The Genesis of the Tribal School Program – A Quest for Tribal Empowerment Father Nestor always underlines the fact that the tribal parents were the principal authors of the Tribal School Program. They immediately emphasized, when he first visited them, the need of a school in each village. He understood this, took a very personal interest and was compelled to partner with them to establish the schools.
Required to attend local public schools before 2008, tribal children were at a great disadvantage, due to the distance and the terrain. Daily they had to hike mountainous trails and make several river crossings, for an hour or more each way. On rainy days, landslides and swelling rivers made the journey even more risky. So, many of the parents themselves have never gone to school, and, unfortunately, a good number of them are illiterate.
The continued growth and success of the Tribal Schools since 2008, indicates the hunger for learning of the tribal people and their children. Despite great sacrifice and difficulties, they push on with very gratifying and ever-renewed enthusiasm.
In 2010, Fr. Lisondra and the enthusiastic and hard-working tribal people established the agricultural arm of Tribal Empowerment Project. Soon after, the dream began to become reality. In 2011, a poultry farm and nursery were established near the centrally located Kilegbeg Village, which supplies farmers in 20 villages with seedlings to plant on their deforested land. By late 2012, the nursery had grown and distributed 15,000 cacao, 10,000 abaca, and 5,000 coffee seedlings to farmers for planting.
These hard works paid off and the success encouraged the ever-strengthening resolve of the tribal people and motivate us to continue the Tribal Empowerment Project. Eventually, community farming and the nursery will support the schools, but, for the moment, the schools cannot stand by themselves.
Providentially, we’re slowly finding benefactors, but more willing partners are needed to help the tribal people realize their dream. They’ve successfully built and maintain the schools and teachers’ cottages; and pool their resources and physical strength to realize the Tribal Empowerment Project, giving them the potential to make their development and educational programs self-sustaining.
To continue until this happens, we are looking for more partners to share the load. We would be most grateful for your support.