THE Chi Xi chapter of Scouts Royale Brotherhood (SRB) National Service Fraternity and Sorority recently celebrated the group’s 46th founding anniversary by serving a school in Toledo City, Cebu.
Members of the SRB Chi Xi chapter organized a service at Lubo Elementary School. The school is in Barangay Capitan Claudio, one of the mountain barangays within the city of Toledo, and is bordered by Gen. Climaco, and the town of Balamban.
Although the barangay itself is accessible, the school is still 30 kilometers from the national highway. This is approximately three to five hours by foot from the areas accessible by vehicles. Motorcycles and horses are the common modes of transportation by residents. Through rain and shine, along gravel roads, across rivers, and mountain tops, members of the organization pushed to give bundles of school supplies needed for the incoming school year.
During the service, the faculty members were able to express the school’s need for assistance.
All seven of the faculty members stay in the school premises from Monday to Friday, due to the distance of the school from their homes. They see their families only on weekends. They also provide their own food. The school has no fence around it, which makes it unsafe for the teachers, especially at night. They are paying one watchman monthly for their security. Electricity has been provided since 2017, but they must pay for it monthly. The area’s water supply is taken from the nearby spring.
The population of the school is currently at 100 students.
According to the teachers, most students drop out or skip school either because of the distance from their homes or because they need to help their families in farming. Farming is the source of income for most of the families, and it is seldom enough to sustain the needs of the people in the area. Most students cannot afford their own school supplies.
The 2020 city health data show that 21 out of 100 students in the school are malnourished. Also, the students are terrified of deworming, a contributing factor to malnutrition. The school has no library, much less an internet connection. Students’ needs are basic: school supplies, bags, uniforms, raincoats/boots, slippers, hygiene kits.
The most successful community service is one that gives everyone a lesson to learn. In this service, the Sagop Ra’g Skul (Adopt a School) is born. The program is aimed at providing basic assistance to underprivileged schools, tapping other chapters and/or alumni associations who are willing to help and adopt their own school.
The program will be kickstarted with the Lubo Elementary School. While Chi Xi can provide the school supplies, there is more work needed to make the school a suitable learning haven for these children.
The group hopes that by initiating the program, they will be able to help, in its own little way, the future of the nation. SRB pledged to deliver long-term assistance, being a partner fraternity to Lubo Elementary School.
SRB said it does not have much, but it said it will always have enough to help.
SRB is an organization anchored on the cardinal principles of leadership, friendship and service. While leadership and friendship are the cornerstones of SRB, service is the most significant. It said it is what sets it apart from the rest, having the innate heart for service.
The SRB Chi Xi chapter, guided by the Metro Cebu Council, is a chapter encompassing members from City of Naga, Lutopan, Toledo City, and the municipalities of Balamban and Pinamungajan.