Christmas in Banawen Zambales: Sharing your blessings

I personally was not able to go to Zambales to give out the gifts but was so happy when we were told that they received the stuff we, Gift In Kind Foundation, had put together from our own pockets and some donations recieved from family, friends and proud to say Steemit.

I tackled this in another post but to those that don't know we are a group of friends that has banded together for the past 12 years to provide school supplies, books and aid to impoverished children in the province. For the past 3 years we have adopted the Banawen Elementary school which is composed of students from an indigenous tribe called Aeta's here in the Philippines.

This school year was the first time that Banawen Elementary school endorsed five students who graduated Elementary school and went and studied further into Highschool! This was a great as education is not really a priority for these people.

So we take care of the living expenses of these six students along with the rotating parent who would stay with them each week.

So we were pretty excited to give them their gifts of new clothes, new shoes and of course a small feast to celebrate their 6 months as highschool students.

We were feeling particularly proud and tearful as they recount their progress. The challenges and still the stigma that they encounter from time to time. It is always sad for us to hear that when we can only see how hard working and persistent they are to studying and making a difference in their tribe.

Hopefully someone will consider going further and go to college. We are hoping all five but we know it is a long shot. All we can do is continue supporting and cheering them on.

I have to thank those people that upvoted my post about them and a huge thank you to @ediah for sending some SBD which we were able to add for the Christmas goods we sent to the community.

The children, community and Gift in Kind Foundation is truly grateful to all the support we have received.