Philippines
Helping reduce hunger and sustaining education during the COVID-19 pandemic
Aspen Philippines has been participating in the 10-year goals for Mandela Day since 2019.
This year, the focus is to reduce hunger in families through the provision of nutritious meals. In participation with the Embassy of South Africa in the Philippines and Project PEARLS, we donated 500 bags of rice, Kwell Shampoo and 3 000 face shields for families in the impoverished areas of Tondo, Manila.
Project PEARLS’ mission is to help the poorest of the poor children in the Philippines focusing on advocating Peace, Education, Aspiration, Respect, Love and Smiles.
On 15 July 2021, Aspen, together with South Africa Ambassador to the Philippines, HE Ms. Bratinah Radebe-Netshitenzhe and her staff, handed over donations to representatives of Project PEARLS at their headquarters.
The beneficiary community from Tondo, Manila gratefully accepted Aspen Philippines’ donations through Project PEARLS oN Mandela Day - 18 July 2021.
Aspen Philippines has also continued to follow through on our initiative to assist learners in selected public elementary schools with modular learning experiences.
The limitations imposed as a result of COVID-19 have unfortunately not improved in the Philippines since the introduction of lockdown in March 2020. As such the local Department of Education activated distance learning options such as online learning and modular learning for the students. With most public schools and students not able to adapt technologically due to limited resources and support, they turned to modular learning in which learning kits and modules are printed, reproduced, and distributed to students.
In sustaining our 2020 Mandela Day efforts, we donated 110,000 sheets of bonded paper as well as 30ml Kwell shampoo bottles to 9 elementary public schools in Malolos, Bulacan to benefit some 2,457 learners. The local government of Bulacan, its representatives, and volunteers provided the venue for the distribution of the donations which were received by each school’s principal and school heads.
