Emergency Relief for Inter-Faith Filipino Children

The global Covid-19 pandemic has surged after the New Year in many areas of Southeast Asia.  The Philippines has been among the most plague-affected countries.  Most urban and rual areas have been cut off by quarantines and police-enforced lockdowns. Food shortages, rising prices and typhoon rains and floods have caused suffering for millions of Filipino adults and children. Asia America Initiative, our partner NGOs and local volunteers have created partnerships to provide Food Banks and water distribution to the hardest hit and most difficult to reach areas.

During November through January, in a country suffering from decades of  civil and religious conflict, we have assisted more than 50,000 people of all ages, all cultures and all faiths. Around half of the recipients are infants and children.  Inter-faith cooperation teaches communities the value of teamwork and unity as the fundamental key to our survival and well being. In addition to fresh and canned food, we provide face masks, hand sanitizers, clean water, and hygiene supplies.

With support of GlobalGiving and our generous donors, we have surpassed our initial outreach goals.  Thanks to you, lives have been saved, malnourished children and elders have food in their tummies and spirits have been lifted.

Your contributions have made a true difference. 

Sincerely,

Albert Santoli

AAI Director

Links:

• Website Asia America Initiative

Dear Friends of AAI,

In the Philippines, due to the increase of Covid19 transmissions, children will continue their studies at home until spring 2022. As these are impoverished areas, that does not mean taking home a computer to do your classwork. In addition, the areas AAI serves in Visayas and in Muslim Mindanao are prone to electricity blackouts and poor cell phone service, if any. This means one thing - Printers and copy paper to create hard copy modules are essential.  The conditions of poverty intensified by pandemic lockdowns

Sulu is located in  in the Muslim Mindanao Autonomous Region, which the United Nations has rated among the poorest areas of the world, teachers prepare "modules" of homework that are printed and picked up by the parents. Asia America Initiative is assisting its sponsored schools by providing paper, ink, and even printers if critically needed. We are also providing school supplies and simple snacks for when teachers interact with the students either in the school library or during a home visit. Similarly, in the highlands of Cuartero, in the central Visayas region, Christian tenant farming communities and indigenous highland peoples experience hunger from malnutrition and rampant health problems such as COVID.

We are honored to be working with teachers that are so dedicated. They truly go above and beyond to assess the needs and proficiency of their students during these difficult times. Working in a group, they set out early in the morning and go House-to-House to visit their students, also bringing the school nurse with them for health assessments. AAI provides the PPE's and hygiene supplies for the teachers and to give to the parents of the students. The teachers sit with the students individually, testing their progress and answering any questions they may have. If additional mentoring is needed, they make a plan with the parents. 

The long-term impact of this program empowers Christian and Muslim communities to learn from each other and overcome damage caused by the viral pandemic. Asia America Initiative serves as a bridge for action. Our social media facilitates transparent communication and dispels fear and myths that alienate communities who feel alone and abandoned. Starting with children, positive interaction and equal treatment of various cultural groups by AAI facilitates mutual respect and inspiration.

In the Philippines, religious conflict and natural disasters have caused suffering for millions of Filipino children. This program provides care for children who are victims of the Covid-19 virus and other disasters. Inter-faith cooperation teaches students the value of teamwork and unity. We provide face masks, basic food, clean water, and hygiene. In response to the Covid19 crisis, we are currently providing PPE's, hand-washing supplies, and nutrition programs for more than 3,000 children.

Links:

• Asia America Initiative website