The RAFI Dolores Aboitiz Children’s Fund (RAFI-DACF) held an online Grant Awarding Ceremony to Barangay Ermita’s Information and Learning Center last September 1, 2021.

The Barangay Ermita Information and Reading Center was implemented back in the year 2010 as a means of complying with the mandatory instructions of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children. Under the mandatory RA 7743, Section 1, local government units (LGUs) have the responsibility of creating, providing, and establishing a barangay reading center in their respective communities. The national policy pushed for the promotion of moral and intellectual well-being of the people. This included elevating the literacy level of every Filipino. Thus, the barangay’s information and reading center was born.

Over the years, it has become the hub of information and learning in the small, tight-knit community of Barangay Ermita. Many students flock to the center to learn and be exposed to lessons outside the four walls of their school. Children who have no means of going to school especially rely on the center for learning.

However, the on-going pandemic has made it difficult for children and students to continue visiting the center. Children who are still attending early childhood education in particular, have a hard time coping with the challenges that the pandemic has ushered.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Sangguniang Kabataan and concerned Barangay Officials, a small corner beside the SK Office was made with the purpose of collecting print and non-printing materials. They did the groundwork to find donations from various sectors, both private and public. Moreover, they also revised the budget allocation; making sure that the children who use the reading center are provided with the right children’s books and the right environment for learning.

The Barangay Information and Reading center, ever since, has been taking initiatives to teach children in day care and kindergarten to read and write. The activities implemented in the center includes storytelling, film showing, summer classes for kids, arts and crafts, and free tutorial for all children living in Barangay Ermita.

Even at the height of the pandemic, the efforts to continue this initiative never halted. They project managers and coordinators in charge of the center continue to encourage children to study and learn in spite of the current global crisis. They have also made it even easier for children by sending the learning materials to their respective homes. This is done in supplementation of the teaching materials (soft copies) sent to them by DSWD. In addition, they have collaborated with Arcanys Early Learning Foundation, Basadours and Children of Asia in supplementing the learning materials to the day care centers in the barangay.

“Despite the wide-ranging implications brought by the pandemic, we commend the profound impact brought by Brgy. Ermita to its beneficiaries. We are very grateful for the work that they do, as their efforts are needed now more than ever. We sincerely hope that they may remain resilient and healthy to continue their noble efforts for the children,” shared Micah Jane Estrada, DACF Program Officer for Grants for Early Education.

In support of their initiative to provide quality education to young children, RAFI-DACF granted their request of a photocopier machine with an estimated price of Php40,000.00. This machine can help push their efforts in educating and elevating literacy in their community even further.

The Dolores Aboitiz Children’s Fund of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI-DACF) aims to enable communities to champion for children to reach their own potentials. Its Grants Program supports initiatives promoting the welfare and development of children through Early Education and Health and Nutrition.