NMI now has 84 Tuloy-Aral recipients

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration has now hit a record of 84 individuals and groups in the CNMI who have come forward for this year’s edition of the OWWA Tuloy-Aral Project. Last month, the number was at 68.

Last year, the Tuloy Aral Project in the CNMI ranked No. 1 among OWWA offices in the world after it managed to recruit just 31 foster parents. Right now, there is no word yet from the OWWA head office in the Philippines if the CNMI is once again leading the race for garnering the most foster children among other OWWA posts in the world.

In her breakdown of program beneficiaries in the Philippines, OWWA welfare officer Mary Dait said there are 59 children beneficiaries from the National Capital Region, five from the Cordillera Administrative Region, two from Region 1, three from Region 2, seven from Region 6, four from Region 7, one from Region 8, and three from Caraga province.

The Tuloy Aral Project is an OWWA project not only in the CNMI but also in other parts of the world where there are OWWA offices. It aims to help children of former overseas Filipino workers and other needy children in the Philippines fulfill their dream of continuing their education. With the money, the children will be provided school necessities such as notebooks, pens, pads, bags, and books, among others.

Dait said that the Tan Holdings Employees Volunteers Group comprises the most number of donors for this school year, with at least 35 members sponsoring less fortunate children in their elementary education. There are other Tan Holdings employees who are not members of the volunteer group who are also supporting the project by adopting foster children by themselves.

Dait said that, through the $100 sponsorship, the education of the beneficiaries would be smoother and more rewarding. This year, her office is looking at increasing the number of student recipients to 100.

“We’d like to thank the sponsors for their generosity,” said Dait, adding that she is commending the assistance of volunteers and OWWA-OFW Support Group officers Dang Bernabe and Dr. Gabe De Guzman for “really working hard to meet our target of 100 this year.”

She said that her office is still open to those who want to extend their assistance and help to impoverished children in the Philippines. There are no requirements to extend help to the students, said Dait. When an individual has expressed his interest in helping out, the CNMI OWWA office calls the Manila Office so that it could allot a recipient from the Philippines. The OWWA office will then notify the CNMI office to confirm the sponsorship.

OWWA head administrator Marianito D. Roque earlier said in a letter to prospective sponsors that OWWA launched the project in December 2004 for the schoolchildren to continue their elementary and high school education in the Philippines.

“The education of our youth being a responsibility of Filipinos here and abroad, may I appeal on our sense of social responsibility as we work together in laying down the foundation of our country’s future,” Roque said.

She said that for only $100, donors could be “foster parents of Tuloy-Aral Kids” for one school year.

For more information on how to extend assistance, donors can visit the OWWA office located at the ground floor of the Nauru Building in Susupe.