ORMOC CITY – The Australian Government and The Asia Foundation have doanted 2,000 new books to the schools damaged by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in Eastern Visayas to help improve education in the Philippines.
Australia donated 2,000 new books to schools in Ormoc City, Leyte through The Asia Foundation’s Books for Asia program.
“Australia’s support reflects our commitment to help Filipino children have access to quality education especially in Eastern Visayas where Typhoon Haiyan left 668 schools damaged. These books from The Asia Foundation’s Books for Asia program complement Australia’s assistance to Ormoc schools,” said Geoff King, acting minister counsellor of the Australian Embassy in Manila.
In the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, Australia provided immediate support for repairs of schools in Ormoc by sending Australian engineers and military service personnel to help in clearing and repair operations.
King added: “We join The Asia Foundation in the belief that how society pays attention to its schools determines how it values education as a powerful way to overcome poverty. We hope that new books and better classrooms will inspire students to learn while having fun, and to study harder.”
Ky Johnson, deputy country representative of The Asia Foundation, said, “The damage from typhoon Yolanda didn’t just affect homes, roads, and lives but also the ability of our school children to pursue their dreams through education. We believe that education will help to restore Eastern Visayas.”
Johnson, who personally awarded the books to school representatives in Ormoc, thanked the Australian Government for supporting the Books for Asia program.
He said The Asia Foundation is also grateful to McGraw Hill companies for their generous donations of new books to the program.
The book donation project falls under the long-running Philippines-Australia Community Assistance Program (PACAP), a small grants program managed by The Asia Foundation that supports civil society organisations and poor communities throughout the country. (PR)