PROJECT Aslag

Bringing Light to the Youth of Lubao, Pampanga

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the education system in the Philippines, with UNICEF reporting that only 1 in every 10 Filipino children can read simple text or comprehend a simple story. This was compounded by the World Bank’s report that learning poverty or the proportion of 10-year-olds who are unable to read or comprehend a simple story reached a new high of 90% in August 2021.

To combat this, Suli Ning Lubao (SNL) launched Project Aslag from August 3 to 16, 2022. The word “Aslag” is a Kapampangan word meaning “brightness” or “light”, and the project aimed to help the youth of Lubao, Pampanga improve their literacy and numeracy skills and provide them with a brighter future

The project focused on providing learning services for students in grades 4 to 6 at Pulung Bisaya, Sta. Catalina, Lubao, Pampanga. This community is made up of poverty-stricken families who are all waiting for housing grants, making the provision of education even more critical. SNL spent weeks fine-tuning the lesson plan, with the help of the Community of Learners Foundation and volunteer teacher Karina B. Hernandez from San Vicente National High School.

In addition to the learning services, Project Aslag also included a feeding program for the participating students. The health of the children directly affects their academic performance, and Dr. Heidi Sampang-Abiad of Remote Area Medical (RAM) Philippines and Philippines Flying Labs conducted a free checkup among the student-participants. She also reminded the students of the importance of proper hygiene and gender sensitivity, helping not only the students and volunteer-teachers, but also the parents in identifying what needs to be improved in the lifestyle of their children.

The project used a story-telling approach in teaching, which the students enjoyed and found engaging. This allowed them to improve their literacy skills while also learning valuable life lessons. The impact of Project Aslag was immediately evident, with the students showing improvement in their reading and comprehension skills.

In conclusion, Project Aslag was a resounding success and an example of the difference that can be made with a little bit of effort and a lot of heart. The team at Suli Ning Lubao is proud to have brought a little light to the darkness of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on education, and we look forward to continuing to make a positive difference in the lives of the children of Pulung Bisaya. The project was also recognized by the Young People’s Council as the winner in their Baeyani Challenge, further highlighting its impact and success.