Many third and fourth year students at Visayas State University near Tacloban in the Philippines had their family homes and resources destroyed in Typhoon Haiyan. They did not know how they could finish school and learn the professional skills needed to help rebuild their communities. Asia America Initiative made a commitment to assist 20 juniors and 20 seniors finish their education, with employment opportunities. Our partners in the region assist with employment opportunities.
The problems are, following Typhoon Haiyan, the devastation, destroyed family finances, lack of scholarships and educational aid, expense of education, and scarce job opportunities in this community. There is a traumatic mindset among children and youth that they cannot achieve in life or that anything good will not happen. In addition, all schools lack basic educational tools, including pens and paper, chalkboards, as well as computers and other learning technologies for teachers and students.
The Bright Future Scholarships funded by GlobalGiving donors provides college juniors and seniors the means to complete their education in order to rebuild their family income and community redevelopment through better quality education, teaching tools, and learning resources. We transform classes into business development laboratories and teach students to create cooperatives to build businesses and micro-enterprises that utilize agriculture, medical infrastructure, and technical industries
The long term impact of this program is to turn young people into inspired professionals, teachers and economic and social entrepreneurs within their communities. We will educate up to 40 students in this highly motivated scholars program to bring their communities out of poverty and past storm damage, which sustains a peaceful environment. The brothers and sisters of these youth who are between the ages of 19 to 22 years old will be invited to attend some classes and better their futures.
