by: Crislyn Felisilda, Communications Specialist
Ernie Rose could have been out laboring in the fields or working as a servant in the house of a wealthy family like her mother. She stopped schooling during her 5th grade in order to look after her younger siblings. “I felt compelled to take care of my younger brothers when my parents were separated,” recounts 13-year old Ernie Rose. Thankfully, through World Vision’s Education for All (EFA) campaign, Ernie Rose is now back in school.
During her vacant hours, Ernie Rose teaches her younger siblings how to read and write.
Together with her younger siblings: Dexter, 4 and Mark John, 6, a sponsored child, Ernie Rose lives in the far-flung village of Panaon, one of the municipalities in Misamis Occidental with their aunt Lorna as their guardian. After the breakup of her parents, her mother, Rosana, 33, decided to work as a housemaid in Manila while her father, Ernesto, 56, opted to live with another family. “The absence of my parents was extremely felt since it’s hard to fill their roles,” says Ernie Rose.
The little mom
Being the oldest, Ernie Rose took over the role of their parents. She was able to finish all the chores, cook rice for breakfast, feed the cow at the vacant pasture, clear the grass on their vegetable backyard and fetch some gallons of water at the water pump. “I’ve given up my studies to do these things but I wasn’t completely happy,” she adds.
Ernie Rose had been doing these routine every day. At nights, she teaches her siblings with their assignments and cuddles the boys after to make them fall asleep. She regularly does the household chores and helps her Aunt Lorna wash their clothes. “My responsibilities at home were full but I had to do it because I love my siblings,” says Ernie Rose.
Rosana sends financial support to her children every month but nothing and nobody could still replace her presence at home. Rosana earns P1, 500 but isn’t sufficient to support family needs. Ernie Rose recalled her most difficult times when her younger siblings got sick. “I was worried when Dexter and Mark got a high fever. I wished my parents were there,” recalls Ernie Rose. She rushed the kids to the clinic and looked after them while they were sick. “My role made me become a responsible sister but something is lacking still, which is my fulfillment to go to school,” she adds.
Ernie Rose stopped schooling during her 5th grade in order to look after her younger siblings. “I felt compelled to take care of my younger brothers when my parents were separated,” recounts 13-year old Ernie Rose.
Education for All
Thankfully, Ernie Rose found hope through the Education for All (EFA) program introduced by World Vision. “This is one way of practically achieving the outcome of World Vision's strategy that children are educated for life and a way of supporting the global and national call to achieve the Millennium Development Goal 2: Achieve Universal Access to Education,” says Christopher Estallo, World Vision Advocacy Specialist.
From 2009-2010, there were about 883 students (from grade school to college) in Panaon who stopped schooling due to various reasons, and Ernie Rose was one of them. But through the EFA campaign, about 620 (an increase of 71%) students have returned to school.
The children and youth representatives in Misamis Occidental together with the local government representatives, faith-based leaders, advocates, media correspondents, educators, and parents, came together with initiatives to bring these children back to school.
Role of educators
The teachers in Misamis Occidental closely coordinate with village leaders to discuss issues affecting the education of the children and youth. “We seek support from the village officials to monitor parents who don’t value education much,” says Anastacia Mangal, member of watch group in Panaon. “We conduct group counseling in order to influence parents to support their children to school.”
Aside from conducting an enrolment campaign, teachers do regular home visits to those who encounter academic issues. “A number of enrollees have been increasing because of our efforts,” Anastacia added.
Local government efforts
As a major support for the education campaign, the local government unit in Panaon has been able to sustain 17 day care centers in 16 villages. “We shouldered and increased the salary of the day care teachers. We also reconstructed the buildings of the day care centers,” says Quirino Morales, local government unit representative of Panaon municipality.
In order to respond the increasing number of high school drop-outs in Panaon, the local government provided transportation allowance to students living in the far-flung areas. “The parents of these kids could barely support their education,” shares Quirino. The local government is also planning to purchase a private vehicle to provide free transportation for students who come mostly from indigenous groups.
The youth’s response
With the theme “Bring a Friend to School”, the campaign aims to enforce children’s right to education through policy implementation and influence through a massive information campaign. During their free time, the youth watch group in Panaon has been collecting empty bottles and cans in order to send a child to school. “Education is the antidote to poverty,” adds Gigie, youth watch group leader. “We may be young but we know that we can contribute something to support the EFA campaign.”
Children aged 14-18 years old convene once or twice a month to discuss initiatives to help other less fortunate children. They also coordinate with village officials to help them facilitate discussions with parents. “We collect and recycle used notebooks to provide school supplies to the kids,” shares Gigie. They also collect monthly dues every month to raise funds for school supplies of poor kids. “We save P5-10 each every month to send a child to school,” says Melody, a youth leader.
Through the EFA campaign, Ernie Rose’s idea of getting back into school became possible. She works hard to stay in school and studies to reach her dreams.
Stepping stone
Ernie Rose’s idea of quitting school had gone through the EFA campaign. “Apart from school supplies, we were oriented about children’s rights,” says Ernie Rose.
Now, Ernie Rose continues her studies and juggles all his responsibilities at home and school. She reviews her notes every night to get high scores on exams. She’s been doing well in History and Science subjects. "I learned about my right to go to school,” recalls Ernie Rose. She realized that the only way to have a better future is to finish school. “I want to fulfill my dreams by becoming a doctor someday,” she added.
If you would like to help a child just like Ernie Rose gain access to education, be given proper nutrition, opportunities for development and participation, and sustainable livelihood for their community though World Vision's Child Sponsorship, click here.
