Help Scholars Experience a Dream Vacation

Hello!

I am Mark Rebucan and I am part of the Philippine NGO called Gawad Kalinga. Originally known to be an NGO that provides housing for people in poverty, GK has developed into a group that is offering not just housing but different opportunities to the bottom of the pyramid. I am specifically a teacher for a school called SEED Philippines located in Angat, Bulacan. The school was an initiative of GK and the Enchanted Farm (another one of GK's innovative creations). It's a school that offers a 2-year social entrepreneurship program for the poorest of the poor, mostly of which are from GK communities themselves. These students are those who have experienced different types of poverty, from eating only a meal a day to being contented with only earning P2,000 a month for a family of 9 children. However, these students are some of the most inspiring and hardworking people I've known.

I am currently the dorm parent of 13 exceptional, young scholars who are all coming from Mindanao (i.e. Davao, Compostella Valley, Bukidnon, and Sultan Kudarat). We live together in one dormitory and we have always found ways to celebrate life's milestones in the simplest yet most meaningful ways. This year, however, we are hoping to do things differently. We are hoping to experience an overnight beach trip on mid-December 2018, specifically to the Zambales area in Central Luzon. All they want is to experience the beach that Luzon has to offer. And these students have been my inspiration for the past months that I am more than eager to make this happen for them. This is going to be my last Christmas with the sophomore students in the dorm and they are extremely special to me.

The amount here may be a bit huge, but this is already for a big group and should cover the beach expenses (entrance fees, camping fees, boat rental), the food (as we'd need food for 5 meals), and the transportation (which is actually almost half the price here). Everything to make this trip a hassle-free event for my students, hopefully. :).

As much as we are exerting our own ways to save and secure financial resources for this, we would definitely need other people's help. We are all trying to save up for this to lighten the load. I myself cannot finance everything we need, and my students obviously are not getting extra allowance that will allow them to save up enough cash for this. They are now looking for part-time work around the school but that might not be enough for all of them. So, we really need your help!

A little help would REALLY go a long way to make these students happy! Thank you in advance and God Bless!