Last week, I returned to the war-torn city of Marawi with our local partners, Save the Children, Philippines (STC-RP). The last time we were there was in January, 2020, just before the world shut down from COVID-19.
Following that trip, UNLAD has been working with STC-RP in its efforts to restore a sense of normalcy to the displaced school children. Beyond the major infrastructure need to rebuild schools, the STC-RP team’s research identified the need to rebuild trust, renewed respect for the community’s culture and traditions, and a sustainable plan to support implementation.
In our June newsletter, I shared with you our work on Safe Schools for the Future. We focused on a small community, Marantao, where the Ranaranao Elementary School was located, housing 143 students K-6. I sat down with the Principal and her teachers: only three were funded by the government; she had to reallocate some of her budget to afford three more additional teachers. We discussed their challenges and aspirations. Both lists were long.
Pressed hard, as to what rises to the level of critical need, their voices were united: Literacy! The impact of the pandemic to the students’ ability to read and write is alarming. I shared with them the story of our Bayanihan Pabasa Program (Community Literacy Program) to deal with the drop of literacy in the Baruyan Elementary School: the tutoring program we ran for the 120 slow readers/writers (see this newsletter ). They were excited to consider and implement something similar to their students. I encouraged them to do so, given that their population is relatively much smaller. We are ready to support this literacy program.
The pictures here belie the difficulties these students and teachers feel everyday when they walk into the classroom. The students gave an impromptu performance for us, their guests, dancing and singing, performing as any normal happy kid would do.
They are inspiring.
While they are wanting of many infrastructure needs considered basic to any school: projectors, laptops, a deep well for a stable water supply, classrooms, toilets, and teachers - for now, we will endeavor to get all these smart and hopeful students reading and writing at their grade levels, if not beyond!
Footnote - Background: The entire region was dessimated during a five- month long armed conflict in 2017, known as the “siege of Marawi”, a battle between between the Philippine government security forces and militants affiliated with the Islamic State (IS), including the Maute and Abu Sayyaf Salafi jihadist groups. The battle also became the longest urban battle in the modern history of the Philippines. (source: Wikipedia)