Have you heard of youngsters having to swim to high school?
This was the fact for a whole community of kids within the mangrove village of Layag-Layag within the Philippines.
Because there is no such thing as a road access to the varsity, which is 2km away, children from the Layag-Layag community need to swim daily to access education.
“Our clothes are wet and we normally get injured. The water is deep,” said Nadzra Mutalib, considered one of Layag-Layag’s children, Our higher worlda storytelling initiative led by the Singapore International Foundation.
Her friend, Sherlene Amirul, also shared how she faced obstacles daily. “We wear old clothes when we sail to school, and when we get to the city, we change into uniforms.”
The water reservoir becomes an obstacle for them in realizing their very own dreams, for instance going to high school.
After witnessing the conditions faced by children attempting to attend school, Jay Jaboneta and Dr. Anton Mari H. Lim founded the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation.
“The Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation aims to provide children from underprivileged communities with access to education,” said Dr. Anton Mari Lim, co-founder of the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation. Our higher world.
Initially, we were taking 25–30 children to high school with one boat, but we quickly realised that this was not enough to supply transport for all the youngsters.
“Giving them physical access to school is not a guarantee that they will stay in school. That’s where our advocacy has expanded,” Dr Lim said.
What began as an effort to get kids to high school safely and dry has grown. The foundation now provides medical assistance, school supplies, and even livelihoods for fogeys to assist their communities.
The same boats that carry children to high school also help fishermen in the local people earn a living.
It’s amazing how one idea for a straightforward boat become an initiative that has engaged 40 communities and helped 8,000 children, and the number continues to be growing.
“We don’t have to swim and risk getting injured anymore,” Mutalib said beamingly.
Today, when it is time for varsity, the children grab their bags, head out the front door, and as a substitute of getting on the yellow bus, they get on the cheerful yellow boat.
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Authorship history Our higher world – telling stories about good that encourage motion.
