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Chalk it up to being a school teacher’s daughter, but I seem to keep returning to the theme of education. We all know that education is critical to not just the present but also the future of any country. But because education systems are run by Governments, we often wonder how to best contribute.

These past few days, I have seen great examples of how individuals, charity groups, and businesses can pitch in to help provide good education for Filipino youth.

One day I visited two schools in the Manila neighborhood of Tondo. U.S. Navy sailors off the visiting aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, were doing community work at the schools and I wanted to stop by to meet them and thank them for volunteering to spend their liberty hours helping others.

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But the U.S. Sailors weren’t alone in volunteering. One of the schools is supported by the Ayala Foundation (the charity arm of a major Philippine Corporation) as well as by a volunteer group called the “Children’s Hour.” I watched as wonderful people read to the children, taught mathematics, and held art classes.

The other school is supported by the Philippine Christian Foundation and receives donations from around the world. Recently flooded by heavy rains, the U.S. Navy sailors cleaned up flood damage and did repair work. Other dedicated volunteers assisted the teachers with classes and in preparing and serving nutritious food for the children.

At the far end of the Philippines, on the island of Jolo, I visited a bookfair. The bookfair is sponsored by the USAID with assistance from “Save the Children” and “Synergia,” two global non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Over 250,000 books were given to 500 local teachers and school administrators who got to pick the books most suitable for their classes and students. The books were donated by another American NGO, the “Brother’s Brother Foundation.” This public-private partnership has already placed a million and a half books in schools in the southern Philippines.