Support 50 Muslim Girls to Become Nurses

Dear Friends,

Asia America Initiative's scholarship student nurses have been doing their intensive clinical training rotations in hospitals and clinics in Manila and in Mindanao this fall. Hands-on experiential training is vital to achieving high-quality nurses who will develop confidence and people skills in their duties. Student nurses study medical fundamentals and conduct research in teams. 

During the Covid19 pandemic, the emphasis on effective continued training was in "remote learning" modules where the nurses could receive the maximum benefit possible, but there are some procedures that cannot be virtual. Receiving instruction from experienced nurses on patient care and procedures in the hospital environment is invaluable to nursing students. These are best learned when Instructors supervise classmates in a team environment.

Through their scholarship and compassionate service, the nursing students whom AAI sponsors are beacons of hope for entire communities. In addition to scholarships, we also assist with personal protective gear and hygiene materials against the COVID-19 virus and other illnesses. We continuously donate textbooks to sustain and expand their learning libraries. 

As the program enters its tenth year, the percentage of our scholars completing their studies and passing the License Examinations continues to grow. In addition, in 2022, we have added psychology students specializing in trauma counseling to our holistic team of healers. Our goal is to build a quality health system of practitioners and scholars accessible to all types of communities, whether rich or poor.

Supported by AAI, students are now achieving in Sulu State College, Mindanao State University, Notre Dame College, and other capable schools in the Manila capital area. Our Jolo nursing students are now performing among the top 20 percent of all such schools in the Philippines - compared to a mere 30 percent student pass-rate in national nursing exams eight years ago. Far exceeding our original goal of 50 nurses trained, AAI has now supported the successful licensing of more than 250 new nurses in Sulu.  As community development specialists and humanitarian peacebuilders, we are committed to sustaining this success to address basic human needs.

If you would like to continue to support these dedicated nursing students, or begin a monthly donation, please click the link below.

Support 50 Muslim Girls to Become Nurses

Thank you again,

Albert Santoli, 

Director,

Asia America Initiative

Links:

• Asia America Initiative Website

Dear Friends,

The mid-August 2022 Cap and Badge ceremony for young nursing students preparing to enter their third year of nursing school at the Ateneo University in Zamboanga was an inspirational experience for students and their parents. Having passed their classroom exams, the girls are now considered official nursing students wearing white nursing hats and Clara Barton badges. In the ceremony, they take a solemn group oath and dedicate themselves to the profession and calling. The third year will be comprised of nursing internships and mentorships at numerous clinics and health centers.

Women of all ages around the world often lack the opportunity to receive a quality education and to develop professional skills to remedy the health, social, and economic needs of their communities. In the Philippines, Asia America Initiative supports female nursing scholars, primarily Muslims, at universities such as Sulu State College, Mindanao State University in Jolo, Notre Dame College of Jolo, and Our Lady of Fatima University. These universities can provide such opportunities for Muslim girls. The United Nations considers Mindanao, especially Sulu, as one of the most impoverished areas of the world.  Muslim, Christian, and public schools are surrounded by high poverty and communal violence. Families struggle to pay for their children's fees to complete their studies. "Ateneo is special," says Ay-B, who has devoted her life to the education of her Muslim sisters, while not excluding Christian students. "Because although Ateneo de Zamboanga is a Jesuit Catholic school, it has a non-biased openness to all young people in the southern Philippines, regardless of their cultures or religions."

Each semester, AAI supports up to 50 female nursing and psychology students with basic educational needs, classroom materials, graduation fees, and the cost of licensing exams. These young women demonstrate the potential success for all women around the world. As healthcare providers, the nurses will provide vital services to all community members and expand the employment base in one of the most economically deprived areas of the world. They are also positive symbols for local youth.

Thank you for your contributions in the past. If you would like to add to your support or begin a monthly donation, please click the link below and GlobalGiving will prepare that for you to assist in this worthwhile endeavor.

Support 50 Muslim Girls to Become Nurses

Wishing you peace,

Albert Santoli,

Director, Asia America Initiative

Links:

• Asia America Initiative website

Links:

• Asia America Initiative website

Graduation

A some areas of the world, a large percentage of Muslim women and girls are denied the opportunity to receive a quality education to realize their professional goals. Some regions, such as the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, are chronoically affected by high poverty and dramatically diminished public health conditions. In the Sulu archipelago in the Philippines, which borders Indonesia and Malaysia, there are less than 20 medical doctors for more than 1.6 million people scattered across hundreds of islands.  A major need exists specifically for the protection of mothers and infants in childbirth. AAI is supporting nursing students at Sulu State College and Mindanao State University . Since 2016, our goal has been to provide opportunities in public health and livelihood conducted primarily by nurses, midwives and traditional medicine practitioners .

Beginning in 2016, AAI's "Support 50 Muslim Girls to Become Nurses" project has adressed crisis conditions at Sulu State College and Mindanao State University in Jolo city.  We have surpassed our original goals for qualified new nurses, with around 300 graduates who have passed their professional exams. These two schools and the private Notre Dame College in Jolo have a combined record of exellence that now can compete on a national scale.  The AAI assistance program is a global model for equal opportunity and compassionate service.. With support of GlobalGiving donors, we provide textbooks, clinical materials, and school supplies to improve the quality of health education.  In addition, our partnerships helps to build bonds of friendship and peace between people of all faiths and cultures.

Sulu State College Chancellor, Dr. Charisma, herself a former practicing nurse and head of the Nursing School, says: "Sulu is indeed blessed to have such caring and unselfish people from around the world who have generously supported  Professor Santoli of Asia America Initiative in his untiring efforts to improve healthcare in our province.  The textbooks and medical equipment provided by AAI in consultation with our administrators have created a partnership that has empowered our faculty and our students.  AAI has also provided scholarships to talented students whose famillies could not afford to pay the extra fees and other expenses required.  May Allah bless our benefactors more.  So that you can continue to be a blessing to others."

In July 2021, new Nursing graduates at Sulu State College were honored with a traditional Cap, Badge and Candle ceremony to pledge a proessional life dedicated to honor, service and professional excellence. These students exemplify the potential of women [and men] worldwide to contribute to their communities, especially during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and global shortages of qualified medical practitioners. .

If you would like to continue sponsoring this worthwhile student nurse program, please follow the link below for year-end giving: 

Help 50 Muslim Nurses Receive Textbooks & Supplies

Thank you to all who have supported the efforts of these young nurses,

Albert Santoli

Director, Asia America Initiative

Links:

• Asia America Initiative website

Dear Friends,

Asia America Initiative's scholarship student nurses are returning this Fall to in-person clinical training. Hands-on experiential training is vital to achieving high-quality nurses who will develop confidence and people skills in their duties.  

Classrooms are prepared with new protocols regarding personal distance and enhanced personal protection. The students can not wait to be back in class. The students have been persevering with "remote learning" during the last year, but there are some procedures that cannot be replaced. These are best learned when Instructors supervise classmates in a team environment.

In fact, while preparing to return to school, some students are involved with school-sponsored local outreach to administer vaccines within their community. All of this interaction helps to inspire the future nurses to learn their vocation.

The nursing programs AAI sponsors are a beacon of hope for the entire community. Currently, we are assisting with personal protective gear and hygiene materials against the COVID19 virus and other illnesses. Our goal is to build a quality health system accessible to all.

Supported by AAI, Sulu State College Nursing students are now performing among the top 20 percent of all such schools in the Philippines - compared to a 30 percent student pass-rate in national nursing exams six years ago. AAI has helped support the successful licensing of some 225 new nurses in Sulu. As peacebuilders, we must now sustain this success.

AAI also supports nursing students at Fatima University in Manila. These students have higher-level education nursing goals. Azeezah, an AAI scholar at Fatima, from Muslim Mindanao says, "The nursing schools in Mindanao are very good and I have many brght friends attending there. However, the extra value of studying in Manila at a well respected Medical School is the confidence that it provides. I know that with my grade point average being in the upper 5 percent that I am capable of performing well in any community."

If you would like to continue to support these dedicated nursing students, please click the link below.

Support 50 Muslim Girls to Become Nurses

Thank you again,

Albert Santoli, 

Director,

Asia America Initiative

Links:

• Asia America Initiative web site