a smile on
they just carried on with a smile on
they just carried on with a smile on their faces and and this was their life
their faces and and this was their life
their faces and and this was their life just like we were do we just flick the
just like we were do we just flick the
just like we were do we just flick the kettle have a cup of tea it was just all
kettle have a cup of tea it was just all
kettle have a cup of tea it was just all normal to them so everything they own
normal to them so everything they own
normal to them so everything they own they own it really lightly you know
they own it really lightly you know
they own it really lightly you know because there’s so many typhoons and you
because there’s so many typhoons and you
because there’s so many typhoons and you know fire you know when you’re cooking
know fire you know when you’re cooking
know fire you know when you’re cooking off charcoal a spark can hit the wood
off charcoal a spark can hit the wood
off charcoal a spark can hit the wood and if it’s not attended to every house
and if it’s not attended to every house
and if it’s not attended to every house every shanty will just burn down so they
every shanty will just burn down so they
every shanty will just burn down so they own everything very very lightly and I’m
own everything very very lightly and I’m
own everything very very lightly and I’m asking them hi today you know how do
asking them hi today you know how do
asking them hi today you know how do they manage you know with with all this
they manage you know with with all this
they manage you know with with all this stress how do they manage and they sat
stress how do they manage and they sat
stress how do they manage and they sat me down and they said to me you know
me down and they said to me you know
me down and they said to me you know what Jane is it’s like this you know
what Jane is it’s like this you know
what Jane is it’s like this you know sometimes bad things happen and
sometimes bad things happen and
sometimes bad things happen and sometimes good things happen nothing
sometimes good things happen nothing
sometimes good things happen nothing ever lasts good comes come bad times
ever lasts good comes come bad times
ever lasts good comes come bad times come but there’s only one thing that we
come but there’s only one thing that we
come but there’s only one thing that we can ever depend on and that’s the love
can ever depend on and that’s the love
can ever depend on and that’s the love that we have in our hearts for our
that we have in our hearts for our
that we have in our hearts for our family for each other Wow it just blew
family for each other Wow it just blew
family for each other Wow it just blew me away
me away
me away no because that was a new concept for me
no because that was a new concept for me
no because that was a new concept for me and what I realized is whatever bad
and what I realized is whatever bad
and what I realized is whatever bad things they were going through because
things they were going through because
things they were going through because they didn’t seem to hold any bitterness
they didn’t seem to hold any bitterness
they didn’t seem to hold any bitterness or resentment for it for any of these
or resentment for it for any of these
or resentment for it for any of these things I realized that I also could let
things I realized that I also could let
things I realized that I also could let go of those emotions that bind me to my
go of those emotions that bind me to my
go of those emotions that bind me to my past that made me feel inadequate that
past that made me feel inadequate that
past that made me feel inadequate that made me feel less of a person I could
made me feel less of a person I could
made me feel less of a person I could let them go they taught me so much just
let them go they taught me so much just
let them go they taught me so much just by being who they were their lives made
by being who they were their lives made
by being who they were their lives made such a difference to me and as I spent
such a difference to me and as I spent
such a difference to me and as I spent more time with them I started to learn
more time with them I started to learn
more time with them I started to learn other things that weren’t so nice
other things that weren’t so nice
other things that weren’t so nice when the mothers and sometimes the
when the mothers and sometimes the
when the mothers and sometimes the teenage girls when they need money for
teenage girls when they need money for
teenage girls when they need money for medicines and they need to get that
medicines and they need to get that
medicines and they need to get that money quickly the only way to get it is
money quickly the only way to get it is
money quickly the only way to get it is to go and sell their bodies on the
to go and sell their bodies on the
to go and sell their bodies on the street for a few pence sometimes the
street for a few pence sometimes the
street for a few pence sometimes the pimps and the pedophiles and there seem
pimps and the pedophiles and there seem
pimps and the pedophiles and there seem to be quite a few of them would come on
to be quite a few of them would come on
to be quite a few of them would come on to the dump site and steal the children
to the dump site and steal the children
to the dump site and steal the children that weren’t supervised and the parents
that weren’t supervised and the parents
that weren’t supervised and the parents had no idea where they’d gone nearly
had no idea where they’d gone nearly
had no idea where they’d gone nearly every baby that was born was born
every baby that was born was born
every baby that was born was born severely malnourished and so many of
severely malnourished and so many of
severely malnourished and so many of them died and talking of death nearly
them died and talking of death nearly
them died and talking of death nearly every single person on that dump site
every single person on that dump site
every single person on that dump site had lost a brother or a sister or a
had lost a brother or a sister or a
had lost a brother or a sister or a parent death was something that was so
parent death was something that was so
parent death was something that was so normal it was an everyday occurrence I
normal it was an everyday occurrence I
normal it was an everyday occurrence I could feel their pain when they told me
could feel their pain when they told me
could feel their pain when they told me these stories they opened up their souls
these stories they opened up their souls
these stories they opened up their souls to me and I could feel that pain and
to me and I could feel that pain and
to me and I could feel that pain and what it did is it changed my heart for
what it did is it changed my heart for
what it did is it changed my heart for them so much because I then became
them so much because I then became
them so much because I then became absolutely feeling so protective towards
absolutely feeling so protective towards
absolutely feeling so protective towards them I didn’t want them to have any more
them I didn’t want them to have any more
them I didn’t want them to have any more suffering because no person no family
suffering because no person no family
suffering because no person no family nobody should have to endure what they
nobody should have to endure what they
nobody should have to endure what they enjoy and what they continue to endure
my heart is filled with respect for
my heart is filled with respect for these people absolutely the world
these people absolutely the world
these people absolutely the world sometimes looks upon them as just poor
sometimes looks upon them as just poor
sometimes looks upon them as just poor people and they don’t really make mind
people and they don’t really make mind
people and they don’t really make mind to anything then they make judgements on
to anything then they make judgements on
to anything then they make judgements on them and they make decisions that affect
them and they make decisions that affect
them and they make decisions that affect their lives that hurt them but they have
their lives that hurt them but they have
their lives that hurt them but they have no idea the beauty that I find in them
no idea the beauty that I find in them
no idea the beauty that I find in them as people as individuals as families as
as people as individuals as families as
as people as individuals as families as a community they changed not only my
a community they changed not only my
a community they changed not only my life but they changed my sisters too
life but they changed my sisters too
life but they changed my sisters too because she gave up a really well-paid
because she gave up a really well-paid
because she gave up a really well-paid job to stand by my side and together we
job to stand by my side and together we
job to stand by my side and together we decided that we would try and do
decided that we would try and do
decided that we would try and do whatever it took to kind create a
whatever it took to kind create a
whatever it took to kind create a pathway out of poverty for these
pathway out of poverty for these
pathway out of poverty for these families so we built school we built an
families so we built school we built an
families so we built school we built an enormous school made out of recycled
enormous school made out of recycled
enormous school made out of recycled shipping container vans it turned out to
shipping container vans it turned out to
shipping container vans it turned out to be the world’s first but it was large
be the world’s first but it was large
be the world’s first but it was large enough to end child labour on that dump
enough to end child labour on that dump
enough to end child labour on that dump site we’ve educated in over 16,000
site we’ve educated in over 16,000
site we’ve educated in over 16,000 children provided different skills
children provided different skills
children provided different skills training for families so they have
training for families so they have
training for families so they have different alternatives to supplement
different alternatives to supplement
different alternatives to supplement their income and our health programs
their income and our health programs
their income and our health programs they’ve they’ve helped nearly
they’ve they’ve helped nearly
they’ve they’ve helped nearly over a hundred thousand people they
over a hundred thousand people they
over a hundred thousand people they least so many lives have been saved
least so many lives have been saved
least so many lives have been saved through those programs and one of the
through those programs and one of the
through those programs and one of the really really fun things that we did is
really really fun things that we did is
really really fun things that we did is we we went on to the dump site and we
we we went on to the dump site and we
we we went on to the dump site and we found recycled bits of plastic and
found recycled bits of plastic and
found recycled bits of plastic and recycled glossy magazines and we started
recycled glossy magazines and we started
recycled glossy magazines and we started to make them into products we taught the
to make them into products we taught the
to make them into products we taught the families how to make beads from glossy
families how to make beads from glossy
families how to make beads from glossy magazines and things from toothpaste
magazines and things from toothpaste
magazines and things from toothpaste tubes and we took the ring pulls from
tubes and we took the ring pulls from
tubes and we took the ring pulls from coke cans soda cans and we made them
coke cans soda cans and we made them
coke cans soda cans and we made them into beautiful bags and clothes and
into beautiful bags and clothes and
into beautiful bags and clothes and jewelry and we showed them that there
jewelry and we showed them that there
jewelry and we showed them that there was other things they could do a trash
was other things they could do a trash
was other things they could do a trash other than just collecting it and
other than just collecting it and
other than just collecting it and selling it for a few pesos a kilo it’s
selling it for a few pesos a kilo it’s
selling it for a few pesos a kilo it’s provided sustainable work for thousands
provided sustainable work for thousands
provided sustainable work for thousands of people and we’ve taken this concept
of people and we’ve taken this concept
of people and we’ve taken this concept as well and we’ve not just done that
as well and we’ve not just done that
as well and we’ve not just done that here but we’ve also done it in other
here but we’ve also done it in other
here but we’ve also done it in other countries on other dump sites and we’re
countries on other dump sites and we’re
countries on other dump sites and we’re expanding that program I feel so
expanding that program I feel so
expanding that program I feel so privileged to be in the position I’ve
privileged to be in the position I’ve
privileged to be in the position I’ve been I feel like I owe them my life I
been I feel like I owe them my life I
been I feel like I owe them my life I feel that my happiness has been owed to
feel that my happiness has been owed to
feel that my happiness has been owed to those families and so many people that
those families and so many people that
those families and so many people that is partnered with us I think have felt
is partnered with us I think have felt
is partnered with us I think have felt the same I have no idea how to end this
the same I have no idea how to end this
the same I have no idea how to end this talk well I can say is when we learn to
talk well I can say is when we learn to
talk well I can say is when we learn to live with courage and we learn to love
live with courage and we learn to love
live with courage and we learn to love courageously it not only changes the
courageously it not only changes the
courageously it not only changes the world of the people that were trying to
world of the people that were trying to
world of the people that were trying to serve but it also changes well it
serve but it also changes well it
serve but it also changes well it changed my world I guess it would change
changed my world I guess it would change
changed my world I guess it would change your world as well thank you so much for
your world as well thank you so much for
your world as well thank you so much for listening
thank you very much Jane Walker you’re
thank you very much Jane Walker you’re hearing this
hearing this
hearing this [Applause]
”
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