Our Story so far
It has been awesome that we have been operating for the past 12 years. We have brought hope and built the dreams of kids from 9 different schools all over the country.
It started with one woman's dream and with her finding like-minded people who were talking about advocacies that they had in university.
Mostly at their early twenties, fresh out of college, doing their first job in a call center based in the Philippines and without any idea on how to run an organization. All they had was the dream to help people get out of poverty in their own small way by sending kids to school so that they can have more options in life.
With a belief that even doing small things they can have an impact on people's lives moved them forward to establish Gift In Kind PH (GIKPH).
Who/What is Gift In Kind PH
Gift in Kind PH is a non-profit charity organization based in Manila, Philippines with the aim to provide school supplies to less fortunate children and help build their dreams and give them an opportunity to be better.
For the past 12 years, we have collected donations and gifts in the form of notebooks, pencils and bond paper and prepared each bag to be used by the kids.
Why is Gift In Kind PH doing this?
While the education sector remains a top priority of our government national budget, accesibility remains a concern -
Sen. Loren Legarda-Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance. From an interview with Sunstar
It holds true and evident especially in remote ares of the country.
Our founder, Cynthia, saw an opportunity to help out and make a difference in these kids lives and together with several of her office mates planned for their first outreach program. With no support from big companies, the government or any rich philanthropies they pooled together some of their hard earned salaries and bought some school supplies.
Everyone is a volunteer who is passionate about giving something back to the community and helping the less fortunate have a bigger chance of improving their lives.
We just love what we are doing as we see the youth as our hope for a better future for humanity.
When was the first outreach?
Gift in Kind PH's first outreach was held in Rosario Elementary School in Rizal, a province east of Manila, on June 7, 2007.
We gave notebooks, pencils, and some paper but no bags yet since all of the funds came from our own pockets. At the time, most of us were still entry-level personnels.
This outreach program supported 50 children.
Since then we have supported the following Schools
2008 - Batangas Elementary School
2009 -San Manual Elementary School
2010 - Kanlurang Mayao Elementary School
2011 - Daraetan National School
2012 - Balingcaguing Elementary School
2013 - Mag-Sampaloc Elementary School
2014 - Sindol Elementary School
2015 - Banawen Primary School
2016 - Banawen and Daraetan Elementary School
2017 - Banawen Primary School
The Story of Banawen Primary School
2015 was the year that we decided to adopt Banawen Primary School. This was a school that had all of their students part of an indigenous tribe called Aetas
The Aeta (Ayta /ˈaɪtə/ EYE-tə), or Agta, are an indigenous people who live in scattered, isolated mountainous parts of the island of Luzon, the Philippines.
These people are considered to be Negritos, whose skin ranges from dark to very dark brown, and possessing features such as a small stature and frame; hair of a curly to kinky texture and a higher frequency of naturally lighter colour (blondism) relative to the general population, small nose, and dark brown eyes. They are thought to be among the earliest inhabitants of the Philippines, preceding the Austronesian migrations.[1]
This was a school that was a good two-hour truck ride from the nearest town.
You either had the choice to take the high forest road.
Or you can take the low, dried river bed road.
Both have a bumpy and hot ride. These are one of the most trying moments as the pain temporarily often makes people wonder why they volunteer.
Yet when we see the children's smiles and realize their hopes and dreams then we know it is worth all the bumps and the lumps that we receive.
2017 was a momentous year for Gift In Kind PH as this was the year that Banawen Primary School had six children graduated Elementary School and moved up to High School!
We were very proud of this feat and we continue to support these children by sustaining their living allowance in town, where they go to school.
They are given $40 USD (20 SBD) a month as allowance for food, clothing and school supplies. We are hoping that because of the support they will continue to study and eventually move up to college which we plan to support them.
What is Gift In Kind PH plan for 2018
We are embarking on our biggest program yet! We will be supporting 500 kids from two schools: Banawen Primary School and Sagpat Elementary School both schools provide education to Aeta children.
Each child will be receiving a bag with the appropriate school supplies for their grade.
The cost of each bag is at P300 Philippines Pesos ($6 USD) so the estimated budget needed to be raised is at 500 bags multiplied by 300 Pesos = P150,000 Philippines Pesos ($3,000 USD) or 1,500 SBD.
We would also be donating food, medicine and, supplies for the school but that budget is outside of what we are raising for the school supplies of the children.
We will go up Banawen the 2nd week of June 2018 and will distribute the donations and spread some happiness.
Since a member of the organization has been discussing this in Steemit since last year he was able to raise 35 SBD from posts and donations received.
We hope to be able to raise more funds in Steemit as well as from other sources that we have.
Funding has always been a difficult part of the charity program but we are thankful for all the individuals and companies that supported us through their Corporate Social Resposibility programs and the kind hearts of past and present members who continue to give aid.
The plans for the next 5 years.
We hope that the first group of students that we supported have already graduated college and already working.
They might in one of those moments decide with their office mates to do their own little part of alleviating poverty by helping the less fortunate children have a better chance by investing in their studies.
Maybe one of them will pay-it-forward and be inspired to help other people as once in their life Gift in Kind PH was there and gave hope without any expectations of it being returned monetarily or through fame. It was freely given and graciously accepted.
We hope that by the time our first graduates of elementary from Banawen are already in college and we are able to turn over the account @giftinkindph to them so that they can continue the legacy and be self-sufficient in providing funds that they would need to continue supporting Banawen and nearby schools.
Who knows it might become so big especially if the gifteconomy of Steem changes the lives of many in that community that it makes their lives infinitely better.
They save their heritage and culture. They save their songs and stories, their celebrations and events, their dances and handicrafts and to be forever saved in the blockchain.
Such is the dream of @giftinkindph and may we have the opportunity to make it a reality.
All liquid earnings from this post will be given to Gift in Kind PH for use of the charity programs it has. 10% of which will be powered up to Steem to make the account grow stronger and also support other charities in the Steem Blockchain.
For Donations
Coins.ph Peso Wallet
3JjoW7DcgefUFkedJNt93yPxRGeL4rLQLd
Coins.ph BTC Wallet
39fP9cLEH3T4AwSkZ8Df1GU37PjRbkPPqT
Coins,ph ETH Wallet
0xcb20daf97340c2f5d6616a2dbd39ea97fd8984ad
For Peso Fiat Donation you can send to:
Bank of the Philippines Islands to Cynthia A. Arienda with savings account 0479 169 217
With the help of your upvote you will be making a difference on the lives of these children and give them a better opportunity at life.
Our Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/GiftInKind/
Our Twitter Account
https://twitter.com/giftinkindph