MTF Directors Diane James (in blue polo shirt), Megan Fischer (in green shirt), and Renne Subido, of TVI Resource Development (Phils.) Inc., (in green checkered polo shirt) with Philippine education officials and school teachers and representatives of various groups during the hand over of the Iman Nasaron Haron Elementary School in the southern province of Zamboanga del Norte on Mindanao Island. (Maple Tree Foundation Photos)
PAGADIAN CITY (Mindanao Examiner / July 21, 2012) – The Maple Tree Foundation (MTF), a Canadian and Philippine-based organization, together with the Petron Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and TVI Pacific, have recently opened the Iman Nasaron Haron Elementary School in the southern province of Zamboanga del Norte on Mindanao Island.
It is the first school to open as a result of MTF’s Build a School Program, which is a part of the Foundation’s mission to help post-conflict communities in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
The school is located in the remote village of Busicong in the coastal town of Siocon in the heart of armed rebel territory. The area had limited access to education and many children were tempted to join rebel forces rather than travel long and dangerous distances to attend school. With the new school’s opening, Filipino children in the area now have a chance at a better life, starting with primary-school education.
“We are proud of this school and our Build a School Program because it represents what we believe in, which is protecting the body and training the mind. Building the school is a result of teamwork and a huge effort and cooperation among our partners, the local government and the community itself,” MTF Executive Director Diane James said in a statement.
She said the initial seed funding for the Build a School Program came from 3rd year Business students taking a Leadership Development class at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta.
“Fundraising for the school was both challenging and rewarding for my students, and it allowed them to connect with a global community while learning about themselves and their own capabilities at the same time,” said class’ professor, Victoria Calvert.
She said the students raised nearly $18,000 over three semesters, covering almost a third of the total project cost. The remainder of the funding was made possible by generous donations from the Petron Foundation, a Philippine-based charity founded by Petron Corporation, TVI Pacific, a Calgary-based mining company, and Habitat for Humanity Philippines.
“We, like most families, just want our children to have a good education, and this school will make it possible,” said the village’s religious leader, Totoh Nasaron.
Siocon Mayor Cesar Soriano also praised the project. “This is a manifestation of MTF and their partner’s support for educating the children in this area and I never imagined the kind development that has been taking place in this very isolated village. I look forward to working with MTF and their partners on many further projects to come,” he said.
MTF Philippines and Canada operate under a joint venture agreement to help deprived and underserved mountain communities in the Philippines live healthy, productive, and peaceful lives with sustainable resource development programs that provide basic services, livelihood development, and education.
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