• born to a scavenger family at Smokey Mountain, Tondo, Manila,  on August 15, 1993.
  
  
• Joan, the second of five children, was born deaf and never went to school because of her family’s lack of will and resources.
  
  
• BEing human Foundation facilitated an audio-logical test in August 2000 through the Manila Hearing Aid Center. Test results revealed moderate hearing loss on her left ear and severe hearing loss on her right ear.
  
  
• CROMA MEDIC & SIEMENS, and particularly Messrs. Manfred Rode and Grant Preston, then provided hearing aids for both ears to Joan.
  
  
• in April, Joan was assessed and given a series of examinations at PID - Philippine Institute for the Deaf; she passed and was awarded a full scholarship by PID’s Board of Directors. She started school in June 2001.
  
  
• BhF is supporting Joan’s school expenses such as school supplies, uniform,  transportation and food allowances through our STEP by STEP Scholarship Program.