MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)–Aiding vulnerable children affected by the warfare in Marawi City in 2017, the Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) – Philippines provided learners’ kits and stipends to some 600 student-beneficiaries from the municipality of Ditsa-an Ramain, this province.
With funds from the IRW-Canada, the event was initiated in partnership with the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) through the project “Sustaining Transformative and Resilient Initiatives for Vulnerable Communities (STRIVEC) in Ranao Philippines” covering seven schools wherein three are under the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) and four are Madrasahs.
The project allots a monthly stipend worth P250 for each beneficiary and such is given every four to five months.
IRW-Philippines Area Programme Manager Sittie-Jamairah Disomimba said this is part of the multi-component project, focusing on the education of target children.
“Ang tinutulungan natin hindi lang ang displaced households, pati na rin ang host communities. Kaya tayo napunta dito at kaya natin ito ginagawa para tulungan natin ang mga victim ng siege na pwede nilang ipagpatuloy pa ang pag-aaral ng kanilang mga anak,” she said.
[What we are helping are not just the displaced household but also the host communities. The reason why we came here and why we are doing this is to help the siege so that they will be able to let their children continue their studies.]
Disomimba said the municipality of Ditsa-an Ramain was identified with the recommendation of the TFBM noting that most of the displaced households opted to reside in the place seeing it is the nearest town to Marawi City.
Accordingly, among the prior beneficiaries of the project were communities in Marawi City, and more children will even benefit from it as other areas will be covered.
Disomimba further said that although the project only provides a small amount, they still hope to see significant contribution brought by their effort.
“These are just material things na kung pwede to [to possibly] lessen the suffering of displaced households. Ito ay suporta ng Islamic Relief at patuloy namin itong gagawin hangga’t may kailangang ganito ang mga komunidad ng Lanao del Sur [This is a support of Islamic Relief and we will continuously do this as long a communities in Lanao del Sur will still need this] as recommended by Task Force Bangon Marawi,” she said.
STRIVEC has a three-year timeline and currently, it is already in its second year. (CRG/PIA-Lanao del Sur)
Photo captions:
Photo 1: Some 600 students from the municipality of Ditsa-an Ramain in the province of Lanao del Sur receive learners’ kits and monthly stipend from the Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) – Philippines. Funded by IRW-Canada, this is under the project called Sustaining Transformative and Resilient Initiatives for Vulnerable Communities (STRIVEC) in Ranao Philippines. (Angelo D. Dologmandin/PIA-Lanao del Sur)
Photo 2: A five-month stipend amounting to P250 per month is released to target beneficiaries in Barimbingan Central Elementary School in the municipality of Ditsa-an Ramain, Lanao del Sur. (Angelo D. Dologmandin/PIA-Lanao del Sur)
