Unite Inter-Faith Children via Education and Water

In mid-March 2017, the children of Langpas and Commander Bara Elementary Schools in Sulu Province in war zones of Muslim Mindanao, Philippines are showing marked improvement in their attendance, health conditions and classroom performances. "They are still benefitting from the Asia America initiative daily MASS FEEDING PROGRAM,"  says Indanan South School District Supervisor Samoore L. "It has been six months  since Professor Albert M. Santoli Asia America initiative president began generously to expand funds for the program's continuous implementation in all 18 of our District's Elementary schools. The positive results of the partnership between our school administrators and faculties, volunteer parents and the humble but hard working AAI have been far beyond what anyone could have hoped for.  This cooperation is an extension of our Tausug tribal cultural tradition of communities working together for the common good." After 50 years of armed conflict and dire poverty, cooperative efforts between peoples of various religious beliefs and cultures is  making a profound difference to make education a fun component of peace building.

The Sulu water, nutrtition and academic excellence program was a direct product of AAI's rebuilding experience in areas detroyed by mega storms in the central Visayas region.  The process of integrating clean water, school gardens, daily lunches cooked by voilunteer Moms and Dads and the rebuilding of libraries in dozens of schools n Christian Visayas and Muslim Visayas remains the program's hallmark. "The AAI inter-disciplinary strategy began in mid-2014 in areas of Panay Island in Visayas region that were destroyed by the Super Typhoon Haiyan," recalls AAI Visayas coordinator Nurse Faith.  At the height of program in 2016 we have fed 2,000 children 4 meals per week --  or 8,000 meals per week -- at 5 pesos per child [10 cents US] of fresh foods locally grown in big pots of soups and stewsd plus rice or noodles for less than $1,000 US total per week, largely from donors through GlobalGiving.  Parents, who consdidered it a matter of dignity to not take charity added the other half of the cost."  Within one school year the rate of post-typhoon malutrition decreased from close to 80 percent to under 10 percent in AAI served communities.  Daily school attendance has increased to close to 100 percent due to the dxel,icious home-cooked meals, and classroom performance and test scores improved off-the-charts. Elmentary school principal, Luz R. observes, "Out of tragedy we found new hope and built our confidence for success."

We look towartd the 2017-18 School year as a time of hope and progress in both Christian and Muslim communities that had once lost their most basic human needs.  We are grateful to all GlobalGiving donors whose kindness has been the fuel for our success.  

Links:

• Asia America initiative web site

In the Philippines today, in the last weeks of 2016, tension is mounting between Muslim and Christian communities fueled by a war on drugs by the government which has claimed an estimated 6,000 lives and has fueled a climate of vigilante reprisals throughout the country.  In addition, a confused peace process between the government and rebel armed groups has left the potential for true peace and social/ economic progress in peril.  More than 150,000 people - at least half are infants and children -- are internally displaced from their homes due to rebel attacks and military operations.  Another 126,000 are displaced after their homes were destroyed in recent devastating typhoon storms. Basic human needs such as clean water and basic nutrition remain in a state of peril.  As a result, Asia America initiative has stepped up the pace of our work to build cooperation and shared reconstruction between people of all faiths and cultures.

Asia America Initiative operates in some of the most deprived and violent areas of the Philippines.  Our message of mediation and building for a better future is based on total community involvement.  Our centers of peace and self-reliance are through local "Models of Excellence and Peace" public and private schools, which are usually politically neutral and cater to all families in the school district.  We provide modest funds to jump-start and sustain programs emphasizing food, clean water and educational books and classroom supplies.  Parents and local residents add to our funding for materials and provide the volunteer labor needed to repair damaged facilities, grow, school gardens and Moms cook school lunches.  School nurses train "Mini-Nurses" in 5th and 6th grade to be all around helpers of their fellow students.

Last November 25, 2016, the School Supervisor of Indanan District, Mr Moore Ladjahali coordinated with AAI to instruct school heads and nurses how equal distribution of AAI first aid medicines assistance would be distributed to 18 elementary schools in Indanan South District.  Supervisor Moore says: "At the meeting the school nurses expressed appreciation and gratitude for the unselfish adoption of AAI for all schools in the District without bias or prejudice. To assure success of the program, certain requirements must be followed like the designation of authorized persons to receive the funds, usually school heads or school nurses. The purspose of the requirements are to officially identify the total number of learners actually enrolled in the schools so that equal distribution of the first aid medicines would be realized. For accountability and oversight, either the school head or school nurse may receive the monetary assistance and keep records on the number of children who are attended to.”

During the last week of 2016, in order to expand our “Peace Zones” that surround each school, we ask for our donors and new friends to please consider our efforts to set an example of hope and cooperation.  Providing children with adequate food, basic health needs and clean water is a great first step!  We thank you for your previous support.  May you all be blessed in 2017.

Links:

• website