ONESIMO Foundation, Inc. took its roots from the missionary works in the 1990s of Swiss national, Christian Shneider, in the Philippine slum areas. For years, he lived among the very poor of the society and thus, by being one among them, saw for himself how destitute they are and the immensity of their inadequacies.
Thus, in May 1996, Mr. Schneider and his wife Christine, together with some Filipino community leaders, established the Foundation to address the great disparity and disadvantages that befell the least among their brethren, particularly focusing on the upliftment of the youth that will deliver their families to a better future. Then, as it is now, funding of the Foundation was through the handiwork of Mr. Schneider enabled by his philanthropic network in Switzerland, one of which is SERVANTS Mission an NGO that is committed to help the urban poor.
Over the years, the Foundation was able to establish its own shelter houses for the urban poor youth and children at risk and community-based training facilities all situated at the periphery of the slum areas that they serve like Payatas, Bagong Silang, Baesa, Frisco, Letre, Philcoa, among others.
Among the major programs that the Foundation is conducting are the operation and maintenance of shelter houses for children (Residential Care), community ministry and capacity building (Aftercare), education (Preventive) and summer youth camps (Leadership Trainings at Campsite). It also operates its own 10-ha. agriculture farm that normally hosts its gatherings, big activities, vocational training and others. The farm is also intended to produce food for the shelters.
