Back to Service ProjectsService Project: Foreign Education Fund
As Peace Corps Volunteers, Jerry and Machelle Hartman lived in a community of fishermen and rice farmers. Though many of the people enjoyed their work, they realized that their children wanted more career opportunities, and that the community could not support any more subsistence-living in an already over-planted and over-fished region. The Hartmans began supporting Rudy and Lyn De Los Santos's family, whose children asked to attend a local 2-year college. The financial support that this family needed was multi-faceted money for tuition, fees, supplies, basic medical care, transportation, stable housing, etc. The families in this community, and so many others in the Philippines, have no savings or access to extra income, so when a crisis hits, any money they have or can get (through extremely high interest loans) goes towards the emergency, and education is no longer an option. SNWM has begun supporting this family through donations each semester that will ensure the kids will stay in school and graduate from college with their 2-year degrees and find employment.
As more money is raised for this fund, additional families will be able to give their children access to college educations. As of 2008, it costs about $3,000 (in tuition and fees alone) for one student to complete his/her 2 year degree. Additional expenses depend on the family's living circumstances.
Pictures of the De Los Santos Family!
January 2008 Update:
Rollen graduated in March of 2007 with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. He worked in a local restaurant for several months and saved some money towards further training, which he completed in the fall of 2007. Through the generous donations of SNWM members, he is currently continuing his training in Manila to work on the ferries that transport products and people between the many islands in the Philippines.
Jen will graduate with a 2-year degree in March of 2008. Rey will finish 6th grade in elementary school this March, and start 7th grade at Ivisan National High School next June. He will be ready for college in 2012.
A recent text message from the De Los Santos Family:
Maayong adlaw. Mam,Sir madamo gid nga salamat sa inyo kag sa pamilya sa pagbulig ninyo piermi sa amon kag sa mga bata.
Good morning. Ma'am, Sir, many thanks to you and your family for always helping us and our children.
From their Christmas letter:
Mam, Sir, kag Aidan,
Kamusta kamo? Kung kami maayo lang. Ari ang amon nga kodak. Mam, sir madamu gid nga salamat sa inyo pag-supporta sa amon.
'Palangga man namon kamo,
-Lyn, Rudy, Rollen, Genny, kag Rey
How are you? We are fine. Here are photos of us. Many thanks to you for your support.
We love you,
-Lyn, Rudy, Rollen, Genny kag Rey
March Update:
Gen is graduating from a 2 year college program this March. Rey is graduating from 6th grade and will start high school in June. Thank you for all your help! The De Los Santos family members send their thanks: Salamat sa inyo nga tanan.