Newsletter February

«Even though you are now so far away, looking for money so that we can live, I love you very much,» writes a twelve-year-old from the children’s village to Thomas. Yes, he was traveling a lot to tell people about his long trek for a good cause.

Newsletter November 2023

Thomas Kellenberger is a lot better. Moreover, a lot of positive things have happened of which we are pleased to inform you. We are are also very glad to be able to inform you about upcoming events. At some of them, Thomas Kellenberger will be present, while at others the organizers will make a collection in aid of IKP.

Newsletter September 2023

In this Newsletter we look back on events of the past three months showing the passion and love of our staff

"Blick" Report

1 June 2023: The Newspaper «Blick» publishes a report on the long march and the arrival at the children’s village

Newsletter June 2023

The challenges of our present time can depress and paralyze you. It is important not to forget that individuals may not change or rescue the whole world, but they can turn the life of individual people for the better all over the world.

Arrival Kuya Thom in Cagayan de Oro

After 21 months and 15,000 km of walking, Thom reached his destination, his children’s village in Cagayan de Oro, on 25 May 2023.

MindaNews

Interview of the MindaNews with Thomas Kellenberger by Messenger.

CNN Philippines

Interview CNN Philippines with Thomas Kellenberger via Zoom directly from Bangladesh

Newsletter March 2023

„If we rescue, love and nurture a child today she/he may save the world tomorrow“, says Thomas Kellenberger about the work of PIKIFI. In this Newsletter, we are pleased to report on our work: projects with national and international partners, events for teenage mothers and the initial start-up of the Safe House

Newsletter November 2022

By returning to front-of-class teaching, normal everyday life has come back to a certain degree also to the Philippines. And yet there is still a lot of new information: the inauguration of our most recent new building and charity events only form two articles in our latest Newsletter.

Kuya Thom

Thomas Kellenberger (39), a former Bernese police officer, aims to walk the distance of 15’000 kms to raise funds for the needy children in the Philippines and to evoke awareness to the plight of children in street situations, underage victims of sexual abuse and exploitation.

Newsletter September 2022

Positive effects – this is a keyword of this newsletter. The stories of three young women show what immediate effects your support of our work in the slums can produce. We are very pleased about it. We are also very happy that, finally, front-of-class teaching has resumed again.

Jungfraumarathon

Island Kids Philippines, Charity Partner of the 29. Jungfraumarathon 2022

Newsletter June 2022

The situation of the world we are living in, of our environment can be depressive at times! It is important to focus on the good deeds: friendship, solidarity, support, development, progress…

Newsletter March 2022

PKIFI helps wherever we can, also the affected of the pandemic and the victims of sexual abuse.

But there is always something beautiful and cheerful to report in our newsletter, about the flowers not only found by the wayside….

Typhoon Rai (Odette)

Typhoon Rai (Odette) was raging on 16/12/2021 and left major destruction. PIKIFI distribute food packs.

Newsletter December 2021

While it is getting cooler here, Thomas Kellenberger marches South towards a warmer climate. He already covered over one thousand three hundred kilometers ….

Newsletter Sept. 2021

812 successful graduations; continuous activities against human trafficking; completed and newly started construction work; a nomination as social worker of the year; and of course, the start of Thomas Kellenberger’s long walk from his home in Switzerland to his home in the Philippines.

Newsletter June 2021

Being on the move is the topic of the second newsletter of 2021. For PIKIFI, this means to support and accompany people to find together with them common ways to a better future. For Thomas Kellenberger, founder and president, it means to go soon on the long way from his home in Switzerland to his home in the Philippines – by walking.

Alice Rose Clover Child Development Center

The construction of our Alice Rose Clover Child Development Centre was completed at the end of May, in line with Corona’s new schedule. Our team in the Philippines moved into the new premises on 8 June 2021 and held a small celebration to mark the opening of the centre.

Survival packages COVID-19

We fight against the dramatic situation due to the Corona Pandemic with its economical and social consequences.

Let's make a difference

Island Kids Philippines stands up for the children in street situations and waste picker kids since more than 10 years in Cagayan de Oro, a Philippine port city. Help make a difference in the life of one single child, its family, and in the end to make a crucial difference for the whole poor community.

We are grieving

In deep sadness and gratefulness, we had to take farewell way too early from our beloved and kind hearted mother, daughter, sister, partner, and friend Ruth Kellenberger-Gafner. Ruth passed away at her home, surrounded by her closest people.

Support IKP through gift ideas

Every year again we think about how to make our loved ones, friends, or business partners a meaningful present. Sometimes, it`s not so easy. Maybe you will find something in our gift shop?

Four beneficiaries talk about IKP

Why does a child need the care of IKP? What is she/he doing at IKP? What are their dreams and plans for the future?

In a video, four beneficiaries of IKP talk about this.

Island Kids Philippines can`t fulfill wishes…

…but sometimes, we can help to make wishes come true. When Armilyn dropped out of school at grade 4 to look for recyclable materials in the big open dumping site, she couldn`t imagine that one day she would graduate from college as a teacher with a master degree in science. She made it – thanks to the help of IKP and her sponsors.

Jenly doesn`t work on the dumping site anymore

Jenly doesn`t work on the dumping site anymore – thanks to IKP and a lot of sponsors. A sensitive documentation from Mitja Rietbrock on behalf of the broadcast “mitenand” (together) from Swiss Television.

Thomas Kellenberger saved 15 children in a typhoon

As the typhoon “Vinta” swept across Cagayan de Oro, Thomas Kellenberger helped to bring the residents in safety. In a report of the newspaper “Jungfrau”, he describes his experiences during the storm.

Anniversary video 2017

Since 2007, the Philippine Island Kids International Foundation, Inc. (PIKIFI) cares about children in street situations (colloquial “streetkids”), and waste picker children, in the Southern Philippines port city Cagayan de Oro because of charity and conviction. Watch our anniversary video!