Books For The Barrios continued...
Before our group of dozens of volunteers, who helped in the packing, crating and loading the books into the APL container, left after a whole day of volunteerism, Ms. Harrington showed us very candid and interesting slides of school children in various MOE schools. She told the audience that every child wherever they are has the birthright to get a good quality education and it is her passionate dream and legacy to the world to make that happen to as many children as possible. Every child whose mind is stretched, like a rubber band, will never be the same again. She said that any educated person would have fewer chances to be exploited and hence will have greater chances to become more independent and a better citizen. She added that it was just a divine coincidence that she and her husband were sent and lived in the Philippines more than 25 years ago. That interaction with the Filipino people spawned the seeds for the Books for the Barrios.
After the slide presentation, she asked the young volunteers what they have learned from their "field trip" experience to the Books for the Barrios warehouse. Comments were varied such as "I am touched by what I have seen" "Now I am more aware that I am indeed lucky and blessed with what I have here in the United States" "I want to share more now that I know there are more people in need." At the end of a hectic tiresome weekend, Katipunan-USA co-founder Donna Rivera Delfin commented that she felt very blessed to be able to help the young Filipino children, some dozen children she has personally met when she visited the Philippines many times in the past. Touched by the innocence of many young students, she said that the Filipino children deserve a chance to empower their lives through education. Added Ms. Loreto Dimaandal, "Coming to volunteer our time and our books donations was wonderful way to share with others especially this Easter Weekend!"
Through this column, I personally would like to broadcast Nancy Harrington challenge to all in America especially in California that there is still great need to be involved in collecting many things that many families no longer need and bring them to their facility such as: encyclopedias - 1988 or later, board games and puzzles , crayons, pencils and scissors, children's storybooks, clean scrap paper, toys & stuffed animals, dictionaries, clean kids' summer clothing, little girds' dresses and computers - Pentium or better. And for Northern California school children with their teachers or parents to have a field trip to their offices for a global sharing experience opportunity.
Lastly, as the founder of Katipunan-USA who believes in the philosophy "that it is better to teach a man how to fish rather than giving him a fish to eat" and after reading and personally witnessing the labor of love being put into this project over a span of over twenty years, I am committed to work hand in hand with the Harrington's Books for the Barrios Foundation in anyway we can in Southern California to have more sponsors and to raise more funds to be able to send more shipment to the Philippines. The need is great but the challenge to share our material blessing is even greater.
For more information, visit their website at: http://www.booksforthebarrios.com or e-mail to: joinus@booksforthebarrios.com.
The sheer knowledge that you are helping someone who is less fortunate across the ocean is all worth it! LET US ALL PITCH IN!
View our Books for the Barrios photo album.
