It's very difficult to imagine a 2-year-old scavenging for food at the local dump and begging for money for drugs and alcohol, but this is life in Cavite City, Philippines. This was life for Kesz, who ran away from home at the unimaginable age of 4 to live in a garbage dump with other dying orphans.
Although this terrible reality is truly heartbreaking, it was the best thing Chris 'Kesz' Váldez ever did for himself. While living at the dump at age 7, he was found and taken in by kind soul and Community worker, Harnin Manalaysay. Manalaysay, who runs a Bible study and outreach program, helped restore the young boy's health and adopted him as his own son.
Together, they started Championing Community Children, an organization which gives hope to street children and shows them that they can transform their lives… and helped others. In 2012, Kesz was award the International Children's Peace Prize. At age 13, he was the first southeast Asian to win the award and among the youngest nominees of all time. Kesz has helped more than 10,000 children in the community over the years. His story proves that miracles are possible and the human spirit can triumph almost anything.
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