Marawi pupils, families receive school, home kits from SPMP consortium

MARAWI City — Some 3,000 young survivors of the Marawi siege received school kits and storybooks from donors that included kids their age, families, and companies through “Sa Pagbasa, May Pag-asa” Consortium.

What made this gift-giving more special was that the donors had gone out of their way too to be able to give to their fellow brothers and sisters in the conflict-torn city. Students from different schools donated their allowance for a day while some families (both Muslims and non-Muslims) also fasted or skipped a meal.

The project also reached some 1,200 families who received home kits, consisting of sleeping materials as well kitchen and cooking utensils. Student kits contained bags, school supplies and coconut drinks from Vita Coco Philippines. These gifts may be small compared to their overall needs, but still aim to bring joy to the children as they rebuild their lives.

At least 50 volunteers helped distribute the items to Angoyao Central Elementary School, Lake Lanao National High School and Harat Medina Central Elementary School in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. The gift-giving was organized by SPMP Consortium and Philippine Business for Social Progress.

“We were never afraid to come to Marawi even before the height of the siege. I always believe that in times of disaster, when a school is back to normal, the community will also be back to normal life. Now, we brought three simple gifts such as home kits, school kits and storybooks. All these items came from big and small donors, including ordinary citizens like students who donated their allowance for a day and families who fasted or skipped one meal to share solidarity with the people of Marawi,” said Br. Armin Luistro FSC, president of both PBSP and De La Salle Philippines. (pia x)