Witnessing poverty in the Philippines
On 17th October we mark International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. It is chance to raise awareness about poverty and the urgent need for resources to address it. The day also provides a good opportunity for me to reflect on the education work of the Sisters of Mary and the enormous practical impact they are having on poverty relief worldwide.
This last week I have been able to travel back to the Sisters of Mary schools in the Philippines to spend time with the Sisters running the four schools in that country, catch up with the more than 9000 children currently living in their schools and meet more of the inspiring graduates who are now productive and at work in the world, thanks to the education they received.
Accompanied by our Treasurer John Graham, his wife Barbara, and our long-term supporter Geoffrey Barker, we have seen and been so inspired by the education programmes at work, the quality of the teaching being provided and the love and care devoted by the Sisters to every child.
Educating at scale
The Philippines schools are the largest of the programmes. With over 9000 children across the four schools, two in Cavite – Biga (for girls) and Adlas (for boys) and two in Cebu, Talisay (for girls) and Minglanilla (for boys). Together they represent almost half of the children in the care of the Sisters worldwide.
It is an enormous undertaking. For many of our supporters and indeed for our first-time visitors to the schools last week, it is difficult to comprehend the enormity of this work until you have the chance to see it for yourself. To walk into a gymnasium for an assembly and see the happy smiling faces of nearly 3000 children. Then you really understand the magic that is happening at these schools and the importance of your role in supporting it – and so it was for our group last week.
A quality education
As well as the full-time care, the schools provide a high quality academic and technical education accredited by the Philippine government tailored to the skill needs of local employers.
Taught by teachers recruited from throughout the Philippines and often utilising graduates of the schools, the course delivery is well regarded by the government and quietly the Sisters are seen as leading the way on the delivery of vocational education in the country.
All this means that at the end of their five years of education every child who leaves the school will secure a job. What an amazing and unique achievement to reach an employment rate of 100% for each of the schools.
Focusing on the poorest
The mechanics behind running the schools are well thought through and continue to evolve and keep pace with the changing needs of the children, society, technology and the environment. Funded almost wholly by the generosity of individual supporters, absolutely everything is focused on caring for each child and ensuring that despite a very poor start in life each of them has the chance of a proper childhood, loving care and an education which will lead to employment and the pathway to a better future for themselves and for their families.
The schools are able to help just a fraction of the children who need and deserve their care but for those who we can fund, the place at school is lifesaving. The children receive three balanced meals a day, clothing, shoes, medicines, educational supplies and everything they need to recover, thrive and learn at school. Operating at scale is an enormous challenge with food being the largest cost but the Sisters generate huge efficiencies and still manage this provision for just £1200 a year for each child.
Ending poverty through education
We travelled out into the community and were invited to meet the families of some of these children. We were able to learn more about their many challenges and we were moved and troubled by the difficulties they face -the many deprivations and complexities they encounter in their daily life.
Each of the families is so proud of their child and so happy for their place with the Sisters. Although they miss them whilst they are at school they are so relieved to have one less mouth to feed and to know that their child will be equipped to bring hope of a better life to the entire family. The Sisters take every opportunity to maintain contact for the child with the family particularly during visiting days in September and the children have a long holiday at Christmas.
The Life of the Sisters of Mary
The burden on the Sisters is considerable but shouldered with joy – every day. Last week we had more time to catch up on their progress and hear the latest stories of their work at the schools and the challenges they face – particularly the most recent earthquake damage at the school in Talisay.
As a working order, the Sisters of Mary have dedicated their lives to their mission to support the poorest children and every hour of the day is taken up with reaching out to new children in need to offer them a place at school, caring for them, ensuring they have the health, confidence and opportunity to discover their talents and that they have access to the best education to help them make their way in the world.
Working with the Sisters for more than 16 years it has been my greatest joy to observe and support their mission and still I continue to be inspired by their strength, humility, selfless devotion to the children and the fun and laughter they bring to their work.
Cebu Earthquakes
Testament to the success of this work are the more than 170,000 graduates from the schools who are at work in the world and keen to maintain their connections with the Sisters through the alumni groups.
Our visit last week allowed us to catch up with a lot of the graduates both within Cavite and Cebu part of the ASMSI alumni network. Now employed and successful these professional men and women are keen to give back to the sisters for the chance they received at school. It was so clear from this trip that these graduates are the helping to support the sisters at every step of their work and to aid them in the care of the children, helping with the community outreach, children’s birthdays, Christmas celebrations, visiting days and most recently reaching out with practical help to the communities of Cebu devastated by the earthquakes.
The children love visitors and we were made so very welcome. It was a humbling and joyous experience. The schools are always open to new friends to see the work in person. I would urge anyone of you to take the opportunity as we did, to visit and stay with the sisters and meet the children in their care.
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