With the promise of the COVID-19 vaccine, we welcomed 2021 hopeful that we can more actively pursue our work to provide our underserved youth with access to educational opportunities. It is hard to imagine and believe how students, teachers and families have adopted in the last 11 months of some form of virtual learning. And yet, they have. As schools remain closed and had to postpone the programmatic activities supported by UNLAD, we pivoted to provide critical learning support as students, teachers and families continue to navigate this unexpected major turn of events.
In the Philippines…
At the Baruyan Elementary School (BES), the lack of internet connectivity and necessary hardware meant that learning had to be sustained through the physical printing and distribution of educational modules to each of the 400+ students by their 15 teachers. By January, the inadequate government funding for the paper and ink necessary to produce these learning pamphlets threatened the teachers’ ability to distribute complete sets to all the students. Working with BES’ Principal Dulce Ramirez, UNLAD has stepped in to provide supplemental funding and enable every student to receive complete learning materials through the end of this school year.
In Principal Ramirez’ words, “Our heartfelt and sincere gratitude to UNLAD for your great help to our teachers, our students and their families in facilitating the printing of these learning modules”.
Starting this month, six students – one each from grades 1 through 6 - have been selected by their home teachers to become UNLAD scholars. The scholarship will cover the cost of school supplies and other necessary items that are not provided by the public school system. The scholars were selected based on financial need, the students’ academic performance, and the parents’ support.
The father of one of the scholars said, “This is a major help to my son’s education. Please expect me to be present to guide him in his studies. Your assistance so that my son can finish school is a big thing”. The mother of a 3rd grader said, “To the best of my ability I will assist my child in her studies and will work with the teachers in guiding my child”.
In the USA…
One of our scholars in Charlottesville, a first-generation Latina 9th grader said, “The UNLAD scholarship has helped me get the supplies I need for school without making my mom too worried about the expenses. The scholarship has also helped me get sports equipment so I can practice and try out for the sports team that I am hoping to join”.
The UNLAD board, comprised of Allen, Terry, Alexandra and Philip de Guzman met to review our mission and set our goals for 2021. We reconfirmed and renewed our commitment to provide our underserved youth with access to educational opportunities. One important lesson we learned in 2020, under COVID conditions, is how important it is to maintain a bias for action, even as we needed to adjust our work during the prolonged crisis.
Our goals for 2021 include:
Increasing scholarship opportunities based on financial need and academic performance and potential. In the US, focus will be for first-generation or under-represented minorities.
Partnering with school administrators in providing programmatic funding support.
Continuing to partner with Save the Children Philippines to increase scale and reach.
Identifying opportunities to help youth develop skills and become employable by age 18.
Engaging and stewarding donors and like-minded partners through regular communications and updates.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions. We’re always eager to hear from you and ever-grateful for your interest and support.
Thank you, maraming salamat po!
Terry and Allen de Guzman
