Help children with special needs access education

At Kids Club in Burgos, nine children with special needs now attend learning sessions four times each week. Each child arrives with their own challenges, strengths, and pace of learning. Our goal is simple but powerful: to create a safe place where they can grow, explore, and feel valued.

Since our last update, we have continued building confidence, life skills, and friendships within this small but dedicated community.

A Growing Sense of Belonging
Dhay, a young adult who has been part of Kids Club for several years, has shown remarkable emotional growth. She now feels comfortable expressing her feelings openly and confidently within the group.

Recently, Dhay has naturally taken on the role of assisting younger children during activities. She helps them organize materials, encourages them, and enjoys being part of the teaching process.

Our long-term dream is to officially hire Dhay as an assistant teacher, giving her the opportunity for a stable livelihood. At the moment this is beyond our budget, but we believe she is ready for this responsibility.

Finding Joy Through Connection
Loy continues to bring energy and happiness to the classroom. He thrives when interacting with others, especially when long-term volunteers join Kids Club.

However, outside of our tutorial hours we often see him spending long periods wandering the streets with little structured activity. Loy loves basketball and outdoor play, and we hope to create safe recreational spaces where children like him can stay active even when Kids Club is closed.

Witnessing Long-Term Progress
Geo’s transformation over the past few years has been extraordinary. When he first joined Kids Club, he struggled to sit, communicate, or interact with others.

Today he walks confidently, plays with other children, and expresses joy through laughter and movement. One of his favorite activities is playing with sensory balls and tactile toys that help him stay calm and engaged.

We also recently welcomed Manuel, an autistic student from Burgos Elementary School. His public school teacher encouraged him to attend morning sessions at Kids Club to give him additional learning support. We are grateful that the local school recognizes Kids Club as a trusted partner for children who need extra guidance.

Learning Through Play

Thanks to generous donations received at the end of last year, we were able to introduce new educational materials that have quickly become favorites among the children.

Magnetic learning toys, puzzles, clay, and other motor skill activities help strengthen coordination and focus. The children are especially drawn to hands-on activities where they can build, shape, and explore.

Another important activity is gardening. The children help prepare soil, plant vegetables, and care for growing plants. Because the ground contains a lot of buried plastic waste, preparing each small area takes patience and effort — but the process itself has become a valuable lesson about caring for the environment.

A Team Supporting Each Other
Kids Club is currently led by Beng, who manages the program while Dyan focuses on Eco Shop & Café. One of the strengths of Nature Kids of Siargao is having a team of capable women who support one another across our projects when needed.

This flexibility allows our programs to grow while continuing to respond to community needs.

Challenges We Still Face
Many children with disabilities live in nearby barangays but cannot attend regularly because of transportation challenges. Some families do not have motorcycles, and many mothers have not had the opportunity to learn how to drive.

This means that children who could benefit from the program are still unable to reach the learning space.

Outdoor spaces designed specifically for children are also limited. Public basketball courts are usually occupied by adults and are not always safe for younger participants.

Looking Ahead
In the coming months, we hope to:
• continue building our garden learning space
• create an outdoor playground using recycled materials like tires
• expand outdoor activities such as basketball and skating
• add another staff member to support the program
• secure grants to strengthen our work with children who need additional care

Each improvement helps create a more inclusive and supportive environment for children who often have few opportunities elsewhere.

Thank you for helping us give these children a place where they are seen, supported, and encouraged to grow.

With gratitude,

Sanne
Founder, Nature Kids of Siargao

Links:

• Our official Facebook page

Dear Supporters,

GivingTuesday has now started, and for the next 36 hours your donation through GlobalGiving can receive bonus funds — increasing your impact on children with special needs.

This year, we are fundraising for a purpose close to our hearts:
Strengthening our special needs program so children like Loy and Dhay can continue learning, progressing, and feeling supported every day.

Your donation will help us provide:

• One-on-one learning sessions tailored to each child

• Speech, reading, motor skills, and life-skills activities

• Learning tools such as sensory materials, puzzles, flashcards, and musical devices

• Transportation support for families who cannot bring their children to sessions

• Training for our staff and volunteers to better support children with diverse needs

These children have worked so hard, and your generosity keeps the doors open for them.

If you’d like to contribute during the GivingTuesday matching window, please visit:

https://bit.ly/donate_nkos

Thank you for standing beside our most vulnerable learners.

Warmly,
Sanne