Patoc National High School

The Adopt A School project is one of the original projects under VFV's community program. Though the program runs year round, the number of adopted schools varies as donations are gathered and secured in amounts large enough to support an entire school's needs. Each new elementary Adopt A School project requires a minimum donation of $200 USD every 6 months, which provides basic school supplies for 100-200 students at the beginning and half way through the school year (notebooks, pencils, paper, crayons, etc). VFV also strives to collect physical donations to supplement school supplies, including but not limited to: books, teachers resources, classroom supplies (ex electric fans, printers, etc), and uniforms or school bags. When extraordinarily large donations are made or fundraised in honor of VFV for the Adopt A School project, VFV is able to Build Entire classrooms for pre-selected and approved schools in need.

In the case of the high school recently introduced to VFV, enrollment is more then 3 times that of a typical Adopt A School. Therefore, funding for basic school supplies for all students, in addition to essential supplies for teachers, was much greater.

Patok National High School has 665 student and 27 teachers.

$550 AUD will buy each student the following:
- An intermediate note pad
- A note book
- A pen
It will also provide each teacher with the following:
- 20 sheet of manila paper
- One permenent marker

On top of supply needs, the school also has an immediate need for an additional building on its campus. The school is lucky enough to have been selected by the Department of Education to receive computers, which will astronomically expand the educational resources and capacity for learning at the school. However, because of the tropical climate, the new computers cannot be set in a normal classroom, which lacks sealed Windows, air conditioning, or sufficient security measures. Instead, the school needs to construct a new building which was will serve as a computer lab, equipped with proper locks, windows, and an air conditioning unit. Until the lab can be built, the school and VFV are focusing on the essential air conditioning unit required to keep the computers useable in one of the current classrooms.

The new computer lab will give students opportunities beyond what words can describe. The majority of children, teens, and even adults have little to no experience with computers. In fact, an extremely minimal number of households own a personal computer. Most students in the Philippines do not have the opportunity to use a computer unless they pay to use one at make shift Internet cafes set up in an extra room of someone's private home or in a commercial building. Even students who do use computers in this way, lack a complete understanding of how to use a computer, let alone effectively utilize the Internet, emailing, or Microsoft office products. As you can imagine, when students are researching for papers or projects (keep in mind that fully stocked libraries are equally as scarce as computers) it becomes very difficult for them to utilize it effectively to learn, research, and complete a required assignment. Imagine also what will happen to the students when they are forced into the job market, which inevitably will require them to understand and know how to use computers, unless they are working in lower level unskilled positions.

Having computers and the proper facilities to promote technological education at this high school will reap insurmountable benefits for the students.

By supporting the Adopt A School project at this high school, you will be changing the outlook of hundreds of children's futures. Not just the 600 that currently attend the school. Beyond these students, their computer education will trickle down to benefit their younger siblings and parents, and eventually the new students that will continue to enroll in the school each year. Additionally, by developing library resources and other learning materials, the quality of the education students will receive and have access to will grow immensely.

if you would like to know more about this campaign, would like to make direct cash donations, or provide reading books to Patoc, please email me at a.damianopoulos@yahoo.com.au.