Disaster Response Philippines Project #20175

Unite Inter-Faith Children via Education and Water

by Asia America Initiative

Project Report | May 10, 2024
Food for Peace feeds Filipino students in mountain communities

By Albert Santoli | Project Leader

Dear Friends,

Since 2023, our programs have assisted more than 50,000 children and young adults of many faiths in hard-to-reach villages and tribal areas in the regions of Luzon, Mindanao and Visayas, in the Philippines. Asia America Initiative and our local grassroots partners and volunteers are conducting relief operations in multiple rural communities, emphasizing good nutrition and hygiene practices.

What began as typhoon relief work in these areas following the pandemic, has blossomed into a larger, more sustainable peace and public health program. It became apparent that many communities were looking for ways to grow their own food in order to offset high food costs. The added benefit is they are now growing quality fruits and vegetables without chemicals. "We are helping the growers by providing information and online resources as well as hosting workshops on how to do it "the organic way," says our key partner Dr. Yolanda.

Food shortages and the rising costs of basic nutritional needs have been growing across the world. Asia America Initiative, One World Institute and Philippine-based partner organizations have entered communities in all regions of the island archipelago. "We provide seeds and train local farmers and malnourished families to grow food using organic methods," says Dr.Yolanda. Together, we host on-site and on-line events to educate people from all walks of life on nutrition and hygiene. We also provide books and school supplies for the children and adult supplemental education programs.

The training events are well attended and we also host community meals to encourage participation in our model program of school feedings supplemented by school gardens. We can see mountain village communities accepting new practices with enthusiasm. We are thrilled to report that in the past 12 months, 450,000 people have joined this widespread collective to become new or better gardening centers to support economic growth and students' nutrition.

With your help, we are supporting communities to overcome extreme poverty and communal violence through integrated literacy, livelihood skills, and health support. Before the pandemic, we created a social media network for educators of all faiths to share new skills, hopes, and dreams. Mothers and fathers of pupils assist teachers to cook daily meals at school. We have provided thousands of books, school supplies, garden tools, and fresh water systems. We are pleased to now expand our programs into these new areas of the Philippines.

If you would like to add to your support or begin a monthly donation, please click this link.
Unite Inter-Faith Children via Education and Water

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

Sincerely,

Albert Santoli

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Dec 20, 2023
School gardens make great school lunches!

By Albert Santoli | Project Leader

School lunches make good students

Dear Friends,

School gardens DO make great school lunches. In AAI sponsored schools, teachers, principals, parent volunteers and students help to create and maintain beautiful school gardens that are used to supplement the all-volunteer school lunches.

School staff, parents, students, and other volunteers set up their school garden with AAI donated supplies of seeds, garden tools, and most importantly, clean water systems to help sustain the gardens and the students.

For school lunches, AAI provides rice and protein such as eggs and chicken. Vegetables and greens are gathered from the school gardens. Students provide firewood collected on the way to school. It is then the duty of the volunteer mothers, aunts, and grandmothers to assist teachers in cooking the daily meals. Everyone gathers at lunchtime to share the meal and goodwill.

To AAI donors, our success is because of your support. As part of AAI's "One School -- One Family" health and nutrition program for malnourished children, Mukammali ES school garden and lunch programs are models of success. Recently the principal from Mukammali sent thanks to all who make this program possible.

From Mukammali ES:

"To share blessings is more than happiness. Thank you, parents and teachers and AAI, for all your water, seeds, vegetables, rice, and chicken and shared firewood that makes our school feeding nutritious and successful for this school year 2023-2024. Let us hope that we have more school feedings in the near days to come."

AAI's program assists up to 20,000 children in elementary schools in Sulu and Visayas. They are overcoming extreme poverty and communal violence through integrated literacy, livelihood skills, and health support. We have created a social media network for Muslim and Christian educators and children to share their new skills, hopes, and dreams.

Asia America Initiative serves as a communication bridge for peace action. Schools provide positive interaction and equal treatment of various cultural groups. AAI volunteers, teachers, and especially school leadership facilitate mutual respect and inspiration for the students to be able to overcome the many obstacles caused by poverty and communal violence to improve their lives.

If you would like to add to your support or become a monthly sponsor, please click the link below to assist in this worthwhile endeavor.

Unite Inter-Faith Children via Education and Water

Wishing you peace,

Albert Santoli,
Director, Asia America Initiative

Teachers, parents and teachers build school garden

School gardens equal better nutrition

Parents and volunteers select vegetables for lunch

Open cauldrons are used for hearty lunches

Everyone gathers at lunchtime

Happy faces tell the tale

Spoons UP! from the older students

Lunch tastes better with friends

Many volunteer hands make light work-Thank you all

Links:

Asia America Initiative website

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Aug 17, 2023
New Schools and Medical Support for Mountain Tribes, Sea Gypsies, Muslim and Christian Children

By Albert Santoli | Project Leader

AAI and partners gather to aid a community

Dear Friends,

In all geographic regions of the Philippines, lingering post-pandemic physical and mental health traumas have taken a considerable toll. In addition, natural calamities and ineffective governance have intensified food shortages. Rising prices are putting pressure on basic necessities in local communities.

Since the New Year, 2023 our programs have assisted more than 20,000 children and young adults in hard-to-reach villages and tribal areas in the regions of Luzon, Mindanao and Visayas. Asia America Initiative and our local grassroots partners and industrious volunteers are committed to conducting relief operations in multiple rural communities, emphasizing good nutrition and hygiene practices. We have upgraded training programs for teachers in livelihood development and remedial educational in the schools we sponsor.

"Electricity is scarce and internet connection is unreliable," says Principal Hannah in Muslim Mindanao. "When children cannot attend school, they are denied face to face classroom learning," adds Nurse Faith, AAI coordinator in the Christian Visayas region. To address barriers 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 in dozens of schools, including for mountainous tribes.

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."

New psychology programs at colleges like Notre Dame of Jolo have addressed the emotional and learning disability impact of pandemic-related school closures. "These new counseling programs have created a dramatic improvement in under-served communities where extreme poverty and communal violence are rampant," says Professor Zhea at Notre Dame of Jolo College campus.

Thanks to our GlobalGiving donors and local parents, Returned Overseas Workers volunteers and police and military veterans, we are continuing to make a substantial difference in the communities.

In Lugmah, Sulu, we interface 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. "We are part of the social media network AAI created for Muslim and Christian teachers and children to share their hopes, and dreams. This has helped us greatly."

Mothers and fathers of pupils assist teachers to cook daily meals. Inter-faith cooperation teaches students the value of teamwork and unity. AAI provides face masks, basic food, clean water, and other hygiene products. Principal Nash reminds us, "It's the parents, teachers, and school children who provide the energy needed for us 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.

Unite Inter-Faith Children via Education and Water

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

Sincerely,

Albert Santoli,

AAI Director

AAI and team assisting Visayas flood victims

New school being built in Kidapawan

Everyone helps to build new school

Relief event in June 2023

Quezon relief event in May

Sea Gypsies students arrive to school

Students receive shoes for school

Student learning to write

AAI receives award from local community

Reading camp banner

Students participate in summer reading camp

Links:

Asia America Initiative website

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