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CARING schoolboy Callum Haggarty gave up his summer leisure time to toil under the sun building an access road to an orphanage in the Philippines.
And the teenager didn’t go empty-handed … he brought along a pile of goodies for the institute’s children donated by pupils, parents and staff members at Bahrain’s St Christopher’s School.
Callum, 16, who lives in Saar with his parents Ken and Bernadette, brothers Andrew, 14, and Danny, 10, and sister, Jade, nine, said: “I always thought it was out of reach for me to do something like this but now I realise charity is a very accessible thing. Having to take responsibility for collecting donations and making contact with airlines was a new experience for me.
“It was definitely worthwhile. I was concerned beforehand but having done it once, I now realise how everything fits together and how you can achieve anything if you get up and do it.”
Subic Bay Children’s Home, located on the outskirts of the city of Olongapo in Luzon, provides a home to destitute, unwanted, unloved, troubled boys and girls and has had more than 300 children come through its doors since being founded in 1990.
Callum’s family knew people who had volunteered there previously and, after making contact, he was invited to visit in July.
As soon as he received the green light he set about collecting useful items to take with him that could help make a difference to the 50 children currently living at the home.
“I contacted my teachers and they donated some educational materials,” explained Callum. “I was given permission to place a donations box in our primary school and many parents were very generous with their support.
“Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways both agreed to carry the donations to the Philippines for me and the Philippines Customs department were very helpful in letting me import everything.
“My mum and dad supported me a lot in the lead up and packing all the donations took a long time because everyone was so big-hearted.”
After delivering the donations Callum spent a week getting stuck into the challenges. “I started off doing manual labour,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting that. I had to join the local workers preparing to build an access road and installing lights.
“I thought I was pretty fit when I went there but shovelling and moving wheelbarrows of rocks was a unique workout. I was glad when that bit was over!”
“I also worked in the school at the orphanage. The children practised their English on me and were very responsive. We played games – they were really good at basketball. I enjoyed working with the children best. They were very polite and so happy despite their tough start in life.
“They had all been abandoned. Some have been there since shortly after birth. Others who had grown up at the orphanage continued to work there as adults but most of the children were of school age. We brought some equipment from St. Christopher’s PE Department and that went down really well.
“Seeing how grateful the children were was the most rewarding thing about the experience. They really enjoyed some of the donations. I don’t think they were expecting quite so much stuff! They were very happy.”
Donations included an assortment of balls, frisbees, a play parachute, plenty of clothes, lots of shoes, baby grows, nappies, art supplies, books and pencils.
Callum said: “The orphanage was what I expected although I didn’t expect it to be quite so tropical. It was a tough place to get to. I didn’t think it would be so far out of the city.
“The most challenging thing was the journey there. It was a long trip and we got there in a thunderstorm, in darkness. I was really tired but finally making it and having the donations made it worthwhile. At first the children were shy but after a day it was good.
“The Philippines was a challenging place but the people were all very friendly, especially the customs staff at Manila Airport.
“The orphanage was in the hills and it also supported a community of people relocated there after a volcano eruption in the 1990s. We visited this indigenous community and it was a real eye-opener to see them. They were struggling even after all this time.”
Proud dad Ken, who travelled with his son and ended up volunteering too, said: “It was definitely harder work than we expected and Callum was not used to the manual labour. But, he got stuck in and the whole thing was full of good experiences, particularly connecting with the children.
“He did really well and got a lot out of it – although he was happy to come back to Bahrain, maybe he appreciates things at home more now!”
It’s back to school for the whole Haggarty family who come from County Kildare, Ireland and West Lothian, Scotland. Mr Haggarty is St Christopher’s School’s head of music and Mrs Haggarty is a Year 2 Assistant.
After successfully completing his GCSE examinations, Callum, who was born in Kuwait, will be starting A’ level studies in Maths, Further Maths, History, Physics & Chemistry and is aiming at winning a place at university before starting a career in the field of science.
He recommends the volunteering experience to other teenagers. “Definitely, yes,” he said. “It was a great experience but it wasn’t a ‘holiday experience’. It was harder than I thought it would be. My dad is hoping to organise a similar adventure for my brother, maybe in Cambodia. It certainly made me appreciate what I have.”
