World Vision and DepEd launch mobile library to give children in slum areas access to learning materials

Child-focused organization World Vision partners with the Department of Education (DepEd) to launch a mobile library in Mandaue City. The library named as Learn and Play Hub is officially launched to the community at the DepEd Mandaue City Division Office.

Under the organization’s Urban Development Project, with the funding from the World Vision Singapore office, the hub aims to cater children on the streets and those who are living in the slums and give them access to learning resources, opportunities for play and life skills development.

“World Vision is grateful and excited to embark in its first Mobile Learn and Play Hub with Deped Mandaue City Division. We are expectant that this intervention will bring more value in helping and reaching kids in the communities even during this pandemic,” shares Faith Richelle Sy, Program Manager of the World Vision Urban Development Project.

The project is foreseeing to reach at least 800 children ages 6 to 14 years old by the year 2023. Its target communities are in districts Mantuyong and Umapad, but it is expected to reach other districts in the city especially beyond the project life.

DepEd, as the main partner, helps oversee the planning, implementation, and the monitoring of the project. The department also facilitates the mobilization of Alternative Learning System (ALS) teachers for training and implementation, including the sustainability of the project.

The Mandaue City local government unit also supports the project. The University of Southern Philippine Foundation (USPF) through its Engineering and Architecture Department also supported the interior designing of the library hub.

“We are all aware of the effect of this pandemic to the education of our children. The teaching of reading is greatly affected because it is difficult to teach reading through modules,” shares Dr. Nimfa Bongo, the Superintendent of DepEd Mandaue City Division, who also shares her message of commitment during the ceremony. “The mobile hub with a reading teacher will visit certain areas in the community. The teacher will conduct reading remedial classes with the help of the reading materials available in the hub.”

During the blended face-to-face and virtual project launch, DepEd External Partnerships Service, USEC. Tonisito M.C. Umali, ESQ, the Mayor of Mandaue City, Jonas C.Cortes, Regional Director of the DepEd Region 7, Salustiano T. Jimenez, World Vision Singapore Manager of International Programmes, Kyi Thwin Tun, World Vision Director of Strategy, Management, Impact, and Learning, Vanessa G. Reuterma, World Vision Philippines Operations Director, Xenia Legaspi, and along with other important guests, grace the event.

To know more about World Vision’s 5K Campaign Challenge and its initiative against COVID-19, please visit https://www.worldvision.org.ph. You may also follow /worldvisionph on Facebook and @worldvisionphl on Instagram for updates.