Start of the new skool year / Catbalogan Samar

[Bruce]

Hello again!

Yes I am still alive. The charity received a $500 donation from Nova University School in Davie Florida. It is a high school that has a WIND program which means World In Distress. The students managed to get together $500 and I sent it to Catbalogan to the charity people there. The you tube video link here shows how the money was spent. Rather than to simply hand out money, local needy kids were identified and then told to meet the charity staff at a local store and each child had a budget of 1,000p to spend on school supplies. In addition to that a local school was also given a donation of 5,000p and the video shows that as well and a walk through showing storm damaged roofs, wet text books and the usual NO TOILET situation. I am attempting to broker a sister school deal between the poor school and the Nova University School here.

For those forum members who have been following the charity and efforts made to help the poor in Catbalogan, the video starts out with the mother of the 'little girl' I have been helping for several years and ends with some video of her and her hovel squatter house. While still short and underweight, she is much healthier today than in past years. 30p a day allowance for her. Any more and the mother will take it and drink it away! She will be 6 on or about August 20 something.... I did not shoot the video myself as I am still in the US. The charity staff did as best as they could.   

Also mentioned in the video is the (soon to be) 15 year old girl who is the primary care giver of her siblings. She is in the 5th grade this year! Of the two kids running around with her, one is the double cleft lip girl, with past pictures and story on the website listed below. Pictures to follow.

Special thanks to Sir Tom in his continued support of the charity and charity web presence.    

 

[mogo51]

Well done Bruce, good effort and it is the kids that benefit.

[JJReyes]

Thanks for the update. I have not forgotten about your charity. Been thinking about the Philippines recently since Cathi and I are planning a trip early next year to attend my 50th class reunion. 

[ozepete]

Great stuff.  Many of these kids have a bleak future but worse without an education.

We sponsor several kids through the six years of secondary school by providing their uniforms, shoes, school fees etc. Only costs about p2K per child per year but makes the world of difference to them. We do this with children attending the Panalipan Cebu secondary school and start 4 new ones each year. To avoid issues we have a trusted local lady chose the kids restricting it to those who really want an education but their parents cant afford. (academic abilities not considered.) In other words those who would otherwise miss out.

When we started this we got the first four kids and their mothers together so we could meet them over a meal. We noticed that one of the kids was particularly happy, always laughing.

After a while I asked why she was so happy! Her answer caused a few misty eyes when she said "because I now have a uniform too!" She was so happy because she was now like the other kids. This single statement reinforced our belief that these children are worth every bit of our help we can give. It is so rewarding now seeing them grow and the enthusiasm they have, yet it cost so little.