OFWs urged to help fund education of poor students

Filipinos, organizations, and businesses in the CNMI are once again urged to help fund the education of children of less fortunate former overseas Filipino workers under the Philippine government’s Tuloy Aral Program for School Year 2009-2010.

“Your $100 can go a long way in educating these children for one year or more,” said Philippine labor attaché to the CNMI Joan Lourdes Lavilla.

The amount helps cover the recipient students’ expenses such as books, school supplies, materials for projects, transportation, authorized school contributions, and allowance for the whole school year.

The Tuloy-Aral Project, launched in December 2004, assists children of less fortunate former OFWs, as well as other poor and needy elementary and high school children.

Under the program, individual, group or corporate sponsors are asked to provide US$100 support per year to a child-beneficiary to enable him/her to continue his/her elementary or high school education.

But many sponsors continue their donations to students after the first year, making sure that the student graduates in elementary or high school, or both.

Filipinos and groups in the CNMI were the top sponsors of students under the Tuloy Aral Program during SY 2007-2008.

“The level of support of Filipinos in the CNMI is overwhelming,” Lavilla told Saipan Tribune yesterday.

About 52 percent or 107 of the 206 children of less fortunate OFWs received scholarships in SY 2007-2008 under the Tuloy Aral program.

“Filipinos have altruistic and helpful heart. We understand that the economy is down, but considering that it’s only $100 which will be used for one year by the student, it will only be a small sacrifice especially for those who are here who are better off,” Lavilla said.

Schools open in June in the Philippines, and Lavilla said it will be best for donors to start their donations of $100 now.

While the Philippine government expects existing donors to continue helping their beneficiary-students, it is also encouraging new donors to participate.

The Philippine Consulate General, through the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, will be the one to accept donations for the Tuloy Aral Program. These donations will then be sent to the Philippines for the recipients.

Tuloy Aral is a joint project by the Department of Labor and Employment, OWWA, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.