In 2021, Department of Energy of the Philippines reported that about 2.3 million learners in the country had no electricity access under the distance learning system. This is especially true for the indigenous community in Mindoro, Philippines housing the Mangyan tribe who are are marginalized in the region.
Use of kerosene lantern due to lack of electricity has limited children’s studying time and affected their health and school performance. Additionally, it has also prevented in quality bonding time between parents and children after a day’s work while increasing cost for kerosene lamps.
In response Global Peace Women Philippines with Global Peace Foundation Philippines conducted a project to distribute solar lamps to the community. The Mansalay Local Government Unit (LGU) assisted in the distribution to the indigeneous community in the region reaching 16 families. The program provided families with a cleaner, safer, cheaper and dependable light source helping children study and strengthening family bonds.
Divided into two different sites, the Sitio Tagaytay in Barangay Bonbon and Sitio Pookan 2 in Barangay Poblacion, each family received eight solar lamps per household. Mr. Cyrus Marquez, the focal person assigned by the Mansalaya Municipality helped in coordinating with families of the region.
A 9 year old beneficiary of the project said, “My mother and my father are both busy working in the morning; they can only help me in answering my modules and homework during the night. I’m thankful we have solar lamps, they were able to teach me.”
The distribution is a part of a Global Giving project ‘Solar Lamps for 900 Indigenous Filippino Children’ at Oriental Mindoro. Ahna Mira, Country coordinator of GPW Philippines initiated the project so indigenous children and youth could access safer, cheaper, healthier and environment friendly light source for study and spending quality time with their family.
The project is a 4 year long project and if you would like to donate to cause, please visit: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/solar-lamps-for-900-indigenous-filipino-children/#menu
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