9/10 children cannot read - we will teach them!

Dear friends and supporters,

We’re thrilled to share that Kids Club is finally open again! After months of fundraising, land clearing, and construction, we welcomed the children back to our new venue this July—a peaceful, open-air space shaded by old trees and filled with laughter, learning, and new beginnings.

Thanks to your support, we’ve successfully completed Stage 1 of construction—a secure, bamboo Kubo where we hold our daily sessions—and we’re now finishing Stage 2, which includes:

• A nearly completed storage room for learning materials
• Water access and a cleaning station now in place
• Next steps: connect the cleaning station to our rainwater harvesting system, install flooring for the storage room, and add a few meters of fencing to secure the perimeter

We’ve postponed the installation of a toilet, as it requires permits and additional funds that we’re still working to secure. But even with limited resources, we are back in operation 6 days a week, and that is something to celebrate.

Our tutoring program is needed now more than ever.

The World Health Organization recently reported that 9 out of 10 ten-year-olds in the Philippines cannot read, a reality that deeply resonates with our mission. In response, the public school system has taken commendable steps by increasing reading assignments and pushing to improve literacy rates.

However, for children who are already behind, this shift has brought elevated stress and feelings of overwhelm. We hear this from our Kids Club children every day. They want to learn—but need extra, personalized help to keep up. That’s where our free tutoring program comes in. We provide the calm, supportive space they need to grow—without shame, pressure, or fear of falling further behind.

Meanwhile, our children with special needs have returned joyfully to their routines.

Recent activities include:

• Sensory play with water beads, textures, and colors

• Yoga and dance sessions to build strength and coordination

• Recycled art workshops using upcycled materials

• Music time, where children learn rhythm, song, and communication

• One-on-one tutoring focused on literacy, numbers, and confidence-building

We’re also grateful to the volunteers who joined us post-reopening—bringing warmth, patience, and new learning tools to our team.

Thanks to you, we’ve been able to give these children a fresh start. While there’s more to build—like a toilet, full flooring, and electrical access—we now have a dedicated space where children feel safe, seen, and supported.

From all of us at Nature Kids of Siargao: thank you.

Your support isn’t just helping build walls and roofs—it’s helping rebuild confidence, routines, and hope.

With deep gratitude,

Sanne Sevig

Founder, Nature Kids of Siargao