Children danced, clapped as they stared, jaws open at a magic show and went away with a loot bag of goodies. No, it was not a birthday party. It was the annual Christmas party and gift giving program of the Rotary Club of Grace Park District 3800, led by president Joseph Claros and past president Eric Cruz.
The Adopt a Grade School project, Cruz‘s brainchild, started six years ago at Andres Bonifacio Elementary School (ABES) in Sangandaan, Caloocan City. Cruz and his team handpicked the poorest pupils and made them undertake a physical exam to single out the malnourished ones. These children, then in grade one, got a daily supply of snacks and lunch fare from Cruz‘s group.
Monthly checkups made sure the children were free from disease. Water supply was also installed for sanitary purposes. The efforts went on for six years and its results are reaping rich rewards, now that the children are in grade six and ready for high school.
The project also covered the teachers. Cruz‘s team gave them a training program that improved their skills in handling Math, English and Science classes. Today, the children are again banking on Cruz’s help to defray the cost of their entrance exam them at Caloocan Science High School. He even bought them review materials to prepare them for the exam. Cruz also promised to extend financial help to those who passed the exams.
Former principal Carolina named the program Project Eric for Educate the mind, Rescue the health, Integrate Values and Prepare the Children of Tomorrow.