By Albert Santoli | Project Leader
School gardens which supplement daily meals for children in impoverished homes are essential for good nutrition. In the Philippines, religious conflict and natural disasters have caused suffering for millions of Filipino children. This program benefits schools in regions where children are victims of natural and man-made disasters.
Our "One School/One Family" partnership program assists children in Asia America Initiative supported elementary schools in Sulu and Visayas regions. We fight extreme poverty and communal violence through integrated literacy, livelihood skills, and health support. Asia America Initiative provides thousands of books, school supplies, garden tools, and clean water systems supported by ordinary people in the US, the Philippines and around the world through Global Giving.
Students return for the new school year in June and begin to plant their new school gardens in elementary and high schools. These gardens provide vegetables for the communal meal they will all share, cooked by mothers and other school volunteers. Students, teachers, and community members band together to clear the garden area, prepare the soil and plant new seeds. The gardens are then well-tended by students and harvested as the vegetables become ripe. As the school year progresses, everyone in the school lends a hand. The garden will continue to supplement their meals throughout the school year and in the end, many seeds will be harvested and dried for the next school year.
Principal Merhama of Salih Yusah, an urban elementary school, speaks for mostschool heads, "We are very grateful for the kindness from outside donors. We are also thankful for having supportive parent-stakeholders who provide us fence wire for the school perimeter. With that effort our plants won't be eaten by the animals who live in the surrounding forests."
If you would like to continue to make a difference to these communities in 2020, please click through the project report and select the orange Donate Now button. With your help, we can continue to support school gardens which are so important to students' well-being. (If you are interested in a monthly donation, GlobalGiving is even offering a 100% match!)
Clean Water, WASH & Nutrition for 500 Muslim Girls
Thank you so much for your past contribution.
I wish you peace throughout the holiday season and in the new year.
Albert Santoli
Asia America Initiative
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