Given that we have gained much insight into these communities' lives and cultures, we wish to use this insight to give back to them in ways that would suit their needs and dreams for their futures. By donating through clicking here, your contributions will support the communities in three ways:

The communities all believe in education as a way to secure a better future, and schools known as Sentrong Paaralan ng mga Agta (SPA) have been established by the Tribal Development Centre (TDC) to provide education for the Agta. 

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These SPA schools allow indigenous youth to access education without incurring the hefty travel costs associated with studying in city schools located far from their homes. As SPA schools do not receive governmental support, they rely heavily on the support of donors and non-governmental organizations. While SPA schools work hard to provide indigenous youth with the education they require, limited resources mean that students often lack access to educational facilities or updated curriculums.  Additionally, elementary and middle school education is prioritised in the dissemination of resources provided to the SPA schools through TDC. 

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TDC offers some sponsorships for students who go on to high school or college in the city to further their education. However, TDC is only able to pay for the tuition fees of the students and not for their daily allowance. Additionally, as schools in the city continue to pose a large financial burden to indigenous students, SPA schools have expanded their curricular offerings to provide high school education to students on their premises. However, SPA schools lack the necessary funding to provide fully for these students. (If you would like to read more about the difficulties SPA schools face, please click here.)

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Hence, we are looking for sponsorship opportunities for both of these groups of students. 

At present, there are about 31 Agta students whose tuition expenses are supported by TDC, but who are unable to foot the cost of their daily expenses. These expenses include transportation, meals, project work, and extracurricular activities. We hope to support about 10 of these students to begin with, at a cost of about 500 pesos, or 10 USD, per month per student. 

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Additionally, 18 high school students enrolled in SPA schools require financial support for their education. The cost of attendance associated with each student amounts to about 1000 pesos, or 20 USD, per month. These funds will go towards school supplies, curricular development, food, and basic necessities for the students.
 

We aim to contribute to the school life in elementary schools supporting indigenous communities through supplying school stationery yearly.

 

A study will contain (but not limited to): a ruler, pad paper, pen, sharpeners, pencils, 10 Sterling notebooks, and crayons

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Numbers

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Agta Schools and the estimate number of elementary school students enrolled per year

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Area (Number of Enrollees)

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• SPA Main Campus (75)

• Maktang (60)

• Malatunglan (21)

• Maksa (30)

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Aeta Schools and the estimate number of elementary school students enrolled per year

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Area (Number of Enrollees)

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• Maporac Zambales (500)

• Diaz Porac, Pampanga Elementary School (100)

• Tarukan, Capas Tarlac (300)

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If you’re over the age of 18, fluent in written and spoken English, and would like to live and experience life with indigenous Aeta and Agta communities, we also invite you to volunteer your time at our Aeta and Agta Volunteer Immersion Programme. 

 

As a volunteer on our yearly programme, your responsibilities might include:

• leading educational or sporting activities

• leading creative workshops (e.g. theatre, painting, handicraft making)

• sponsorship coordination for students enrolled in SPA schools

• tutoring or career advising for SPA students

• communication coordination

• fund-raising and outreach activities

 

Our volunteer immersion programmes last between 6 months to 2 years. The estimated cost for participating in our programme would be between XXXSGD to XXXSGD depending on the length and particulars of your involvement. A more detailed cost will be communicated to you prior to confirmation of your involvement.

 

Payment for the programme will go towards supporting the communities and projects detailed above, as well as to the logistics and operational expenses that facilitate the programme. These expenses include participants’ transportation, food, and accommodation, as well as the airfare of the programme coordinators. 

 

To apply, send your resume and statement of interest in English to: [email]

 

We believe that the time, talent, and heart that you will get to share as a volunteer in our programme will take you beyond national, ethnic, and cultural borders, opening up new pathways both for you and for the youth that you will work with. We look forward to hearing from you.