The Problem of Education in the Philippines
Education specially in the rural areas is one of the biggest problems in the Philippines. In the article The Problem of Rural Education in the Philippines by John Weinstein he wrote:
About 80% of the Filipino poor live in the rural areas of the country. These are towns located deep in the mountains and the rice fields. The population density in the rural parts of the country is low, and there is a corresponding deficiency in schools and classrooms. Public school is free, but families still cannot afford to send their children for a complicated network of reasons. In this editorial for the Pinoy Press, one author delineates the key issue:
With around 65 million Filipinos or about 80 percent of the population trying to survive on P96 ($2) or less per day, how can a family afford the school uniforms, the transportation to and from school, the expenses for school supplies and projects, the miscellaneous expenses, and the food for the studying sibling? More than this, with the worsening unemployment problem and poverty situation, each member of the family is being expected to contribute to the family income. Most, if not all, out-of-school children are on the streets begging, selling cigarettes, candies, garlands, and assorted foodstuffs or things, or doing odd jobs.
Providing Peace, Education, Aspiration, Respect, Love, Smile for the Filipino Children
While hundreds of thousands of Filipino children may be deprived with the opportunity to get proper education, there are also numerous non-government organizations that aims to help these children in getting the education they deserve. One of these organizations that the poorest of the poor children in the Philippines is the Project Pearls.
Project Pearls: The Story
Founded in 2008 by mother and daughter, Melissa Villa and Francesca Villa Mateo, initially to help Melissa’s deaf and mute childhood friend and daughters who are living in a squatter area. Melissa helps in sending her friend’s daughters to school.
Realizing that their extra savings in dollars go a long way in the Philippines, they started sending school supplies to other school children living in different slum communities. In the summer of 2010, Melissa was introduced to the children of Ulingan by photo journalist, Sidney Snoeck. Since then, the focus of Project PEARLS’ outreach efforts is in Ulingan, a slum and garbage dumpsite community where over 400 families contend all day with the heat, fumes, dust, stench, flies, mosquitoes and vermin.
Project PEARLS, under the leadership of Melissa’s brother, Juan Villa has a weekly Feeding Program, Scholarship Program and quarterly Medical Mission in Ulingan.
Project Pearls: Vision
Our vision is to end child poverty as poverty denies children their rights to health, nutrition and a basic education.
Our mission is to help the poorest of the poor children in the Philippines have a better life through our various outreach programs. We are hoping we can give them: Peace, Education, Aspiration, Respect, Love, Smiles.
Breaking the cycle of poverty is almost impossible. But poverty doesn’t have to be permanent especially for children.
We need your help and support for investing in the children’s health and nutrition, education, social, emotional and spiritual well-being.?
Project PEARLS is also helping underprivileged children in Dagupan, Bulacan, Caloocan, Guimaras, and Masbate. Our special outreach projects include rehabilitating public school libraries, public hospital visits to pediatrics ward and the Yellow PEARLS Boat Project.
Project Pearls: Outreach Programs
The organization has various outreach programs which includes feeding program, brain booster program, scholarship program, medical mission, birthday program and Yellow Pearl Boats.
How to Make Donations
If you want to get involved and make a difference in the lives of these children, you may donate to the foundation through the following:
Bank Deposit
PROJECT PEARLS, INC.
Bank of the Philippine Islands
Account #4253-4268-91
Donation by Check
Make check payable to: Project PEARLS
Mailing address: 1044 Sycamore Drive, Millbrae, CA 94030
Bank Deposit to any Bank of America Branches
Project PEARLS, Inc.
Account # 0281472768
Account Address: 1044 Sycamore Drive, Millbrae, CA 94030
Find More Information
You may contact them through the following links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectPEARLS1
Website: http://www.projectpearls.org
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