The Healthy Readers Project or Project HeaR was turned over today to Pinit Elementary School in Ligao City, Albay, Philippines. Project HeaR aimed to create a more conducive learning environment in Pinit Elementary School by building a water and sanitation facility as well as providing reading spaces and materials for children.
Project HeaR water and sanitation facility in the middle of construction taken in 6 June 2017 at Pinit Elementary School, Ligao City, Albay.
Reading materials were provided to school children of Pinit Elementary School through Project HeaR. Photo was taken 6 June 2017.
Project HeaR was a three-month collaborative endeavor between Fundación Educación y Cooperación – EDUCO, TFKI (Trekking for Kids, Inc.), and IHHELPP (Improving Health, Housing, Education, and Livelihood of the Poor in the Philippines).
In April, after proposal writing and project designing with TFKI, Educo started preparing the school and community for Project HeaR. By May, full-on construction of the comfort rooms was ongoing. “We’ve never done anything like this,” recalls IHHELPP team leader Mr. Apollo Tabelisma who has 30 years experience in construction. The technology used to build the comfort rooms was new. It only uses 10% cement, which meant it was more environment-friendly. The compressing machine and block design make for an extra durable material that has been observed to outlast a category 4 typhoon.
Project HeaR construction between May and June 2017.
Trainings for the school, community, and school children on child protection, monitoring and evaluation, leadership development, and child rights were also conducted throughout the duration of the short-term project.
Ligao City Mayor Patricia Alsua highlighted the role that adults have in children’s education. “Children spend some time in school but they still spend the most time at home.” Children’s reading and sanitation must really be reinforced at home according to the Mayor. Also strong in his commitment as a primary duty bearer of child rights, Congressman Fernando Gonzalez said he was willing to work with NGOs as well as “provide the necessary policy support for projects on children to have protection of the law.”
TFKI volunteers from the United States arrived by the latter part of May to help finish the project. Members of the community in Pinit also volunteered for the project until its completion in June. They were awarded and recognized during the turnover ceremonies.
Local volunteers from Barangay Pinit and foreign TFKI volunteers from the US pose with Project HeaR stakeholder representatives. Third from left to right: Nancy Obias, Educo Program Manager (white); Ligao City Mayor Patricia Alsua (peach); DepEd SDS Ma. Luisa Samaniego (light blue green); Congressman Fernando Gonzalez (checkered); Pinit Brgy. Captain Herculano Prena (dark green); and, Principal Fernando Murillo of Pinit ES (cream).
“Rest assured,” said Principal Fernando Murillo in his acceptance speech, “that the purpose of this project will be achieved. Children will develop habits of sanitation and improve their reading proficiency.” Ms. Ma. Luisa Samaniego of the Department of Education also added, “What we can give in return is maximize the proper use of facilities and materials given to us not just for school children now but the next batches as well.”
More photos of the Project HeaR Launching Ceremony can be seen here.
