School starts in 10 days (+-)

[Bruce]

It is that time again.... It appears as if I am sponsoring 12 kids this year. From 1st to 9th grade. Shopping was done for supplies yesterday and a uniform or two. One mother was supposed to come and bring her 2 kids, but when she found out she will not get the money, she failed to show up. Interesting self centered logic. I think in a few days she will show up with some excuse. Other than that, no issues. Kids happy. The very poor ones come by the charity building every day for 20p snack money. Would be easier to give the mother 100p a week, but the temptation to buy other things and let the kid go hungry is too much. Last year at a school about 6 miles out of town I gave 1,000p to the 'snack lady' at the school for 1 girl with instructions to give 20p snack every day until the money was gone. She looked like she had won the lottery! The principal wrangled a 5,000p donation out of me for 'first aid supplies'.... Who am I to argue with a principal? I expect more mothers to show up looking for 'help' when the kids show off their school supplies and uniforms to their friends. Sooner or later I am going to track down that Bill Gates guy for a little talk.....     

[robert k]

1 hour ago, Bruce said:

Sooner or later I am going to track down that Bill Gates guy for a little talk.....     

I believe Bill Gates is bigger on vaccines and condoms.

[Tukaram (Tim)]

I am in the process of buying school supplies for 152 kids, K-6 grades.  The stuff gets heavy so I can only buy so much in a day!  We will deliver to a province school up in the mountains this weekend. 

[Steve GCC]

19 hours ago, Tukaram (Tim) said:

I am in the process of buying school supplies for 152 kids, K-6 grades.  The stuff gets heavy so I can only buy so much in a day!  We will deliver to a province school up in the mountains this weekend. 

What a fantastic idea Tim, bet that brings a smile to the kids face and yours.  Hat off to you, very kind and thoughtful idea!

[JJReyes]

My Philippine relatives support a public elementary/high school with a 4,000 student population. The school is named after a relative who served as assistant secretary for Public Instruction (precursor to the Philippine Department of Education) during the Commonwealth Era. 

First step was asking everyone to empty their personal libraries of books you read once or twice and place in a shelf to gather dust. It tripled the size of the school's existing library. Next step was rummaging for usable items to either give students or sell to raise money. This included clothes. Then it was a series of fund raisers for school supplies and scholarship money for one graduating senior.. 

To make sure the students directly receive everything, teachers and administrators submit a list and someone in the family purchases the supplies. The scholar is recommended by the school. The money is deposited in a bank account in his/her name.