There is a huge mountain of garbage in Payatas, Quezon City, northwest of Manila, in the Philippines.
A short distance away from the Mountain stands Paaralang Pantao (School for Humanity) which was founded to help children deprived of formal education. There are varying reasons for the lack of education as extreme poverty is widespread; many children have no birth certificates, or their parents having been unable to receive an education do not realize the importance of an education. Leticia B. Reyes took heed of such underprivileged children and listened to some of their parents who wished for their children to learn to read and write.
In 1987 Leticia, also known as Letty, decided to organize classes for five children. Within a month her class of 5 students had grown to 40. This moved Letty to open up a school for the children.
The official opening of Paaralang Pantao took place in 1989. The school was initially a small shed covered by a simple bare tinplate roof with no ceiling. It had four walls, but there were no floor planks of wood. Placed in the classroom were plain handmade desks and chairs as they were contributed by the parents.
Teachers are mothers or Payatas residents who volunteer to teach. They have a certain degree of learning in high school or college. There is no requirement for uniform or tuition in Paaralang Pantao. Each year about 100 children enroll at Paaralang Pantao.
Paaralang Pantao thus plays a key role in changing the lot of the children who would otherwise remain poor and hopeless in a world of uneven wealth. The school is a safe haven for a young child carrying the weight of family problems on his/her tiny shoulders. Here the children have the opportunity to live out their childhood; learning and playing.
In 2006 Paaralang Pantao expanded its operations to Erap, Montalban with the completion of a new three-storey school building. 150 children are enrolled at Montalban.
In 2007, Paaralang Pantao was a recipient of the Asia Human Rights Award by the Foundation for Human Rights in Asia (FHRA). The said award is granted to individuals or organizations who have conducted great and meritorious services towards improving and solving human rights problems in Asia.
Paaralang Pantao continues to provide free education through the support of generous donors and benefactors. |
