Davao City, Philippines
The purpose of the Davao City project is to try to lift these kids out of poverty. The only way to do this is to educate them. This is what we are trying to do. We have, however, found out in the past 4 years, that the children learn very little when they are starving. These children are lucky if they get one meal per day. That meal consists of a small cup of cooked rice, not the kind of meals that American kids get. They do not know what it is to have 3 full meals each day and are very thankful and lucky if they get a single cup of rice per day, not per meal.
As for the kids, we spend 3 days per week in this squatters village teaching the kids. We concentrate on English and Math. We also teach them how to put others ahead of themselves, in other words to serve others. After all, this is what Pioneers do.
The front yard you saw in the photo is also their school house. No desks, no floor, no rulers, no pencils and NO anything else. They sit on the ground or mud, depending on the weather each day they are in class. This is not conducive to learning. When the lockdown from the Virus is over, we will provide folding tables and chairs for the kids as well as some teaching aids to help further their learning experience.
You may click on this link to view the Davao City Project
Submitted by Bob Wolkins President of Heartland Council