First Grade classroom, Agsilab Elem. School
February was a hectic month for Balay ni Charie. We
distributed school supplies in four elementary schools in Capiz. Our first stop
was in Sapian at Agsilab
Elementary School. 300
students received notebooks, pens and pencils from Balay ni Charie. At Agsilab,
we saw first hand the damages wrought by super typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. In one
building, three different grades had to share the same room. Blackboards were
used to separate one class from the other. The ceiling was gouged out. In another
classroom, a red plastic tarp keeps the children dry from the rains. The kindergarten and day care kids were installed at the barangay hall across the street as there were no
classrooms available for them. The good news is that all the children were
able to continue with their studies. And maybe the buildings will be repaired
during the summer break.
Agsilab Elementary School
Our next stop was at Agoho Elementary School in Pan-ay which is right on the beach. It has the most beautiful setting of all the schools but vulnerable to storm surges and flooding. I would have a
hard time concentrating on learning anything if I were one of the students
here because I would probably be gazing out the window or be distracted by the calming sounds of the sea. 290 children received school supplies at this school. We happily observed the work on the roofs of the buildings. Fortunately, the school received much needed help for repairs from a Christian group from Texas, USA.
Agoho Elementary School
Nieva Burdick and her friends and family sent a generous
contribution of school supplies to Balay ni Charie. She shipped these supplies and t-shirts from New York in December 2013 and it was delivered in Roxas City
in February 2014. This helped us immensely so we could reach out to two more schools - Malonoy Elementary School and Ilas Norte, both in Dao, Capiz. I was quite impressed with how the Principal, the teachers and the parents of the students at Malonoy Elementary School worked together to make all the necessary repairs to the classrooms damaged by the typhoon. What a herculean effort on their part to pick up the pieces and put everything back together in record time! Bravo!
Malonoy Elementary School
The sixth grade kids at Ilas Norte Elementary School received t-shirts and they were so excited to wear them. Here they are showing off their new tees.
Students at Ilas Norte Elementary School
About 204 students in Malonoy and 295 schoolchildren at Ilas Norte Elementary School received school supplies. These distributions totaling 1,027 grade school students in Capiz were much needed replenishments after the super typhoon claimed all of the children's books and supplies. As Balay ni Charie, a grassroots foundation, enters its 9th year of service to the children of Capiz, it is grateful to all its generous supporters whose invaluable contributions allow it to reach out to more schools in the community.
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Images byBalayniCharie and TravelswithCharie
