Alabang school principal finds private sector aid for children beneficiary
November 4, 2015 | 1:56am
MANILA, Philippines — Dr. Antonio Rocha, Principal of Alabang Elementary School (AES), walks into the institution with more than 6,000 kids every morning, five times a week, 10 months each year. In Muntinlupa’s pioneering SPED (Special Education) public school, the demands are different, especially with a mixed demographic of kindergarten, grade school, and SPED students belonging to either the special or the gifted category.
“Most of the kids enrolled here are from the immediate community — with the exception of SPED kids who come all the way from Bicutan, Parañaque, and even Laguna. For us and the teaching staff, no two days are the same— everyday we face different challenges brought about by the unique circumstances of the school children. With the limited resources of some of our students, we figured that one of the best ways to help provide for them is by collaborating with our local stakeholders,” says Dr. Rocha.
Public-Private collaboration
Among Alabang Elementary School’s longstanding corporate partners is Convergys Philippines, particularly its Alabang sites. Over the last four years, Convergys Alabang has been supporting a feeding program for the school, and for the last two years, also a year-end Christmas activity for the students. It started with supporting students in the SPED program, and has expanded to include the school’s other students over the years.
This year, three Convergys Alabang sites have decided to sustain their partnership with Alabang Elementary School through their project called “Give a Bag of Hope.” Activated and enabled by employee contributions, the campaign seeks to address the lack of school supplies of public school students by distributing backpacks complete with all the necessary items at the start of the school year. In just two months, Convergys Alabang has already donated and distributed 1,000 bags of hope to the school’s Grade 1 pupils.
“Dire poverty is a problem for most kids: having no money for transportation, food, and even school supplies — but this problem is already being alleviated because of projects like “Give a Bag of Hope.” The hurdles are being replaced by positivity. Our kids have no reason not to go to school anymore because they already have what they need, and many of them also benefit from the free feeding program. All these support mechanisms inspire and strengthen them to do well in school,” added Dr. Rocha.
A system of collaboration has been instituted between Convergys and AES in order to make short and mid-term plans work best for the students. While Convergys helps the pupils with their school supplies, a partnership with the Philippine Red Cross also ensures that children who are severely malnourished are also fed one complete meal a day.
“We have a nice system in place to support students. We just have to be strategic — catering to the kids in need, while maintaining good classroom standards, as every school should,” adds Dr. Rocha.
Convergys Alabang employee volunteers distribute 1,000 "Bags of Hope" to Grade 1 Alabang Elementary School studentsHope!
During the turnover ceremony of the bags of hope last July, kids from AES presented a short dance number. Of about 20 young performers clad in red sandos and bandanas, two were more than glad to share their wholehearted ambitions.
Arylle and John Philip are both Grade 1 students enrolled in the SPED program for gifted children. The former wants to become an accountant like her aunt, while the latter wants to become a teacher. The two actually enjoy Math, Science, and English, and they relish the lessons everyday, thinking nothing could ever stop them from reaching their dreams.
Everyday they walk into the school with about 6,000 other kids, for five times a week, 10 months in a year. They have no reason not to go to school. Equipped with what they need with the help of partners like Convergys employees, they can continue to study and hope for a bright future.
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