#ucijojo

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Would you like to give the GIFT of education? Project Pearls is committed to assisting Filipino children dream big for their children and give them a poverty-free future. What is extraordinary is that children from Pre-K until college have the chance to receive an education scholarship! This year, 8 college graduates from the Ulingan in Tondo, Manila completed their college studies and will now use their education to dream outside their previous future charcoal factory worker. These college graduates are also using their education to give back and will be tutoring/mentoring the smaller children in the program.

Please consider this holiday season the gift of education and become a sponsor of a student in need. Below is a table of how much USD it takes for each student and what those precious dollars will provide. 

Pre-School (Nursery scholars at Project PEARLS Learning Center in  Bulacan) $130 USD or PHP 5500

Elementary School (Kindergarten to Grade 6)  $225 USD or PHP 10,000 

Middle School & High School (Grade 7 to 4th Year High School)  $280 USD or PHP 12,000

SCHOLARS WILL GET: 

PRE-SCHOOL • School supplies: 1 set of school uniform, pair of shoes, 2 pairs of socks, backpack, notebook, pencils, crayons • Scholarship certificate • School ID • Daily Breakfast (Early Childhood Education and Nourishment Program)* • Food for Learning Program ** 

ELEMENTARY • School supplies: 1 set of uniform, pair of shoes, 2 pair of  socks, backpack, school supplies as required by their class advisor • Scholarship certificate • Food for Learning Program ** • Vouchers for additional school supplies needed for school projects • Opportunity for special field trips for top scholars 

MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL: • School supplies: 1 set of uniform, pair of shoes, 2 pair of  socks, backpack, school supplies as required by their class advisor • Scholarship certificate • Food for Learning Program ** • Vouchers for additional school supplies needed for school projects • Opportunity for special field trips for top scholars 

SPONSORS WILL GET: • Donation receipt • Certificate of gratitude for sponsorship to include scholar’s name and photo • Quarterly updates of scholar’s school standing; letter and photos from scholars • Opportunity to write/email and build mentoring relationship with their scholars -

 See more at: http://www.projectpearls.org/scholarship/#sthash.3gy2aLDS.dpuf - See more at: http://www.projectpearls.org/scholarship/#sthash.XLGdmIir.dpuf

-Joanne

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The Philippines' Cemetery Slums | VICE | United States

VICE Japan visited a massive slum on the outskirts of Manila where an estimated 6,000 people currently live and work amid graves and human bones.

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released the latest report on the country’s official poverty statistics in March 2015. One of their reports included subsistence poverty rates for the first semester of 2014.

Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) sets the minimum income needed to meet basic food and nutritional requirements called the food threshold. Food threshold also measure extreme or subsistence poverty. Filipino families living in extreme poverty (subsistence incidence) was estimated at 7.6 percent during the first semester of 2014.

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/pressreleases/2015/PSA-20150306-SS2-01_poverty.asp

It is estimated that a family of five would need an average of 6125 PHP(Philippine Pesos) a month to meet basic food requirements. That is about $130.05 in USD(US Dollars). Poverty threshold holds the same concept but involves basic non-food items such as clothing, housing, transportation, health & education expenses. For an additional 2653 PHP (or $56.33USD), these basic necessities would also be covered alongside food.

Statistics bring the facts to reality but visual documentation delivers reality to our hearts. Open your hearts and educate yourself on the reality of poverty facing Filipinos everyday in the year 2015.

Please take the time and watch VICE Japan’s documentary titled Philippines’ Cemetery Slums. Navotas Cemetery evolved into its own community when Filipinos from the provinces needed a rent-free place near Manila to escape from poverty with the promise of jobs. The cemetery services the poor in two ways: for the dead and as a slum for the living. Due to the Philippines’ fragile social infrastructure (unable to support its own citizens), Navotas has become a product of the country’s rapid economic growth. It is inspiring how in the face of extreme poverty, Navotas exemplifies humanity’s will to survive and carry on everyday life with a smile and song.

-Joanne