Olotayan Elementary School, Olotayan Island

Olotoyan Island is a 40-minute boat ride away from Banica pier in Roxas City. Students at Olotayan Elementary School came to school on a Saturday morning to receive school supplies and slippers from Balay ni Charie. Not everyone received slippers to the dismay of the other kids. We only had enough for one class. The rest of the kids received crayons, rulers and pencil cases.  The City of Roxas had previously given the schoolchildren their school supplies so Balay ni Charie gave school items and accessories that were not included in the City's school pack. Some of the kids who won our spelling and math contests received backpacks, books and markers. Here's one of the kids who received a backpack. She won the spelling contest.

These happy children received slippers, thanks to the generosity of Rosemary Driscoll.

About 160 children in Olotayan Island were the beneficiaries of Balay ni Charie School Supplies Program. I hope to return to this beautiful place and give slippers to all the children.

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Images by Charie

Balay ni Charie Goes to Olotayan Island

Early this month, Filomena Bolaño Beluso, traveled to Olotayan Island (which is across from Panay Island to the northeast), to distribute school supplies to the children there on behalf of  Balay ni Charie. She visited the second grade class shown here holding the notebooks and pencils they received from Balay ni Charie. Students from other classes received pencils. There are about 170 schoolchildren on the island. It's my fervent hope that we will be able to give all the kids the tools they need so they can stay in school.

The school staff drew this little nipa hut to represent Balay ni Charie (balay means house). It's a warm and welcoming house which serves the needs of young and disadvantaged students in various towns in Capiz. Thanks to Ms. Beluso (shown above) for making this visit to Olotayan Island and extending help to the kids through our program.
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Photos  by Charie