Mohana Delna was still a pre-schooler when she was accidentally bumped by a speeding motorcycle, badly damaging her left foot. Third among seven siblings, she walks to school on crutches together with other children who are studying at Malangit Elementary School in Buluan, Maguindanao.
The school is within the farming village of Barangay Malangit, where Mohana’s father takes care of a small coconut farm to support the family. There are motorcycles in the village known as “skylab” that transport children to school, however; Mohana’s father cannot afford the fare everyday. Even if he wanted to give a little comfort to his daughter, he lacks the means to support it.
Tears of joy
Mohana doesn’t expect that one day, her wooden crutches would be put aside in exchange for a new and durable one. “ I can still recall, she struggled hard to receive the new light-weight crutches that we gave her”, Rollie- a community worker said. “ Speechless, she just cried maybe because of over joy”, he added.
Mohana is the eighty-sixth (86) pupil included to be recipients of a scholarship grant from the E=MC2 (Education my Charitable Contribution) project of the PBSP (Philippine Business for Social Progress) which is being funded by employees and officials of Flour Daniels, Inc. She is not among the 85 mostly Grade III pupils targeted for the education assistance, but because of her vulnerable condition; the school nurse and principal requested that she be included in the list of recipients.
Now on its third year of serving Mindanao’s children in depressed areas, E=MC2 continuously touch the lives of school children and families, who despite of poverty; are hopeful to obtain and access quality education through the benevolent contribution of ordinary employees and companies as well.
E=MC2 is a campaign to raise funds for schoolchildren in economically depressed areas of Mindanao through employee giving. It appeals to employee to dedicate a portion of their salaries to the project. The amount pledged will be deducted each payday for a year.
Companies or institutions can encourage volunteerism by advancing their employees’ pledges of monetary donation and providing avenues for staff to devote time and talent for the cause of advancing Mindanao’s education problems.
Poorest among the children
When Mohana goes to school, she is not among those who regularly go to a store or approach vendors to buy something, observes Javier Kumandi- the school principal. “ She seldom buys something to eat during recess time”, he said.
“ Oftentimes I observed her wearing the same dress that she wore the other day in school. During meal time, sometimes I could see her go to a nearby store to buy bagoong that sells at P1.00 per teaspoon for her viand; or if not, she brings with her a small cellophane pack containing soy sauce as her viand for noon time”, he added.
School children in Barangay Malangit oftentimes go to school without writing pads, pencil or ballpen, or even uniforms. Some even go to school without eating their breakfast saving the needed food for lunch instead.
Mohana represents the poor children of her village that constantly struggle against poverty. Her father Baiking Delna – tenant of a coconut farm in the village is able to raise their family with a meagre income of only P7,200.00 annually. Seven siblings plus father and mother, they managed to survive and continue to do so until this time.
107 in one classroom
Aside from abject poverty, the school children of Malangit Elementary School have endured chronic problem affecting some schools in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Philippines; and that is shortage of classrooms, textbooks and chairs.
“ Just imagine 107 pupils compressed themselves in one room… some would sit or squat on the floor to be able to see what was written on the board”, Rollie said.
The school was identified to become a beneficiary of E-MC2 project because of its difficult condition. Five pupils share a single desk instead of only three to one desk ratio. Chairs and textbooks are scarce.
Despite the predicament, the project’s first year of implementation showed positive signs. Of the 86 children-scholars supported by the project, ten (10) of them landed in the honors list. Absences were reduced and class participation among students had improved.
With its second year of implementation now, children-scholars and the community are hopeful, their education condition would improve. Children’s academic performance will continue to register positive signs like the first year’s.
Corporate citizenship; helping Mindanao kids
Going beyond the four corners of their offices in busy metropolis and urban centers, companies and employees with a heart to help indigent schoolchildren; have manifested what corporate social responsibility is.
In Masiu, Lanao del Sur, thirty (30) Maranao children who are students of Mimbalay Elementary School; are recipients of an educational assistance project supported by suppliers and officials of Tele Tech Customer Care Management (Phils.) Inc. The assistance consisted of uniforms, school bags, shoes and other school supplies.
Meanwhile in far away Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, member/volunteers from the Tawi-Tawi Chamber of Commerce and Industry shared their time and talent in storytelling during a community volunteerism work in Panglima Sugala. Values on friendship, determination and cleanliness among others; were the main lessons shared by storytellers to the school children.
Through E=MC2, interested individuals or companies can be of help to Mindanao’s poor children either as donors or volunteers in the priority areas of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.
Experience and feel the beauty of lending a hand to Mindanao’s poor children; be a bridge in their simple quest of carving a niche in this land full of challenges and opportunities. Join the countless individuals, companies and institutions who silently made a difference by responding to the call of corporate social responsibility.(danny escabarte)
