A foundation for children, conceived by children

Sometimes, I find myself thinking that what makes my life very different from that of my househelp’s is that somewhere back in time, my grandparents received a good education and hers didn’t. And the cycle continued in the generation after our grandparents  the educated made education more accessible to their offspring, education that was better than their own. Those with little or no education had no means to send their children to better schools, or even to pre-school, and so the status quo prevailed. Pre-school learning is the foundation of formal education. But for every 10 children aged three to five years, only six have access to a pre-school education, according to UNICEF Philippines. Chances are, househelp and other blue-collar workers have not had pre-school education  the springboard to a better future.

There is nothing wrong with being a househelp, but if it were one’s lot rather than one’s choice, then it is a state that must be addressed.

This is the reality we live in today. The sad truth of the matter is that quality pre-school education is not accessible to everyone. At this early learning stage, less-fortunate children are already a step behind their peers, and will spend a lifetime compensating. Fortunately, for those of us who have experienced a fulfilling pre-school life, there is something we can do to help.

Empowering Brilliant Minds Foundation (EBM), together with Aklat, Gabay, Aruga Tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa (AGAPP), whose main proponent is presidential sister Pinky Aquino-Abellada, and The British School Manila, has created Kaagapay sa Silid (Partner in School-Building), a charity project offering quality pre-school education to less-fortunate children by building classrooms and libraries in the poorest public schools throughout the country. With the proper resources, Kaagapay sa Silid (Partner in School-Building) aims to hone minds at their most trainable stage by providing infrastructure, teacher training and a sustainable curriculum.

EBM Youth Council treasurer Francesca Vera handing over the first check donation to AGAPP, represented by founder and president Pinky Abellada.

Empowering Brilliant Minds is a non-stock, non-profit SEC-registered foundation whose mission is to help raise both awareness, and funds, to build pre-school classrooms in Filipino public schools anywhere they are needed in the Philippines. EBM is the brainchild of students from the British School Manila, led by zealous 17-year-old Anton Vera. During the launching of EBM last Dec. 10, Anton pointed out that it was Human Rights Day, and said it was every child’s right to have access to pre-school education.

The concept for Empowering Brilliant Minds wasn’t born in an office, a boardroom or a business lunch; it was born at the breakfast table of the Vera family one morning in June. On the way home from Church that morning, the Vera children (Anton, Francesca, Miguel and Paolo) had seen some very young street children, some as young as three years old, and talked about what kind of future they would face, one very different from their own. They decided to find some way of changing children’s lives and securing a better future for them. The dream saw fruition when Anton’s parents namely lawyer Bobet Vera and his wife Ruthy put the dream into action by partnering with AGAPP and funding the first two classrooms in Aniban Central School in Bacoor, Cavite.

Moving forward in 2012, Empowering Brilliant Minds Foundation aims to build one classroom a month and beyond that, together with AGAPP and The British School Manila they will be launching two new projects–Kaagapay sa Guro (Partners in Teacher Training) and Kaagapay sa Paghubog (Partners in Child Development) by May next year. This is because they understand fully the importance of creating a long-term sustainable program that will enrich students beyond the gift of infrastructure. These programs involve the participation of students from the British School Manila sharing their knowledge of academic subjects such as Math, Science and Reading.

During EBM’s launching, the first two classrooms were turned over to the school principal, Gloria Mojica. A check of P2,550,000 was also given to AGAPP from donations from the Calata Corp., Unilab Foundation, CATS Motors, Inc., Furnitalia, RCBC, Lee Jeans, Citisec Online and SMART Communications.

(From left) Betsy Westendorp and Ruthy Vera with Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber and wife Gracita.

The event featured an auction to help generate more funds. The auction featured beautiful jewelry, 19th-century art pieces and paintings by National Artist Arturo Luz, and renowned artists Betsy Westendorp, Bernard Pacquing and Impy Pilapil. Over P1 million was raised that night, in addition to the P2.5 million turned over to AGAPP.

What made the launch unique was that the well-heeled audience that night included students from the British School, in their school uniforms. They were conscious of how blessed they are in life as they were aware that they, too, must help lift the fog of ignorance that lingers around other children not as blessed as they are.

Also present in the EBM launching were US Ambassador Harry Thomas, Jr., Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber, Taguig Rep. Freddie Tinga and wife Kaye, Aurora Rep. Sonny Angara and wife Tootsy and top businessmen who generously participated in raising funds for the project.

(From left) Ms. Dawn McLary, US Ambassador Harry Thomas, Jr. with EBM Foundation president Ruthy Vera and chairman lawyer Bobet Vera.

The night was capped off by beautiful serenades by world-class performers Robert Seña and Isay Alvarez with the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra.

(You may e-mail me at [email protected])

(From left) Viel Dee, Imelda Fabian, Gloria Mojica, Pinky Abellada and lawyer Bobet Vera.