Emergency Relief for Inter-Faith Filipino Children

Dear Friends,

In the Philippines in mid-2023, peoples of many ethnicities, religions and languages cope with typhoons, floods, earthquakes, viral outbreaks.  In addition, lingering physical and mental health traumas of Covid-19 and food shortages take a considerable toll.  Asia America Initiative and our local grassroots partners remain active conducting relief in multiple provincial communities, emphasizing good nutrition and hygiene practices in the schools we support.

Electricity is scarce and wifi for inernet connection is unreliable. "When children cannot attend school, they are denied face to face classroom learning," says Nurse Faith, AAI coorddinator in Visayas. To address this barrier to social and economic development, Asia America Initiative continues to provide hygiene and medical supplies to school age children, teachers, and volunteers. In addition we have been supporting and supplying Reading and Math outdoor learning camps for dozens of schools.

Since the New Year, our programs assist at least 5,000 children in hard-to-reach villages and tribal areas  in the  Philippine regions of Luzon, Mindanao and Visayas. The impact of two-year school closures has been dramatic in under-served communities where extreme poverty and communal violence are rampant. Thanks to our GlobalGiving donors and local Lions Club chapters, parent-volunteers, Returned Overseas Workers and police and military veterans, we are continuing to make a substantial difference. 

Dr. Yolanda our volunteer groups coordinator says, "Children and their parents are invigorated through literacy, livelihood skills, and health support programs and special events. We are determined to continue to facilitate these programs through non-biased school communities."

In Lugmah, Sulu, we inteface with a hard working young school head, Principal Nash, who is headmaster at a newly renovated public school for Muslim, Christian and Badjao sea gypsy children.  "Before the pandemic," he says, "we created a social media network for Muslim and Christian educators and children to share their new skills, hopes, and dreams.

"Mothers and fathers of pupils assist teachers to cook daily meals.  Inter-faith cooperation teaches students the value of teamwork and unity.  AAI has provided face masks, basic food, clean water, and other hygiene products. But its the parents, teachers, and school children who provide the energy and enthusiasm needed for our efforts to succeed."

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

Covid-19 Relief for Inter-Faith Filipino Children

Your contributions have made a true difference.  We are deeply grateful to you all. 

Sincerely,

Albert Santoli,

AAI Director

Links:

• Asia America Initiative website