Sunday, July 06, 2008 'School Breakfast' launch in war-torn areas tomorrow
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- A Davao City-based non-government organization will launch on Monday a special project dubbed as, "School Breakfast" program, which aims to motivate students in embattled areas to complete their studies.
In Kidapawan City, the program will be launched at Datu Ambel Memorial High School in Kilada village in Matalam, site of the recent skirmish between government troops and the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels.
The school, according to the Davao City-based Mindanao Land Foundation Inc. (MinLand), serves as pilot area in North Cotabato.
"It aims to help increase motivation of students in conflict affected areas to finish high school, provide nourishment and energy to respond to the everyday physical and mental challenges in school, and help improve school participation," said Sherwin Desierto of MinLand.
Records of the Datu Ambel Memorial School showed that there are about 105 enrollees from poor families for school year 2008 to 2009. Most of these students, Desierto said, come from conflict-affected villages.
MinLand said many of its students have experienced the hardship associated with conflict: tension, harassment, hunger, illnesses, evacuation, homelessness, disruption of schooling, separation and death of family members and friends.
"Aside from going to school hungry most of the time, students of Datu Ambel Memorial High School take a long walk to and from school where some even cross a river on foot," Desierto said. "These are blunt and real reasons why students' motivation to attend school is very low."
During the launching of the project on July 8, MinLand expects attendance from representatives of the Department of Education, local government of Matalam, officers of the Parents-Teachers-Community Association, among others.
The project is undertaken jointly by MinLand and the Move On Philippines International, an organization of Filipino migrants in Jacksonville in Florida, USA.
Desierto said they also encouraged other individuals to support their program.
"One may donate only P15 a day or P390 a month per child for a simple breakfast to fuel the minds and motivation of students," he said. (Malu Cadelina Manar)
