Mobile science lab to improve education in public schools

MANILA, Philippines - Public school students in rural areas will soon learn about scientific concepts in a vehicle borne out of faith and a vision to improve the quality of education in the country.

 Proponents of the “JeepNeed” project – which would involve redesigning a jeepney into a mobile science learning lab — successfully raised $8,000 needed to pursue their initiative, generating funds even from strangers who backed their advocacy.

 “People organized their groups to help get us to the goal and they didn’t even know us,” Shaina Tantuico, one of the project proponents, told The STAR.

 “It (fund-raising) increased our faith in our project after being acknowledged by so many...There are those who...are willing to invest in something new...It also helped us see how people want to do something good for the sake of doing it.”

JeepNeed was conceptualized by Tantuico and her friend Erika Pineda, who believe that all sectors can work together to build a sustainable educational system. They chose to focus on science since it can integrate other disciplines and has a direct connection to livelihood.

“JeepNeed” sought pledges via Kickstarter (www.kickstarter.com), which supports creative projects by serving as a platform for informing people about them. Every project submitted to Kickstarter has a funding goal and a time limit set by the project proponents.

If a project has met or surpassed its goal, all credit cards of those who pledged amounts are charged and the funds go to the proponent. If a project fails to meet its target, all pledges are canceled.

Tantuico and Pineda had until Nov. 14 to raise $8,000 for JeepNeed. They managed to raise $9,420 from 164 backers from countries like the US, Saudi Arabia, and the Philippines.

 “I think (the pledges came) from a genuine desire to be a part of the project...People saw that we were thinking about this critically and that this wasn’t just a project out of whim,” Tantuico said.

 Those who invested in the JeepNeed will have their names or artwork in the mobile science learning lab.

 Those who gave $7 or more will get two photos of JeepNeed via e-mail and will be recognized in the project’s website. Investors who contributed $15 or more will have their names on the jeepney bumper.

Those who gave $25 or more will receive a personal letter from the project proponents. Investors who shelled out $50 or more will have their caricature on the side of the JeepNeed.

People who pledged $100 or more will be given a 1 x 1 space where they can place their art or design. Those who pledged $250 or more will be given the chance to design a part of a jeep and will receive a print they can display in their living rooms.

Investors who gave $500 or more will be allowed to design the JeepNeed ceiling and will receive a copy of the artwork. Another possible reward is that a 2 x 3 side of the JeepNeed will be designed in their honor.

For those who gave $3,000 or more, their names will be sewn on the driver’s seat and will be given five prints.

Interestingly, 23 of the 164 backers chose not to avail of any of the rewards.

 “We can say that the reward wasn’t the sole incentive. The sweetest request we received was to put the name of the backer’s soon-to-be son on the bumper, because the donation was made in the name of his son’s future,” Tantuico said.

 She said a total of 1,200 students from 10 rural public high schools would benefit from JeepNeed. The vehicle, which may be completed by the end of January, will start providing service to students in school year 2011.

 “We are in the process of purchasing our desired technology, and speaking to engineers about the design, and sourcing our materials. We are trying to locally source almost every piece of it,” Tantuico said.

 The JeepNeed, which will run on environment-friendly vegetable oil, will contain 10 laptops, a projector, basic science materials and an Internet connection. The project will also entail the hiring of parents and teachers who will help facilitate the weekly science classes.

 Tantuico said she is grateful to their investors, whom she said, allowed them to reach out to the world about their work.

 “We are awed by the faith and encouraged by it. We will document everything, and be very responsible in handling your investments,” she said.