Books for the Philippines
Posted by Tony Gilmore
A recent visitor from the Rotary Group Study Exchange program proved to be an inspiration to a fifth grade class at Heron Pond Elementary School in Milford, New Hampshire. Mr. Gelo Gelera, Assistant School Superintendent in Calbayog City, the Philippines, visited Mrs. Deborah Waldo's fifth grade class last month. In a meeting with her students, he described conditions in many Philippine schools with sixty to seventy students per class, four students sharing one textbook, and few, if any, books to read just for fun!
Inspired by Mr. Gelo Gelera's description of schools in his homeland, the fifth graders sprang into action. They collected five cartons of high interest paperback books for children from six to twelve years of age. Students solicited donations from their families and the PTO to cover shipping costs. Then the class officers organized the packing and shipping. Everyone in the class enjoyed participating in the project and the books are on their way to the Philippines!
In a recent email from Mr. Gelo Gelera to Mrs. Waldo, he says: "On behalf of the Department of Education, Calbayog City Division, I'm very much thankful to you…and your class for initiating that wonderful gift for our pupils! Your gift will surely help our pupils in our quest of quality education…(This)… is a reminder to us that there are people across the globe, specifically children, who are willing to serve other children in other places."
By Laurie Johnson
June 22, 2009
In a recent email from Mr. Gelo Gelera to Mrs. Waldo, he says: "On behalf of the Department of Education, Calbayog City Division, I'm very much thankful to you…and your class for initiating that wonderful gift for our pupils! Your gift will surely help our pupils in our quest of quality education…(This)… is a reminder to us that there are people across the globe, specifically children, who are willing to serve other children in other places."
By Laurie Johnson
June 22, 2009