RJ , one of Sarah's special education teachers

Class in progress in new classroom

After mastering sign language, the students study reading, writing, math, history, science etc. up to high school level with special education teachers whom Sarah employs.

New classrom

This new classroom was constructed for the school by another donor. It is a model on which the boy's dormitiory will follow. Basic concrete block construction. With the old dormitory being totally unihabitable the classroom will serve as the boys shelter until construction is complete.

One kind soul

After hearing Sarah's plea, one kind soul has pledged funds to construct a new boys dormitory. One might think the rich would be the bigger donors but oddly enough in Sarah's experience it is the average people who make up the greater number of donors. You figure it out. It is all new to me this past year but what a learning experience it is becoming. This photo is of the foundation work being done by the students themselves ( under a builder's supervision ) with the old dormitory in the background. Expected completion time is 6 months due to the rainy season and finding additional funds to finish the job.

Boys lodging and cooking facilities

It is hard to believe but up to 90% of the rural deaf in the Philippines never learn to communicate with sign language. In these areas they are destined to a life of servitude, sexual and physical abuse. Some of the stories are horrid. Having the kind soul that Sarah has, she has dedicated her life to helping to improve the lives of such victims. She liasons with the local Dept. of Social Welfare and takes in the cases most in need but as I mentioned the need is so great that there is never enough space at her facility to accomodate more than 30 or so students, a drop in the bucket but with limited funds there is no choice. Sarah does wonders with the small funding that is donated to her cause. Here is an example: you may remember the boys dormitory a rundown bamboo shack with a kitchen that is quite hard to imagine having to live and cook in but live in and cook for themselves her boy charges did and with gratitude that someone was kind enough to provide them with a shelter and a bonus of studying how to communicate and basic education.

Remember Sarah and her fine work?

You may remember Sarah, She is the director of a small deaf boarding school. Her school is located 2 hours south of Puerto Princesa. It is entirely a non profit foundation that Sarah directs and is constantly in need of funding which sadly is constantly lacking. I support and donate what I can but it is never enough This photo is of Sarah and her husband and students while on their way to a massage training seminar.

Toilet training

We picked up a new toilet for the family. Their first. Now its up to Papa to set it up and build a shelter.
Better than going in the jungle and a lot better than my experience as a child in Northern Canada, having to make a midnight toilet run in minus 30 degrees. But at least there were no creepy crawlers waiting for you as there as there are here. You never know what jungle critter might care to join you.

Kristina and Mary Jane

Quiet and shy Kristina

This is Kristina, Crysle's 17 year old single mom sister. She has a daughter, Mary Jane who is almost a year old. My next focus will be to get some kind of job training for Kristina so she can support and send her daughter to school in the future.

Boys gather rattan from the jungle for the baskets.

New Family Business

This has indeed been a good year so far for Crysle and her family. A new nipa hut home, children going to school and a rattan basket weaving business that all family members contribute to.

The Man!

Edward Solon Hagedorn was elected Mayor of Puerto Princesa, one of the Philippines' largest cities, in 1992. Immediately upon taking office, he showed that he was a different breed of politician. Through his Princesa Watch Program, he stopped the destruction of the City's terrestrial and marine resources from logging, slash-and-burn farming, blast, trawl and cyanide fishing. As a result, these resources have been restored. His Operation Plan Cleanliness Programme has earned Puerto Princesa the distinction of being the country's cleanest and greenest city, and today it is considered a model city and the country's tourism capital.

El Nido

Relocating to El Nido

Having spent most of this year ( while in Palawan ) working in and around Puerto Princesa, I've recently decided to relocate up to the northern part of the island to El Nido. Hopefully we will have the kids centre up and running in 2008.