CHILDREN ARE THE FUTURE
 

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The Carpenter’s Vision, Inc.
Works To Give Poor Children in the

Philippines

Equal Opportunity In Life

 

When asked what would she be when she grows up, this 6-year old girl answers without hesitation, “I will be a nurse.” Indeed, she may well be a nurse when she grows up but unless she gets to learn what is called the “3 Rs” (“riting”, “reading” and “’rithmetic”), in a pre-school educational facility, she will not even get to Grade 1 in the elementary grades.

The competition for education in the Philippines now has gotten to a point where pre-school educational facilities that produce 6-year olds that are already proficient in reading, writing and arithmetic have become the “official” source of pupils that are acceptable for Grade 1 enrolment. Children of indigent parents that have not gone through pre-school training find themselves so inferior, compared to their economically privileged classmates that are already proficient in reading, writing and in computing with numbers, that elementary grade schools are not inclined to enroll children that did not have pre-school training.

Pre-school training does not come cheap. Private schools charge at least 1,500 Phil. Pesos (US$36) per month. While there are government pre-school facilities that do not charge tuition fees, these often suffer from lack of teachers, lack of teaching materials and poor skills training quality.

The amount of income that draws the poverty line in the Philippines is about 11,000 Pesos (US$262) per month. About 92% of the population lives below that poverty line, with many having an income as low as 3,000 pesos (US$71) per month or even less. A very basic meal consisting of one cup rice, a fish, and a small bowl of vegetable soup may cost around 15 pesos per person per meal. A family of five, therefore, must spend about 225 pesos (US$5) daily just to eat three meals a day. That is 6,750 pesos (US$161) per month needed just for food alone.

Hardest hit by this disparity in the cost of food and level of income are those that rely on the giving of low-paid personal services, such as tricycle (bicycle with side cars) transport drivers. They take home less than 90 pesos (US$2.00) daily. Not enough amount to buy food, much less pay for the education of their children.

The Carpenter’s Vision, Inc. (CVI) is a non-stock non-profit government registered association of social workers who pool their personal funds to operate and maintain a House of Learning for children of indigent parents who cannot afford to send their children to pre-school facilities.

Clothing is a problem to the children, so they are provided school uniform. This boosts their self-esteem and encourages them to attend their classes. Meals at home before school is a doubtful matter, so nutritious “non-junk” food is cooked in the school and served to them. They are provided learning materials that are bought by the school or gathered from donations. Teachers are paid, although the teaching staff more often than not has to donate their salary back to the school to buy needed educational materials, pay rent and keep the school operating.

Social work is a low-income profession in the Philippines and at this point the operation of CVI remains dependent on what the social workers can spare out of their meager salaries from their own respective jobs. The continuing operation of CVI, therefore, is constantly in a shaky condition. Currently it can enroll only ten indigent students because of its financial limitations, but many are waiting to be accommodated.

To be effective CVI has to meet the educational needs of the children through a holistic net of programs. Other than the development of the children’s skills in writing, reading and arithmetic, development programs for parents such as, entrepeneurship, population control, responsible parenting, hygiene and sanitation, positive values, nutrition and spiritual needs has to be developed and given through sets of learning processes..

While the willingness of the CVI social workers to support the school for indigent children continues, their own financial limitations prevents the school from optimizing the effectiveness of its ministry and even puts the continued operation of the school in a very insecure condition. When the members of the CVI board met recently to assess the school situation they determined that there is wisdom at this point to solicit assistance from outside sources.

Donations received by CVI will be subjected to strict auditing procedures. The written details of the auditing procedure and the mechanism of funds transfer may be requested by a donor. Please course all inquiries through the World Wide Orphanages, or email to the CVI Executive Director, Ms. Vily P. Gargoles at carpentersvision@gmail.com

This publication for solicitation of assistance has been approved by the CVI Board of Trustees. More information about CVI as an organization will be provided to interested parties.