This group has raised P2.6 million for students in need of gadgets

The pandemic has significantly impacted the lives of most, if not all Filipinos this 2020. Many people lost their source of income, were displaced and unable to return to their provinces, and hundreds of thousands became infected with the dreaded COVID-19 virus.

Students, in particular, have been greatly affected this year. As a result of various community quarantines prohibiting the resumption of face-to-face classes, the Department of Education (DepEd) adopted blended learning and distance learning for the delivery of education. Under blended learning, teachers and schools use a combination of television and radio-based education, the Internet, and physical learning modules to perform classes. Under distance learning, classes are conducted remotely.

The problem with such delivery modes of education is that a huge majority of students do not have access to laptops, Internet connection, and other gadgets to attend classes done via videoconferencing.

In August 2020, Diane Reyes, a graduate of the University of the Philippines, founded together with 20 friends Ayuda Pang Eskwela, a group that aims to connect students in need of aid to various donors.

As of December 2020, Ayuda Pang Eskwela already has 3,000 members and has helped raise P2.6 million for more than 500 pupils.

In an interview, Reyes shared that most of the donors come from the corporate world and that their volunteer work is on top of their day jobs.

Students seeking aid must post their appeals on the Facebook group and may not directly message any of the donors. Once their posts are approved by moderators, the donors can start sending their donations to the students via online fund transfers.