Alalay mo sa Eskwela ko: A Back-to-School Campaign by SOS Children's Village

It's back-to-school season once more. Upon reading this, you might have already enrolled your children in their respective schools or they might have started attending their classes today. I couldn't stress enough how important education is and it's one of the best gifts we can give our children.

Unfortunately, here in our country, not all people are privileged enough to go to school. Philippines, is the 13th most populated country in the world, and according to wordometers, the 2018 population is 106,434,943. It has also been reported that 21.6% of Philippines' population lives below the national poverty line in 2015 and has increased over time. This is a heartbreaking truth. However, I believe that the government is doing its best to address the key issues this country is facing especially regarding education.

There are also private and non-political organizations that provide help and seek to improve the lives of the underprivileged. I have always wanted to do charity works but I don't know how or where to start. I've always thought about going out in the fields to help, do volunteer works or donating money. For a stay at home mom to three little kids without a household helper, that could be an impossible mission. But I thought to myself, help can be done in so many ways. And, right now I am glad to have partnered with SOS Children's Villages in promoting their cause of giving a home to orphaned, abandoned, neglected Filipino children. 

SOS Children's Villages is a private, non-political, non-denominational organization that provides long-term family-based care to children in need. Today, SOS Children's Villages is located in 134 countries and territories around the world. The 571 SOS Children’s Villages are home to most of the approximately 86,000 children and young adults in a family-based care program. They also work in the communities to provide support and intervention to families at risk of breaking down. More than 467,000 people participate in a family strengthening programs.

In the Philippines, the first SOS Children’s Villages was founded on May 1, 1967 in the province of Batangas. Now they have 8 villages spread across the country, and there are almost 1,200 children and young adults who live in their family-based care program. In the communities, they give support and intervention to approximately 2,100 families.

This back-to-school season, SOS Children's Villages has an ongoing campaign which is entitled "Alalay mo sa Eskwela ko". It was launched last May 28, 2018. It aims to provide the educational needs of 5,600 children who are at risk of losing parental care, and 1,100 abandoned, neglected, and orphaned children who now live in their 8 villages spread across the Philippines.

All donations will provide for the children's back-to-school kit such as notebooks, pencils, ballpens, paper, coloring materials, shoes, and bags. 

As a mother, I have a soft spot for children. It breaks my heart seeing children along the streets sleeping, begging for alms and worst they end up being hooligans. I hope we all work hand in hand to make this world a better place. A little help could really go along way.

"Every child deserves to have the best educational opportunities possible, but many lack the tools needed to succeed. 

Will you help give them a brighter future?"
Go to alalaymosaeskwelako.sosphilippines.org to give children who are in need, a better chance in life.