Help a rural elementary school in the Philippines

Hey there,

I'm reaching out to you as a friend and fellow advocate for education. I'm excited to invite you to join me in a fundraising campaign for the local elementary school in my rural hometown in the Philippines. As an immigrant, I strongly believe that every child deserves a chance at quality education. Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty in third-world countries. It all starts with nurturing children's education.

So, how can you contribute to this worthy cause? I am hosting a fundraiser for my birthday to raise funds for laminators, one for each teacher in the school, and a karaoke machine. Every single dollar counts, whether it's $1 or $100.

Here's how your donation will make a lasting impact:

Laminators for Every Classroom: By providing laminators, we can help the teachers protect and extend the lifespan of their educational posters. This is especially crucial for materials displayed outdoors, ensuring they remain effective for a long time.

English Language Learning through Karaoke: In the Philippines, singing is not only a beloved pastime but also an effective tool for learning English. Your contribution towards a karaoke machine will offer an exciting and engaging language learning experience for the students. Through singing English songs, they will improve their pronunciation, vocabulary, and overall language skills while having fun and stepping outside the norm.

A Special Thanks to Past Donors: Some of you have generously supported our cause in the past, and I want to express my heartfelt gratitude. Thanks to your contributions, we were able to provide TVs to each classroom. During my recent visit to the school two months ago, I witnessed firsthand how these TVs have become invaluable resources for both teachers and students. They have transformed the learning experience, enabling visual aids, educational videos, and interactive lessons.

Let's Build on Our Success:

Together, let's build on the impact we have already made. By providing laminators and a karaoke machine, we can take this initiative to new heights and create an even greater positive change for the school.

July 25, 2023 UPDATE:

Any surplus funds from this fundraiser will go to Bahay Aruga.

For those unfamiliar with Bahay Aruga, it's a crucial free halfway house for Pediatric Cancer patients at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila. Many of these young patients come from far-flung provinces across the Philippines, where typical journeys can take anywhere from 1-5 days. They require long-term treatments at PGH, and unfortunately, they often have nowhere to stay during this time, with some even resorting to sleeping on hospital sidewalks due to the lack of accommodations. It's truly disheartening to see them endure such hardships during their already challenging journey.

Your contributions to Bahay Aruga will directly support these young fighters and their families, providing the much-needed support and shelter they deserve. Together, we can alleviate the burden of financial hardship, ensuring that these brave children never have to abandon their crucial treatments.

To further assure you of Bahay Aruga's authenticity and dedication, I've included a photo from my visit to Bahay Aruga in 2018. (Also notice my shorter black hair back then?)

Your contribution, no matter how big or small, will make a difference in the lives of these children.

Thank you for being part of this meaningful journey.

With much gratitude,

Isabel