Lea, 40 is a teacher in Palawig Elementary School. She is teaching in grades 4, 5, and 6 for subjects English, Values Education, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). “Luckily, only one of our classroom was totally damaged by super typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) as well as our multi-purpose function hall,” Lea shared.
The school is situated in a low-lying area so the flood did not come as a surprise. They already safekeep their school supplies and learning materials but what they did not anticipate is the strong wind so still, windows were broken and some roofs were damaged damaging our school materials and modules that we already printed. “Fortunately, due to the pandemic, no students were attending school at that time since we already shifted to modular type of learning,” Lea added.
Save the Children Philippines, through the support of Cummins Foundation distributed 1,020 back-to-school kits and 10 teaching kits to affected school in Catanduanes.
“The teaching kit helped us to quickly resume our printing and preparation of modules for our students. While those student who received the back-to-school kits from Save the Children Philippines shared that they are more excited to study,” said Lea.
According to her many students are experiencing cabin fever in addition to the stress brought by the typhoon and one of the things learners really look forwards to every opening of classes is buying of school supplies from selecting their notebook to getting new bag packs but now that they are using modules and given the economic setback to families affected by typhoon, buying of school supplies has not been really something that our learners experienced. “With the assistance provided by Save the Children Philippines, we have seen that even those students who are not as keen in getting their modules regularly are now submitting their output on time and claiming their modules,” she added.
She also narrated that despite the scourging heat, some of them would still bring the raincoat and wear the boats around their neighborhood and when it rains some of them would play outside their houses and would proudly show off their boots and raincoats. “I truly believe that you have helped our students, and our schools in more ways than just providing supplies. It brought back hope and smiles to our students who by now have gone through compounding challenges from pandemic to typhoon,” Lea added.
“For us teachers, receiving these supplies have inspired us more to do our duty,” said Lea. She shared that even the Department of Education have faced a lot of budget setback and on the case of our province in which school buildings have been torn down by the typhoon, they have to be resourceful in filling in the gap in order for them to deliver learning for their students. Sometimes it meant planting vegetables in their school garden and selling it to earn extra income to buy school supplies to print their modules. Teachers and parents working together to fix the school infrastructure and endless of hours spent in school ensuring that everything is ready for our students.
“My favorite item from the teaching kit, and I’m sure my
co-teachers would agree is the rechargeable and solar-paneled lamp. For months, we don’t have access to electricity due to the typhoon. Even until now, we would often experience black out and for many days we would have to work until the night to attend to some paper works so the lamp really help us,” said Lea.
Her message to Save the Children Philippines and to its donors is an endless gratitude from the teachers and our students of Palawig Elementary School. “Your support showed us that with our perseverance and the generosity of organizations like you, we are all in this together in ensuring that no learner will be left behind from these pandemic and other calamities. To be able to see our students excited to learn again means a lot to educators like me so we hope that you can inspire and help more learners,” said Lea.
Save the Children Philippines, through the support of Cummins Foundation distributed 1,013 back-to-school kits to elementary learners of Buyo Integrated School, Duggui Too Elementary School, Palawig Elementary School, and Pangilao Elementary School in Catanduanes who were affected by the super typhoon Rolly. At the same time, 10 teaching kits are also provided to Dugui Too Elemnatary School, Palawig Elementary School, Buyo Integrated School, San Vicente Elementary School, Dugui Wala Elementary School, Dugui San Isidro Elementary School, Codon Elementary School, Bislig Elemntary School and Agoho Elementary School.