Hope Floats
Lack of transportation, limited access to basic educational tools, basic and emergency medical care, and additional geographical challenges are all significant obstacles for children looking to attend school.
Located deep in the marshlands of the Philippines you’ll find four “floating” communities comprised of approximately 400 families and 250-300 children who deal with these challenges each and every day. In order for the children to attend school they are required to navigate through the swampy marshland by motorboat.
After significant discussions with school and community leaders in the area, they identified the need for a motor boat library as part of their outreach plan – to help educate preschool children, children attending school, and their parents. The mobile library boat is fully equipped with a robust variety of learning resources, and basic medical supplies to treat common ailments and to help prevent infection. Additionally, this boat will serve as one of the few options to respond to medical emergencies.
The boat drivers are volunteers from the local government unit and will be comprised of educators and counsellors adding to the tremendous value of this project. Thanks to their training they are able to provide additional learning skills and psycho – social support. It is expected they can make two full rounds across the four communities each week.
We are thankful for the generous support of our HOPE family who turned this community’s dream into a reality!
