Butuan City in the northern region of Agusan del Norte, on Mindanao island in the Philippines. It is one of the poorest 20 regions in a poor country. We are working in the two poorest communities in Butuan where each and every family lives beneath the poverty threshold. In the Philippines the poverty line for a family of 6 is US$ 179 per month. The majority of our families make less than a third of that.
For these families it is a challenge to feed their children every day. Many of these children are malnourished and it is not unusual for some children to receive only one small meal a day. One mother talks about how she encourages her children to drink a lot of water so that their stomachs will feel filled.
There is universal public education in the Philippines so it would seem that scholarship help wouldn’t be necessary. However, there are costs associated with the “free” public education. There are registration costs, required uniforms, a need for shoes, transportation, and school supplies like pencils and notebooks.
Additionally meals aren’t provided in school. It is not unusual for children to miss school because they are too hungry to attend. Teachers will also tell you that children with empty stomachs find it very hard to pay attention and succeed at their lessons.
