9th Avenue kids give boats to Samar fishermen

MANILA, Philippines - Each year, 9th Avenue School makes it a point to do something meaningful for Family Day.

This year, its founding members aimed to be just a little more special.

In a brainstorming session, Marilou Zalamea-Acero, Ina Syquia, and Tiffany Yu decided to partner with non-government organization Star of Samar whose main goal is to supply Samar fishermen with fiberglass fishing boats. These fishermen had previously lost their primary source of income when Typhoon Yolanda struck in 2013.

“Kids really enjoy painting. My uncle is the one who does the boats himself. He told us about the boats a long time ago and we just thought of tying up with him,” Syquia said. “We thought this was a good way for the children to really be involved in the activity and to appreciate the fishermen as part of the community.”

On Feb. 14, parents, teachers and the students gathered at Star of Samar’s warehouse in Taguig City to begin painting the boats before they are brought to Samar. The endeavor was titled “You’ve Got Me Hooked.”

“I think it’s good for the kids to be exposed to this early – not just by knowing about it but actually doing something concrete in helping the people who were affected by the typhoon,” said Yasmin Guggenheimer, mother of four-year-old twins Maya and Zoe.

Karen Murphy, five-year-old Ava’s mom, shares Guggenheimer’s thoughts. “It’s good for my daughter to learn about other people who need help, to give back to the community, and to know that other people work hard to make a living.”

9th Avenue School was able to raise P340,000 from the overwhelming support and generosity of parents, organizations and individuals. As a result, the school will be able to send 17 boats to Samarn fishermen who will greatly benefit from them.

“We wanted to give back to our community in a way that continuity would be feasible. We didn’t simply want to donate goods because the help ends once the families consume them. Having us decorate these bangkas allowed for continuity. We put pieces of ourselves into this project and now we’re giving it to the fishermen. Their job now is to continue doing what they love to do — not just for their families, but their entire community as well,” Yu said.

9th Avenue School was founded in 2012. It accepts children aged 1.5 to five years old. The goal of its founding members and educators is simple: to develop a lifelong love for learning in every child through developmentally appropriate practices.

To learn more about 9th Avenue School and its programs, call 8561478 or (0917) 801-PLAY (7529). You can also get in touch via email at [email protected]. It is located at 9th Ave., corner 28th St., Bonifacio Global City.

For more information on Star of Samar, visit http://www.healthfuturesfoundation.com/sagip-samar/tindog-samar-boats/