Two NGOs that really exist

Upon P-Noy’s assumption of office in 2010, presidential sister Pinky Aquino Abellada conceptualized the  Aruga Tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa (books, teacher training, feeding, livelihood and parenting support programs towards a better quality of life and hope) or AGAPP Foundation.  It was Pinky’s way of assisting her brother in the best way she knew how, through a meaningful educational measure.  Formally incorporated on August 1, 2010 and drawing special meaning from the significance of the day, President Cory’s first death anniversary,  AGAPP envisioned building classrooms that our public schools never have enough of. 

But the AGAPP classrooms are special in many ways. These were targeted to be preschool classrooms in clear support of the mandate of the Department of Education and Br. Armin Luistro FSC to provide mandatory preschool education to all children.  One can easily spot them in the public school grounds because they are painted in bright and attractive colors.  There are typically two classrooms with an inviting reading nook with carefully selected picture books for K-3 readers, learning materials and manipulatives, and a comfort room.

The focus on preschools clearly emanates from two items: the ten-point Basic Reform Agenda of the Aquino administration — universal preschooling for all,  â€œAll public school children (and all public schools) will have a full year of preschooling as their introduction to formal schooling by 2016”  and the critical Every Child a Reader program, â€œBy the end of my administration, every child must be a reader by Grade 1.”  Grade 3 used to be the old cutoff, but with the introduction of the mandatory preschool level starting the 2011-2012 school year, Grade 1 is now the target grade level. 

That AGAPP is devoted exclusively to preschools  is a welcome development as it acknowledges the importance of preparing children better for the demands of formal schooling. It  is a tremendous boost to the public school educational system (and DepEd’s limited resources) when a nongovernment organization tailors its program for a specific target grade level and in a sense “adopts” it by concentrating all its efforts to support, strengthen, and enhance the grade level curriculum. 

Pinky gives the latest update with understandable pride — as of today, 601 classrooms have been built nationwide.   â€œAn average of one classroom in less than two days,” is a record accomplishment considering that the initial modest goal was 100 a year.  It looks like AGAPP’s target of 1000 classrooms by 2016 will easily be met, in fact overshot.  There has not been a shortage of donors willing to build classrooms costing from P700,000 to P1 million.  Pinky reports that Cebu has had the most projects because of the numerous donors from there.

This attention to the preschooler has gained more impetus with the launch on July 16, National Children’s Book Day, of Save the Children’s First Read Program. Save the Children is a familiar foundation in 120 countries all over the world and is known for its paramount aim of protecting children’s rights.  “We save children’s lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfill their potential,” the foundation’s reason for being, was reiterated by Save the Children in the Philippines country director Anna Lindenfors.

First Read has become a necessary adjunct program because statistics show that access to early childhood care and development programs is only available to around 33% of Filipino children.  Viewed with the education statistics on poor completion rates, high dropouts in grades one and two, an increasing number of struggling readers,  it becomes imperative to nurture the development of children way before school age.

 The goal of First Read is to boost the development of children from childbirth to 4 years in 123 barangays in eight cities and municipalities in Metro Manila — Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Taguig, Pateros — and in south central Mindanao, South Cotabato and Sarangani Province.  During the duration of the three-year project which enjoys generous financial support from the UK-based Prudence Foundation and PRU Life UK Philippines, it aims to reach 96,924 direct beneficiaries composed of 29,520 children and 67,404 adults.

 First Read will work directly with parents to provide them with the knowledge, the skills, and even with the books and toys that they themselves will not be able to access, much less purchase for their preschoolers’ needs.  It is more responsible and committed parent education with strong community support which will have a direct impact on preparing their children for literacy and numeracy skills.  It will work closely with the Early Childhood Care and Development Council, a government agency under the supervision of the Department of Education.

 Another government agency partnering with First Read in this initiative is the National Book Development Board and a first joint effort is scheduled in August in Valenzuela, also to celebrate Linggo ng Wika.

 In his remarks at the launch of the First Read program, British Embassy charge d’ affaires Trevor Lewis concluded with a quote from the most famous author of all time, William Shakespeare:  “Ignorance is the curse of God; knowledge is the wing wherewith we fly to heaven” (Henry VI).  

He also voiced out a timely plea shared by all, “Let’s continue to work together to give Filipino children the wings that they need to take them on their own personal journeys to happiness, prosperity and success. Let’s make the ability to read the air beneath those wings.”

 When one thinks of the scandalous and unconscionable alleged P10-billion pork barrel donations (yes, the people’s money) to nonexisting foundations, the P700,000 needed for an AKAPP classroom structure sounds like a pittance.  And the sheer number of  First Read communities that can be supported with a “measly” P1 billion from that bottomless pork barrel fund is staggering.  Why do genuine working foundations have it so tough?

For more info, please contact  AGAPP: http://www.agapp.phagapp.aug1@gmail.com  or call 3526478; First Read/Save the Children:  @PHSaveChildren on Twitter or call 8532142/8513702/8549973/8514494

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Email: elfrencruz@gmail.com