Gender Equality Philippines Project #44773

Empower 500 Homeless Girls with Books and Wellness

by Asia America Initiative

Project Report | Jul 6, 2021
Homeless girls receive books, toys, and soap

By Albert Santoli | Project Leader

Caring for children without a home

Dear Friends,

In June, AAI and partners continue to distribute relief to families left homeless because of natural disasters, regardless of the difficulties caused by the COVID pandemic.

Last year, thousands of girls lost their homes in the Philippines due to earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, and fire. Many are still in long-term shelters or open-air evacuations centers. Access to education, clean water, and sanitation continues to be limited. Lack of hygiene is a major cause of illness in these circumstances. Lack of schools, essential books, and classroom supplies prevents adequate learning.

Our project provides care for at least 500 girls by supporting their wellness and educational needs. We helped to provide books, toys, and soap during the event, including instructions on how to wash properly. Toys are given to help with trauma. Many of these children have never had a toy of their own. We help to reduce trauma by providing loving care. The majority of our field staff are women who are mothers of their own children. They know that children are better able to express themselves through a toy who becomes their friend with who they can share their experience. Storybooks provide imaginary worlds filled with happiness.

In the pivotal time of their lives, the girls' health, safety, and continued development of educational skills are essential to reach their full potential and contribute to the well-being of their entire family and community. We are also sending donated activity kits to the girls that include paper, pens, and other items essential for learning. With COVID19 case numbers rapidly expanding, the Philippines government has decided to keep schools closed through 2021. Any educational materials we can provide will make a difference to these beautiful and energetic children's futures.

Thank you for supporting this very important project. If you would like to continue your kindness for these children, please click on the link below.

Empower 500 Homeless Girls with Books and Wellness

Thank you,
Wishing you peace,
Albert Santoli
Asia America Initiative

Girls are taught how to wash their hands

Families are still struggling with homelessness

You can make a difference

Tent city- a temporary home for displaced families

Links:

Asia America Initiative website

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Feb 22, 2021
Every child should have a book of her own

By Albert Santoli | Project Leader

Girls gathered reading together

Every child should have books of their own. Books help us to better understand ourselves and those around us and they help us to imagine our future. With books, we learn about our own culture and others. We explore the oceans and land and out into the universe. We can step back into history or figure out how a clock works. In areas with high poverty and unreliable internet access, books are an essential tool for learning and staying engaged in school.

Between November 2019 and February 2021, thousands of Filipino families have become homeless due to non-stop calamities including large earthquakes, typhoon floods, the eruption of the Taal volcano in the capital region, a widespread fire in Jolo, Mindanao, and a storm surge that knocked down many houses. In such disasters, women and girls are most seriously affected. This project empowers girls made homeless from these disasters by providing books and school supplies to continue their education and hygiene supplies for wellness programs.

We facilitate the creation of school centers and libraries by providing tables, chairs, and reading materials in evacuation centers. We are receiving many new books, especially for elementary school-aged children. Your donation helps us to get these books to the children that need them.

Literacy and writing skills build confidence and self-worth. These skills enable girls to recover after calamity. AAI's long-term goal is to promote peace. By providing homeless girls a safe environment to achieve their dreams with dignity, we can all encourage them to excel despite their challenging situation.

Thank you for your support of this very important project. If you would like to make a contribution, please click through the link below. We are also included in GlobalGiving's Little by Little campaign, March 8-12, which will receive matching funds for your contribution. We'll send you correspondence the week before.

Empower 500 Homeless Girls with Books and Wellness

Wishing you peace,

Albert Santoli,

Director, Asia America Initiative

Taal volcano relief event

Homeless family event -books and school supplies

Book distribution event with local partner

Newly donated books arriving

AAI receives new books to send to children

With books, the possibilities are endless

Links:

Asia America Initiative website

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Oct 16, 2020
Students Receive School Books to Read at Home

By Albert Santoli | Project Leader

Girl receives care package from AAI volunteer

Dear AAI Supporters,

COVID-19 has presented many challenges to conducting school programs. AAI is continuing to provide supplies and books to homeless students regardless of pandemic-based school closings and lockdowns in these difficult times. Throughout the world, students are doing their best to interact with their teachers with mixed results. Education programs have also seen mixed results. Electronic classrooms largely utilize teaching by WIFI whether on a home computer or cell phone. In most areas we serve, access to electricity and WIFI is inconsistent or nonexistent. Our goal is to get educational materials to students, wherever they may be living. Despite the obstacles, we are doing well thanks to our long-standing relationships with teachers, religious, and social leaders, good planners, and great parent-volunteers. Our volunteer teams include many teachers who have not yet taken their license exams.

Donors in the United States have been super in providing us with books and other educational materials. New shipments arrive in the Philippines every month and we distribute them to the major regions of the country. We provide care packages of study materials, personal protective masks, and food and other nutrition to families in need. We are sensitive to the needs of female students, especially those made homeless by natural and man-made calamities.

"The efforts of AAI have been a blessing," says Principal Melda of Mukammali Elementary School in Indanan, Sulu. "When we have fallen short of school-based needs for our pupils and students, AAI and their donors have never forgotten us."

Homeless families have even more difficulties continuing to learn with access to school facilities not allowed as COVID cases continue to rise. AAI volunteers prepare packages and coordinate delivery of hygiene supplies and learning materials to the families even where conditions might be risky.

We are very proud of their efforts and the incredible generosity of our donors. Principal Melda reminds us, "During times of crisis we all must help each other. To help even one person is an important step toward assuring we can all be safe and remain healthy. We can count on you always. Thanks again."

Thanks to our GlobalGiving community for your support,

Albert Santoli,

Director, Asia America Initiative

AAI donations arrive into Sulu

Teachers/volunteers sort and prepare care packages

Childrens books arrive

Encyclopedias find a new home

AAI sponsored school library waiting for students

Books and hygiene supplies are given to families

Care packages are ready for distribution!

Thank you donors!

Links:

Asia America Initiative website

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