NBS Foundation donates 65,000 study kits

MANILA, Philippines - When Merriam Fajardo found out that her school was about to be given 555 study kits for the use of their students, she was overcome with emotion. After all, Bolo Elementary School is a newly opened school in Iloilo and they simply did not have enough books and supplies for all the students.

“Only one out of three students has a book,” she says. “Sometimes it’s only the teacher who has access to one. It’s an unfortunate thing because many of our students are exceptionally diligent. They even spend their free time studying their lessons.”

Bolo Elementary School is one of several schools in the country that has been chosen as a beneficiary of National Book Store Foundation, Inc.’s (NBSFI) campaign to make education more accessible.

Dubbed “Project Aral” — with partners ABS-CBN Broadcasting, ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc., Black Pencil Project, Canon Philippines, Cartwheel Foundation, KIDS Foundation, Monde Nissin’s Snitch, and Pizza Hut Philippines — aims to raise school supplies to be given to primary school students with the help of National Book Store’s loyal and generous patrons.

NBSFI chairman Trina Licauco-Alindogan says the idea for the project was born from a trip to a school in an Aeta resettlement in Antique. “We went there to donate books to the children. I remember that the kids were so happy to receive them. But when we asked them what else they wanted to get during our next visit, their chieftain asked for a pencil sharpener! He told us that they had only one sharpener that was being used by the 100 students enrolled in the school. We were so taken aback by that. We didn’t have any supplies with us at that time, but it triggered an idea to start raising school supplies for the children,” she narrates.

It was therefore a pleasant surprise for NBSFI when they received such an overwhelming response from National Book Store customers. Licauco-Alindogan says “it is amazing how generous everyone has been. We only prepared an initial allocation of 15,000 study kits. But with the unbelievable support that we received from everyone, we were able to collect a total of 65,000 kits! And from the kits that we have already distributed, we have only received positive reactions from the children. Some of them jump up and down and some were crying. They get really excited when their teachers announce that they will have something to use for school.”

Thanks to the success of the initiative, Project Aral will become a yearly undertaking. “Everyone at National Book Store and the Foundation is so amazed at the overwhelming response of our patrons. Through them, we have been able to help make education accessible to children who need it most. Hopefully, we will continue to receive their unwavering and generous support for this worthwhile project,” she says.

 “I am so thankful to God for National Book Store Foundation and all its supporters,” Fajardo declares. “Their initiatives have made a difference in the lives of the schools and their communities. Now learning can be a more fulfilling experience for all of us, not just them, because we also get joy from seeing our students grow and develop with big smiles on their faces.”

National Book Store Foundation may be reached 6318061 loc. 115 or e-mail nbsfi@nationalboosktore.com.ph.