Philipine - General Santos City (28 August) Encouraged by the kids‘ performance in school despite the challenges brought by poverty and difficult situation being experienced by schools in the ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), employees and officials of Fluor has renewed its commitment to assist the children to continue their studies.
Fluor‘ General Manager Charlie Phelps recently turned over to the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), a check amounting to P180,000 to help bankroll the third year‘s educational necessities of the student/beneficiaries in Malangit, Buluan, Maguindanao.
The fund has been coursed through the E=MC2 (Education My Charitable Contribution) Project of PBSP and was received by Mr. Gil Salazar, the Executive Director. E=MC2 is a campaign to raise funds for school children in economically depressed areas of Mindanao through employee giving.
As a corporate non-government organization, PBSP implements the project through its regional offices and personnel assigned in the different target areas of the country. PBSP enjoins companies to adopt E=MC2 as a clear expression of their corporate citizenship.
E=MC2 appeals for employees to dedicate a portion of their salaries to the project. The amount pledged will be deducted each payday for a year. Companies can encourage volunteerism by advancing their employees‘ pledges (of monetary donation) and providing avenues for the staff to devote time and skills for the cause of advancing Mindanao‘s education problem.
Partner companies who supported the project will have the option to choose among the beneficiary schools in Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte and Maguindanao; the areas most in need of intervention in order to improve performance in education.
One of the world‘s largest publicly owned engineering company; Fluor Corporation is involved in procurement, construction and maintenance operations. Its exceptional record of dependability, expertise, and safety distinguishes the company in the industries it serves.
Flour is a pioneer of corporate volunteerism. The first employee volunteer group- the Flour Community Involvement Team (FCIT) was started in 1976 in Orange County, California. In 2003, Flour Corporation‘s Volunteer Programs received recognition during United Way‘s Summit Awards.
Fluor employees‘ scholarship assistance for indigent children in the depressed village of Malangit in Buluan, Maguindanao has been a great help. School children in this province have been suffering from congested classrooms, lack of chairs among others. Based on Updates on the Mindanao Study- State of Education in Mindanao conducted last July 2002, Maguindanao needs at least 463 additional classrooms and a desk requirement of about 31,531.
Added to this predicament is the scarcity of textbooks that the school children have been suffering from. The economic burden brought by poverty in the countryside has forced some of the students to stop going to school and help their parents earn additional income by working in the farms.
School kid‘s expression of gratitude
As the new school year starts, Muslimin Abdulmoin, 10, a grade 4 pupil of Malangit Elementary School, cannot forget the time when he, as a Grade II pupil then; goes to school with only 2 of his shirts as attire for school.
"Maraming salamat po sa tulong ninyo" (Thank you very much for your help), Muslimin said. "Mag-aaral po ako ng mabuti bilang ganti sa kabutihan ninyo" (I will study well in exchange for your kindness), he added.
Two years ago, upon coming home; Muslimin still remembers how he approaches his mother Naima, and request her to wash his shirt so that he can use it again the following day. Now with two sets of uniforms provided through the generosity of Fluor‘s employees, he will no longer request his mother to immediately wash as he can already use the other set. Through the assistance, he, together with the other kids were able to continue and sustain their studies.
In September of last year, Muslimin outsmarted 23 delegates from other schools when he won first placer in the Science Competition. Also in March this year, he received a gold medal for being the first Honor in their class. Academically, the children beneficiaries continue to show positive performance in school. Muslimin for his part, has been a consistent honor student.
His elder brother was also able to continue his studies as a result of the scholarship assistance availed by Muslimin. Because of the opportunities provided by Fluor, the family was relieved of the burden of sending all of the siblings to school.
Abdulmoin his father, a tenant/farmer only earn P2,500 per cropping. With only two harvests per year, the meager income cannot sustain family needs. The high cost of sending children to school has put the family in a difficult situation.
With the coming in of the scholarship assistance, Muslimin and the rest of the eighty-five scholars and their families, are assured of a better future as they face off the challenges brought by poverty in Maguindanao. Last school year, ten of the student beneficiaries landed in the top 10 of their class.
Source: www.pia.gov.ph (29 Agustus 2007)
