Education Philippines Project #20199

Clean Water for 200 School Children

A microproject by Asia America Initiative

Mar 20, 2017

Water, Garden and Joy of Life at Bunot Elementary

By Albert Santoli - Project Leader

Watering garden with fresh water at Bunot ES

The United Nations rates Mindanao Region, Philippines near the bottom of the global Human Development Index. However, most of the people are admirable human beings. Our Microproject which was successfully funded in Jolo, Sulu -- an area where life is seldom easy -- helped to pay for a 500 gallon water tank, wash basins and garden irrigation to improve the health, hunger and hygiene at Bunot Elementary school, with a student population of close to 200 children. The $650 donated through our Global Giving partners was a wonderful gift in an area where the people have known very little hope and happiness for close to fifty years.

In many communities, most schools lack any type of clean water, washing systems and hygiene materials. Children miss school or perform poorly because of parasites and illnesses. In addition, the survival difficulties of residents are a cause of civil war and communal unrest. It is also an area where international terror groups such as ISIS reputedly seeks to recruit desperate young people.

We addressed these challenges by taking life's challenges on head-on as a community-based effort. We purchased cost-effective sturdy 500 gallon plastic water tanks, rainwater catchment devices and rubber pipes, and a wash basin. Community volunteers constructed water supply systems to improve the health and study habits of 200 children. The clean water tanks and irrigation hoses enabled school gardens to reduce hunger. As in all AAI programs, we emphasize students to have hope for a better future and resist the lure of local troublemakers or other violent groups.

"The excitement of the new water tanks, the beautiful gardens and everyday feeding is felt by every child at Bunot Elementary and by their parents," says school Principal Jurmainna. "Their smiles show a willingness to participate and to welcome AAI model school programs into their daily lives."

The impact of this effort is unimaginable to communities who had never inerracted with outsiders. Our "Manificent 17" donors who collectively contributed the full $625 goal of this Global Giving micro-project are true heroes and friends to the people of Indanan. In the long-term, this program empowers Christian and Muslim communities to learn from each other through their respective best practices. Demonstrating friendship with all cultural groups, we dispel fear and hatred that alienates communities who feel alone and abandoned.

Our new program with Global Giving expands the number of children to 500 in schools deeper into areas of armed conflict. Each child assisted is a catalyst for peace and a symbol of hope. Thank you again for your generosity.

Products of Bunot ES School Garden

Expansive garden at Bunot Elementary

Handwash poster at Bunot Elementary

Moms making soup with fresh water at Bunot ES

Fresh water tank at Bunot school kitchen

Everyone eats lunch at Bunot Elementary

Links:

Asia America Initiative Web Site

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Jun 23, 2015

Mission Accomplished: Clean Water for 200 Children

By Albert Santoli - Project Leader

New water tank at Sahaya Elementary School

Mission Accomplished!! Thanks to Global Giving donors, Asia America Initiative has been able to provide a fresh water tank and sufficient plastic wash bowls and cups to conduct a substantial WASH clean water and hygiene program for 200 children at Sahaya Elementary School in Sulu, Philippines.

Sahaya's senior educator and founder, Dr. Amy Malbun, is a former Superintendent for the entire 420 Sulu school district. She founded Sahaya to emphasize good character building along with educational excellence. The Province of Sulu, located in the Autonomous region of Muslim Mindanao, is ranked near the bottom on all United Nations global human development indexes. Rampant disease and maternal, infant and children’s high death rates are largely a result of polluted water and water-borne viral diseases. Dr. Malbun says, "The clean water program includes a new 500 gallon water tank which catches rainwater through an attached a funnel system for our school's rooftop. This simple technology will greatly improve the health and hygiene for our 200 pupils. Better health will also enhance the children's learning capacity and their ability to sustain good health."

Sahaya's Principal Mhurhanny Alamia has assigned teachers in every classroom to teach the children how to wash before eating and to conserve water by utilizing plastic wash basins and pouring cups. "We thank God for our donor friends whose support for clean water helps us to keep our children healthy. We will also use some of the rubber hoses we purchased with Global Giving funds to draw water from fresh deep wells and irrigate our school garden to improve nutrition to strengthen the children at our school who come from some of the most economically deprived communities in our province."

Now that the water micro-project that benefitted Sahaya is completed, Asia America Initiative will continue to expand our WASH program to other schools in the Sulu and the Visaya region where Typhoon Haiyan destroyed many clean water projects AAI has begun a new micro-project for that purpose. We will transfer any new funds that come in for the Sahaya micro-project to the new WASH clean water program.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Albert Santoli

with our 200 beneficiaries in the Philippiines

WASH hygiene with clean water at Sahaya

washing before lunch at Sahaya Elementary

Kindergarten hygiene class at Sahaya Elementary

conserving water with plastic bowls from AAI

teachers wash with students at Sahaya before lunch

Links:

Asia America Initiative web site

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