Approximately 1,000 newly purchased textbooks and reading materials were donated to the pre-school, elementary and high school students in the most vulnerable sectors through Handog Benildyano: Gift of Reading.

With the shared mission to support the literacy activities of the youth, especially those who have no access to the Internet, the initiative was launched through a partnership among the Read to Know, Read to Grow book drive of the Rotary Club Circuit of Makati and LF Joy Foundation and the Center for Social Action of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.

The Rotary Club Circuit Makati conducted a fund-raising project to secure new reference books published by American learning company McGrawHill, one of the leading educational publishers known for customized content from pre-Kinder through post-graduate levels.

The purchased collection covered basic education from language, reading, and writing to mathematics as well as advanced knowledge on algebra, geometry, and calculus and the diverse branches of science. It also included titles on world history and geography, as well as literature, clothing, construction and economics.

The materials were distributed to non-profit, non-stock and non-government organizations and social development agencies, such as IT Tender, Honor 1000 Movement, Self Reliance and Development (SRD) Konkokyo and Salinlahi Children’s Alliance, all dedicated to empowering children and the youth through educational, livelihood and other parallel programs.

The textbooks donated to Akap sa Bata Phils. were distributed to the parents and volunteer care-teachers in the cities of Pasay, Pasig and Quezon to address the need for early childhood education among families in need.

New sets of learning resources likewise awaited students of Rafael Palma Elementary School and P. Villanueva Elementary School in Pasay City, plus beneficiaries of Dar Amanah Children’s Village, the only Muslim social welfare institution in Luzon that provides temporary residence, para-parental, educational and social care to orphaned Muslim youth.

Meanwhile, the books handed over to Unang Hakbang Foundation will propel the organization to build bookshelves along the streets and basketball courts of local communities as part of its Aklatang Bayan Program.

“The materials will be maximized by our house parents during their tutorial and study sessions,” shared Lila Titular, Honor 1000 Movement Inc. Communication and Skills Development Manager. “The Math and Language books will help the children and young women, who were rescued from trafficking and are currently residing in our shelter, be more confident in working on numbers and honing their reading and writing skills.”

“Some of our students received books for the first time,” said Chentie Macalalag, Daycare Teacher at the SRD Konkokyo Center, Inc. “We teach them to love through reading and promote learning through reading.”

The first batch of Handog Benildyano: Gift of Reading donated books to Food for the Hungry Philippines, which were also distributed to Sitio Anginan Daycare Center in San Mateo, Bulacan.