Thomas Kellenberger founded Island Kids Philippines (IKP) in 2007. Today, IKP runs a children’s village and two day schools in Cagayan de Oro, on the island of Mindanao. The more than 700 children are given real opportunities for the future through a good education, including a university degree. Over 60 children are cared for full-time in the children’s village.

The project

After Thomas Kellenberger – affectionately known as Kuya Thom in the Philippines – had accompanied and cared for his seriously ill mother in Switzerland for a year until her death, he made his way back to the Philippines on August 25, 2021. And he did so on foot! His journey took him from Switzerland through 22 countries to his adopted country.

The Bernese was pursuing several goals as part of a march for a good cause:

• to come to terms with the loss of his mother
• fulfill a long-cherished dream of going on a pilgrimage
• to draw attention to the situation of abused children
• raise 165,000 francs for the support of neglected children

(see interview at the bottom of this page)

However, this journey also marked a new beginning for Kuya Thom. The PIKIFI Foundation continued to run during his absence, allowing him to think about another, independent project under the umbrella of IKP. On his long journey, Kuya Thom worked out his ideas in concrete terms.

On May 25, 2023, after 21 months of walking, “Kuya Thom” arrived in the city center of Cagayan de Oro, his second home, where he was greeted enthusiastically by “his” children. His project “Kuya Thom Goes Home” was thus successfully completed. Every donation with the payment purpose “Kuya Thom” was donated in full to the new project and the set goal was nierly achieved.

Multivision lectures

Thomas Kellenberger now reports on his eventful experiences and encounters during his fundraising stays in Switzerland in an interesting and exciting multivision presentation. He touches you with his honesty and love of humanity in sound and vision.

Please send your inquiries to info@islandkids.ch

The new project

PIKIFI is dependent on donations, which are becoming increasingly difficult to find in the tight economic situation. Instead of building a second children’s village as originally planned, it is therefore necessary to support the financing of operating costs. This is now being done with the construction of the “Bata-Alima Pigcutin River Farm”, which supplies the children’s village and school with food. (photos from the farm and the opening ceremony)

At the same time, experiential educational activities are carried out on the farm for the children in PIKIFI’s care and time-out places are offered for young people in crisis situations. The next step will be to build houses for foster families, so that the goal of a second children’s village – albeit in a different way than originally planned – will also be achieved.

The farm is intended to support and supplement the work of PIKIFI without incurring additional operating costs.

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