Help Filipino Kids Learn Better &Survive Disasters

The Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc, initiated this project on GlobalGiving to provide training on Learning Effectively through Enhanced Pedagogies (LEEP) to the teachers and principals of the 38 public schools in Coron, a town severely affected by the recent Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). In addition to improving educational outcomes through the use of enhanced pedagogies in the classroom, this project will help the principals and teachers assist 13,000 students to build the resiliency that can withstand future disasters.

The LEEP training that we will provide Coron will have a special emphasis on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation. Studies have shown that if informed and educated on the actions to be taken should a disaster occur, the single-mindedness of children to unhesitatingly follow what they have been taught in school can help save many lives -- their own, and that of their families, friends and neighbors. Yet, not enough has been done to educate the children on this topic.

The challenge is to implement a program that will contribute to the effective translation and application of the new K to 12 curriculum concepts in classroom instruction, ensuring better learning for the children in Coron; and at the same time, build the resiliency of children, allowing them to survive and have a better chance at reaching their full potential.

LEEP will equip the teacher and principal participants with disaster risk reduction practices that they will forward to their students, teaching them ways to prevent and prepare for natural disasters. If we care for our children and our country, it is of paramount importance that children be educated about climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction at a young age, in order to increase their resilience to climate change and related disasters.

We are very grateful for all the support we received during the March Open Challenge. Thank you to our families, friends and colleagues who donated online through GlobalGiving.org. For the duration of the challenge, we were able to raise $7,047 from 77 donors, earning us a permanent spot on GlobalGiving. We may not have reached $30,000, but our project page will remain on the site to accept more donations until we reach our target.

Furthermore, we also received donations amounting to Php15,000 ($334) for the project that was deposited directly to Knowledge Channel here in the Philippines. This will also contribute to the funds that will provide the LEEP Training in Coron.

We will continue to promote this project to more donors so we may raise funds to provide the training to all 38 schools in Coron. Knowledge Channel is also looking forward to the opportunity to create more projects on GlobalGiving, and provide the LEEP training to other areas and provinces in the Philippines as well.