Ven preps meals for iBIKE kids.

There, in the heat of the kitchen, Ven finds warmth, not just from the stoves, but from the smiles of the children he helps feed. With every meal, he pours out the care and compassion he once longed for as a child.

Ven carries a life story that speaks of deep struggle, but even greater grace. His journey is a powerful reminder that God can turn broken beginnings into beautiful testimonies.

When Ven was just 12 years old, he went through a deep heartbreak when his 38-years-old mother passed away because of a brain tumor. She meant everything to him. Losing her left him feeling lost and alone. After she died, his grandmother took care of him and looked after him during his teen years.

Ven helps an iBIKE student.

When Ven turned 17, grief returned as his grandmother also passed away. With no permanent home, he began living alternately with his aunts. Life was unstable, uncertain, and at times, painful. Yet, in the shadows of his struggle, God was planting seeds of hope. That hope began to bloom when Ven encountered I Believe In KIds Education (iBIKE), a mobile education program serving poor communities.

Ven showed up to help during special events, which slowly grew into something more. He didn’t seek recognition, he just wanted to serve. His quiet faithfulness caught the attention of program director Raymond Sumaya, who invited him to become part of the iBIKE team. This invitation became a turning point.

Ven began serving as a volunteer and eventually became an iBIKE cook. There, in the heat of the kitchen, Ven finds warmth, not just from the stoves, but from the smiles of the children he helps feed. With every meal, he pours out the care and compassion he once longed for as a child.

Ven is warmed by the kitchen and kids’ smiles.

Today, Ven serves faithfully at iBIKE. He is also growing in other areas. He is a college student, currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management, a focus that reflects both his passion for service and his dreams for the future.

More than that, Ven is now a committed member of a local church, serving in the sound tech ministry. Whether he’s setting up speakers or running microphones, Ven helps ensure others can hear the word of God just as he once did when he needed it most.

Ven’s life is living proof that even when we feel abandoned or uncertain, God is always writing a greater story. Through iBIKE, his studies and his service at church, Ven is no longer surviving, he is thriving with purpose.

What began as sorrow is now a testimony of strength, faith and hope. Ven is just getting started!

Learn more about ER’s Education Reinforcement programs here.

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