Unite Inter-Faith Children via Education and Water

Dear Friends,

The 2025 storm season in the Philippines has been an active one, not only from large typhoons but also from continuous, soaking rain and flooded cities and mountain villages. Some 1.4 million people are homeless. Much damage has been done to the schools we support. To keep children dry, AAI is now providing raincoats and boots to students to keep them healthy and warm, even in schools with damaged roofs and flooded classrooms.

Children encounter floodwater that carries bacteria that can make them sick as they walk long distances to attend school, and forms of plagues from rat-infected water are a continual danger.  Asia America Initiative and our local partners are providing safe, healthy environments for families who lack basic shelter. AAI Nurse Faith Omel DelaTore, who volunteers her time at local schools in the Iloilo area, observes, "Asia America Initiative is loved by local villagers, because they are among the few private groups or government agencies who provide basic comfort to evacuated families."

According to the United Nations and other global agencies, the Philippines is the country in our world most affected by natural disasters. The impact of climate change and intensifying storms creates the destructive weather patterns we face this rainy season. AAI and our network of local partner organizations are staffed mostly by volunteers, providing medicines, shelter materials, clean water, and food support to needy families and destitute disaster survivors.

The AAI "One School -- One Family" program assists up to 30,000 children in elementary schools in Mindanao and Visayas regions, where storms are most destructive. We 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. Mothers and grandmothers of pupils assist teachers in gardening and cooking daily meals. AAI teams provide thousands of donated books, school supplies, garden tools, and clean water systems to help sustain this network of schools to make a difference.

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,

Links:

• Asia America Initiative website

People in much of the under-developed world, such as the Philippines, are unable to afford medical care, adsequae hygiene and nutrition, as well as a steady supply of clean water.for life-threatening diseases.  Asia America Initiative serves children across the 7000 islands of the archipelago with the most available source of clean rainwater during the half-year-long dry season.  That is 50 gallon hard plastic drums of rinwater that are attached to school rooftops or raised cement platforms. . Severe poverty and malnutrition afflict more than 60% of the population. In addition, boiled soups and vegetable dishes are difficult to create in food-poor impoverished communities.  AAI has partnered with dozens of schools, in Christian and Muslim communities to build peace by having mothers cook together in support of their children, who all eat together.  This could not be done without the rain water catchmen ttanks . 

Our partner schools show how their ngenuity creates the right places for the tanks to serve the most children while making best use and less waste of waer.  Principal Melda of Mukammali Elementary School says, "AAI has motivated us and showed us the way by providing the large catchemnt tanks and the materials to build cement and wooden platforms to werve as wash basin for the childen of all ages."  This also enables us with a limited budget to purchase more books and educational materials to provide hope for the future. This is especially important for young children who need care and guidance. Our health and hygiene programs, conducted on school grounds, build a joyful attitude to embrace life and enhance a healing process.after years of civil war.

Like most AAI programs. this inititive is an international model of donor kindness and corporate social responsibility. By surviving and experiencing hope, the multi-ethnic children inspire their neighbors who live in large ghetto communities. For children living in dire poverty, the influence of  poor health and violent crime remains a constant reality. This holistic program can empower entire communities to build peace together and have hope.  We encourage the idea that " Every life matters" and it is possible to succeed against all odds.

Links:

• website, Asia America Initiative