By Albert Santoli | Project Leader
Dear Friends,
What happens when an AAI volunteer teacher in the islands of Mindanao leaves for a few years to further her education and start a family?
She returns to school ready to make a difference with a revitalized commitment that goes beyond her own classroom of students! Sharifa is assigned to teach in a school district in an area of deep poverty. In her village, half the population is under the age of 19 and malnutrition is rampant. With AAI's help, she has expanded the free feeding program to go beyond her classroom and include the entire elementary school. At the start of 2023, thanks to our AAI donors support, we are in the beginning stages of developing a plan to provide daily lunches which are vitally needed. The elementary school has an enrollment of 300 students. The majority are female. Our goal is to provide a lunchtime meal 3 days a week.
"What makes AAI's programs different," says Sharifa, "is that they not only extend a helping hand, but include everyone in the process of improving their community. We feel that the program belongs to all of us. So parents, students and teachers all work together to create a success."
Students are returning to the classroom after three years of COVID quarantines in rural areas in the Philippines. AAI has been supporting numerous schools throughout the pandemic through parental outreach and improving hygiene by building handwashing stations in front of classrooms.
We are encouraging school-based gardens and are providing seeds and tools that volunteer parents, teachers and students can use. Sharifa's school has already received the seeds and other equipment to start a beautiful garden. The garden will provide fresh food for school lunches - cooked by volunteer mothers and grandmothers and served by teachers.
Sharifa says, "Access to school lunches especially enables girls to experience improved overall well-being."
Poverty, hunger, rampant waterborne diseases, and limited public health plague the Philippines. Sulu Province remains near the bottom of the UN's worldwide Human Development Index. A school-aged population of some 350,000 children -- more than half of girls -- are suffering from hunger. AAI is committed to continue to assist numerous schools, and at least a total of 500 girls and an equal number of boys each day to have access to clean water systems, improved hygiene, and adequate daily nutrition. To our GlobalGiving community of donors, we say "Magsukol tuud." ["Thank you very much," in Tausug tribal language.] We appreciate your kind assistance. We could not do this without you!
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
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