Gender Equality Philippines Project #26790

Clean Water, WASH & Nutrition for 500 Muslim Girls

by Asia America Initiative

Project Report | Dec 2, 2024
Children celebrate Global Handwashing Day

By Albert Santoli | Project Leader

Girls washing hands together

AAI-supported schools celebrate 2024 Global Handwashing Day!

In October 2024,in an annual awareness event conducted in elementary schools across the world, Asia-America Initiative supported schools in the Philippines"celebrated Global Handwashing Day. The purpose of this event is to increase awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap and clean water. "Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a growing number of communities have understood this as aneffective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives," says the head nurse at Haji Hassiman Higad Elementary School in tropical Sulu province, near Malaysia and Indonesia.

Asia America's Philippine schools emphasize the celebration with our teams, including our AAI Mini Nurses, attending 4th to 6th grade, who helped their professional school nurses demonstrate good hygiene routines to their fellow students.

"Consistent with their pledge of service," says Principal Merhama of Salih Yusah Elementary School in Jolo city, Sulu, "our mini-nurses are always ready to assist and raise awareness about the benefits of handwashing with soap. AAI helps schools to build clean water stations by providing building materials, tanks and other containers, faucets, and hygiene supplies including soaps and dental care items. Local parents and skilled volunteers provide the labor to build to hand washing facilities. We are involved in a total community process that extends good hygenic habits to families and neighbors."

This year, AAI local partner, International Pharmaceutical Inc. Foundation, donated thousands of bars of soap and other hygiene supplies for the schools participating in Handwashing Day!

The commitment of Asia America Initiative is to prioritize teachers and parents at our elementary schools to build clean water systems. With WASH facilities at each school, we also promote adequate nutrition through school lunches cooked by volunteer mothers. While we purchase sacks of rice, school-based gardens provide fresh vegetables for lunch using irrigation from rain and clean water catchment tanks. Soaps and other hygiene products improve children's overall health for better classroom performance and fewer days absent due to illnesses caused by sanitation deficiencies.

Your continued support is essential in keeping communities healthy and improving their quality of life. Girls' attendance continues to grow, which instills them with pride and self-confidence. Clean and bright classrooms, access to clean water, and a daily lunch keep girls and boys healthier and better prepared for academic studies.

If you feel inspired to add a donation or start a monthly gift, we encourage you to take the next step. By clicking through this report, you can sign up with GlobalGiving and play a vital role in providing clean water and nutrition for Muslim girls in the Philippines.

Please follow this link: Clean Water, WASH & Nutrition for 500 Muslim Girls

Thank you,

Albert Santoli,

Director, Asia America Initiative

Several AAI-sponsored schools participated!

Local partner provided soap and hygiene supplies

Student, teachers and volunteers celebrated

Handwashing stations vary from school to school

Every student received a bar of soap!

A good day for all students learning to wash hands

AAI Mini-Nurses assist their school's nurses

Links:

AAI Website

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Jul 19, 2024
Preparing schools for upcoming year

By Albert Santoli | Project Leader

AAI helps provide food for lunch to kinder kids

Dear Friends,

The new 2024-25 school year approaches in the Philippines. Preparations have begun to expand hygienic environments by upgrading and building clean water stations and planting school gardens. These nationwide annual clean-up and renovation programs are supported by national and federal Education departments and are known in Filipino Tagalog language as "Brigada Eskwela" or "School Brigades."

Parents, teachers, firefighters, police, soldiers, and local civic organizations assist the public and private schools in preparing for the students' arrival. Asia America Initiative recognizes the opportunity to encourage community building and has participated as a private NGO for over twenty years. We also continue school renovations, repairs, and clean-up campaigns, including gardening, clean water, and hygiene throughout the year. Our role is to be "present" and complement the communities' caring efforts.

Poverty, hunger, rampant waterborne diseases, and limited public health plague many areas in the Philippines. Sulu Province remains near the bottom of the UN's worldwide Human Development Index. In the more than 150 islands of the Sulu archipelago, bordering Malaysia and Indonesia, the school-aged population of some 350,000 children -- more than half are girls -- suffer from hunger. Worldwide, female students are most affected in similar schools. Thanks to your assistance, we continue to help turn around this ranking, one school at a time.

"Education, the opportunity for livelihood, and preventing hunger are keys to peace," says teacher Jenny, whose son is in Middle School at Panamao HS. She teaches at Sahaya ES, a rural community outside of Jolo town. AAI's consistent presence has given all of us hope and boosted our morale," Jenny observes.

Girls' attendance continues to grow. Clean and bright classrooms, having access to clean water, and a daily lunch (served with vegetables from the school garden) keep girls and boys healthier and better prepared for academic studies.

If you feel inspired to contribute or start a monthly donation, we encourage you to take the next step. By clicking through this report, you can initiate a donation through GlobalGiving, thereby playing a vital role in our mission to provide clean water and nutrition for Muslim girls in the Philippines.

Clean Water, WASH & Nutrition for 500 Muslim Girls

Thank you,

Albert Santoli,

Director, Asia America Initiative

Wash station at Panamao High

Panamao High tech room before painting

AAI soaps and snacks for Panamao HS

Middle school sudents in urgent need of chairs

Sahaya ES bright after Brigada external painting

Learning posters on classroom walls at Sahaya

Sahaya parents clear and plant school garden

AAI purchased new sandals for shoeless pupils

Links:

web site

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Mar 15, 2024
Girls care for school gardens and waterstations

By Albert Santoli | Project Leader

Students helping with school garden

Dear Friends,

AAI emphasizes public health in public schools and gives special consideration to the health needs of young female students. What you may not know, is the girls are often the majority and active participants in their school activities. They do a great job tending gardens, helping to keep water stations tidy, and volunteering for lunch-time activities.

Our mission is to have the communitiy involved in the projects created. We also emphasize equal opportunities and respect for male and female students. This gives a great sense of satisfaction and inclusiveness for all involved. All students help, but we help the girls to feel important and make a difference in the world around them. We build clean water systems and provide soap, toothpaste, and other hygiene products. Girls are especially vulnerable to illness due to poor hygiene. The last 2 years, we have been building sanitary facilities to especially address young girls' needs.

"The girls take pride in their schools and in themselves when they work together," says our on-site coordinator, Miss Renchen, who is also a mother of four young daughters. "School spirit is rewarded with the help of parents and volunteers preparing lunches and complimenting children on their willingness to assist." Everyone has a role. When we can help schools create this united atmosphere, it also helps to keep peace and inspires academic success.

Girls' school attendance continues to grow and be sustained. Having access to clean water and a daily lunch (served with vegetables from the school garden), keeps girls healthier and better prepared for academic studies.

Poverty, hunger, rampant water-borne diseases, and limited public health plague the Philippines. Many island provinces remain near the bottom of the UN's worldwide Human Development Index. Thanks to your assistance, we continue to try to turn around this ranking, one school at a time.

In 2023-24, AAI has expanded operations into Cotabato and areas on the outskirts of Davao, Philippines, where Muslims account for 25% of the population who live alongside Christians and indigenous tribal people. We work to bring communities together, to build trust and peace.

If you would like to add to your support or begin a monthly donation, please click through this report and GlobalGiving will prepare that for you to assist in this worthwhile endeavor.

Clean Water, WASH & Nutrition for 500 Muslim Girls

Thank you,

Albert Santoli,

Director, Asia America Initiative

New school lunch program

Students taking care of water stations

Having fun helping out

Students prepare lunch table

Girls relaxing together

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