MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / August 27, 2014) – Some 28,000 books will be distributed over 30 various schools across the Philippines and providing them enhanced access to learning resources and impacting millions of school-age children and young adults, The Asia Foundation said.
It said the project is in partnership with the MoneyGram Foundation and part of the The Asia Foundation’s Books for Asia program.
“We believe education leads to an improved livelihood over the long term, benefiting entire families in the future. MoneyGram believes early education is at the heart of a better life—economic opportunities, healthier families, individual freedom and empowerment,”said Yogesh Sangle, MoneyGram Senior Director of Asia.
He said the MoneyGram Foundation focuses solely on helping children around the world gain better access to educational facilities and learning resources.
The Philippine book distribution launch is only the beginning to a larger global giving program in Asia that aims to empower children through education. The campaign was launched through an inaugural turnover of more than 2,500 books at the Rizal High School in Pasig City.
Through the grant from the MoneyGram Foundation, the books will be distributed to more than 30 schools in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao. The books and educational materials are aimed to develop children’s English language skills, improve profession and examination skills, enhance knowledge in the business, legal, and science professions, and infuse children with an early love of reading that is critical to literacy.
“Education can be instrumental in helping youth and their families restore their hope and dignity. MoneyGram is focused on providing the youth more reasons to attend school, read more books and ultimately build a better livelihood. We hope that by further improving learning centers and school libraries in the Philippines, we are likewise contributing to the betterment of the quality of education and information that the youth are getting. We are very happy that the Philippines is one of the recipients of this donation.”
“This is my first time to witness our school donation events in such big scale by MoneyGram in the Philippines. I am so proud to be able to witness this as a beginning, as we will be distributing more books in later months to other key regions in the Philippines,” Sangle said.
The distribution event was spearheaded by Sangle together with MoneyGram Country Manager Alex Lim, MoneyGram Regional Marketing Director Sabrina Chan, The Asia Foundation Country Representative Dr. Steven Rood, TAF Books for Asia Program Coordinator Reynald Ocampo, and representatives from MoneyGram agents in the Philippines.
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