PROJECT
P.O.P. is a platform for those who choose to seek change in the world around us. The mission of the POP foundation is to share a dream that is common to all of us. The dream is to provide assistance to the disadvantaged through outreach projects. We offer clothing, educational teaching aids, sustainable living practices, community awareness programs.
PINAMANCULAN
Loida .M .Cuenca will be managing the distribution of donations received for the village.
Currently I am involved in supplying teaching aids and clothing to a village in the Philippines situated in the southern Island of Mindanao. The village is called Pinamanculan which is on the outskirts of a city called Butuan.
In late December 2012, my partner and I visited a small village in the Philippines in which she had grown up. I caught a domestic flight from Manila to a small country town called Butuan which is situated in the southern island of Mindanao.
Arnel Cuenca is a village elder and coordinator of village affairs and policies.
It is the wet season there at this time of year which lasts for about 3 to 4 months. Throughout these months villagers experience heavy down pour on a regular basis.
This is the main road on the way to the village which is situated about 300m away.
The village is situated on the outskirts of Butuan and the village name is called Pinamanculan. The villagers’ harvest their fruits and vegetables and cultivate their recourses via the natural environment.
Regardless of rainfall, village life must still go on as normal. There are no shops, supermarkets or other conveniences to make life simpler.
Villagers make use of the basic resources for their sustainability. They pump their own water and cultivate their own rice fields.
This is the village ‘motto’. This is the first sign you will see before entering Pinamanculan school centre, which is about 200m away.
The sign reads, 'A Child Friendly Barangay'.
Spending a few days in the village, the elders where concerned for their children’s education and the resources available to them. I was fortunate to speak with the village elders and school administrators regarding this issue of lack.
Pinamanculan elementary and secondary school has about 600 students in which students also travel from nearby villages. It also has a prep division.
The only computer and library in the secondary school.
The school is grossly under resourced and the facility is always in need of repair. Across elementary and secondary there is only one computer for all the students and staff and the school library has only about fifty books.
The beauty of these villagers, even though their village can do with a lot of outside aid, their main concern is for the education of their children. Just like anywhere else in the world.
This is an elementary grade classroom.
Our main mission is to bring resources to their education system so that the children may have the same advantages as others in the world. I would also like to support the wonderful teaching staff for their commitment to education considering there working conditions.
A classroom for about 40+ students and teacher.
The village requirements are many.
- Elementary and Secondary School
- Class room flooring.
- Window repairs
- Teaching aids, computers.
- Student consumables. Sporting equipment.
- Build a library for both Elementary and Secondary schools.
- Educational toys for Kinder and Prep.
For the villagers;
- Keeping in mind the climate is tropical . Clothing, footwear, caps. Cooking equipment e.g
- Pots, pans and bowls. No electrical appliances
We are looking for schools to donate appropriate primary school reader books and sporting equipment for both primary and secondary . Also build a library for the secondary students. Computers are also a necessity for students learning. Consumables such as exercise books, colour pencils, colouring books, erasers, pencil sharpener, etc. Prep level toys such as blocks etc.
The smallest donation will make a huge positive change in the student’s experience at Pinamanculan school.
Thank you for your concern.
Contact me anytime on:
Mob: 0414 503 069
Phone: 03 9269 1004
Email: projectoneworld@gmail.com
Charles Muscat.
Teacher NMIT
Electrotechnology/Renewable Energy.