Every year, students from public schools in Palawan and the rest of the country face a lot of challenges as they start the school year. This year, the typical challenges they faced in the past have been complicated by the shift to the distance learning program due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many individuals and groups in Palawan and other parts of the country are coming together to help students become equipped for SY 2020-2021, like Palawenyo Savers Club (PSC), a group of Palawenyos who advocate for social and personal fiscal responsibility.
Last August 22, PSC launched Project Abot-Kamay, with the objective of helping students and teachers adapt to the distance learning program this school year. The challenges posed by the distance learning program are great, and Project Abot-Kamay simply aims to bridge whatever gap it can — one peso at a time.
Only two weeks since its inception, Project Abot-Kamay has raised Php 501,031.16, all of which will be used to provide laptops to public school students and face masks, face shields, and ethyl/isopropyl alcohol to teachers in Palawan.
“In Palawenyo Savers Club, saving doesn’t start big. It starts small — pa piso-piso. And with each peso saved diligently, it can grow and make a difference. And we think that it’s something we can replicate with Project Abot-Kamay,” said May Aldritt, project coordinator of Project Abot Kamay.
Any individual, organization, or business willing to help out public school students and teachers in Palawan is welcome to donate until September 30, 2020. Plus, PSC will match 50% of all monetary donations received. For example, if Php 100.00 is received, PSC will donate Php 50.00, bringing the donations to a total of Php 150.00.
This crowdfunding project invites Palawenyos and all Filipinos to raise funds to help students and teachers meet their needs to safely and effectively learn this SY 2020-2021. To which Aldritt shared: “That’s why we invite everyone to help Project Abot-Kamay and donate, kahit piso lang. Dahil ang bawat pisong malilikom natin ay makakatulong magbigay ng pag-asa sa mga mag-aaral na Palawenyo.”
The first batch of laptops are scheduled to be distributed in the second week of September. The recipients of the project, Palawenyos who submit applications via email or private message to the Sa Piso-Piso Aasenso Facebook page, are selected upon validation of their submitted information and evaluation of their essay entries.
As a crowdfunding venture, Project Abot-Kamay guarantees its donors full transparency. The organizers publish a weekly report of all donations received by the initiative so that all the funds raised are publicly accounted for. These reports — which include the donor’s name or alias, the amount and date of donation — are released every Wednesday on the project’s official website and the Sa Piso- Piso, Aasenso Facebook page.
This community-driven effort, activated mainly through social media and some partner establishments in Puerto Princesa, invites Filipinos to empower themselves and each other by lending a hand to those in need.
For donations, please click here.