On the first day of this month, an initiative to help students procure the items they need for online learning was born.

Our national hero Jose Rizal has said it himself: The youth is the hope of our future, that’s why ensuring that they are able to exercise their rights, especially to education, is very important. However, because of the country’s shift to online learning as a response to pandemic restrictions, many students were left without access to the education that they deserve.

[READ: #NoStudentLeftBehind is a call for inclusivity, not an excuse for laziness]

Some students simply do not have the necessary tools like laptops or mobile phones to participate in online classes. Some do not have access to a stable internet connection and might have to rely on mobile data—which costs a lot especially if needed on a daily basis.

The financial aspect of this situation is definitely burdening students as they await the opening of classes. Many private school students have transferred to public schools due to the economic downturn, while some have opted to not enroll at all for this school year anymore.

online learning — *Image by Felix Lichtenfeld from Pixabay*

That’s why the initiative #AyudaPangEskwela is godsent for some students who still wish to continue their education this year.

Beginning Aug. 1, this project sought to connect underprivileged students with donors who can give “ayuda” or financial aid to be used for educational purposes. The project, which utilized Facebook Groups, slowly became a community of generous donors and grateful beneficiaries.

As of Aug. 13, the initiative has been able to support 327 students. Based on the declaration of beneficiaries, this amounts to a total of P1,352,238 collected donations.

How does it work?

Students who are in need of financial assistance may submit a post to the private Facebook group, which will then be subject to approval by the initiative’s moderators who have set strict criteria for determining beneficiaries. This includes attaching a photo of their student ID as well as relevant details like current grade or year level and degree.

#ayudapangeskwela — *There are two ways of helping out the #AyudaPangEskwela initiative: Donate to the students and spread the word about this meaningful cause (Photo from #AyudaPangEskwela)*

Students must also be at least 18 years of age to take part. Otherwise, their parents must be the ones to join the group and post on their behalf. Donations are received via Gcash, which the student must also indicate in their post.

Postings are also done per batch, which has around 20 to 30 beneficiaries. Only when 95 percent of the students from the batch have reached their goal fund can the next batch be posted.

As of writing, the #AyudaPangEskwela Facebook group has already gathered 7,727 members. Whether you’re a student in need or a donor who wishes to lend a helping hand, you can join the initiative here.

Header photo by Juraj Varga from Pixabay

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