Preschoolers at Primrose Schools, a U.S.- based franchisor of early childhood education centers, are reaching out to their fellow students in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the Zamboanga Peninsula in the Philippines.

About 20,000 preschoolers held performances that raised funds to purchase more than 300 classroom Learning Kits containing teaching tools and educational toys such as globes, rhythm instruments, balls and puzzles. The kits will be delivered to 229 Mindanao schools in need through the efforts of Creative Learning, the not-for-profit sister organization of Creative Associates International, Inc. 

Creative Associates implements education and civil society projects in 15 countries worldwide. In the Philippines, Creative Associates is implementing the USAID-funded Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills. Known by its acronym, EQuALLS, it helps improve access to quality education for students in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and surrounding areas, particularly at the elementary school level. In addition to repairing classrooms and providing books and desks, EQuALLS is enhancing the quality of instruction by training thousands of teachers in foundation subjects such as math, English and science. 

As the EQuALLS project was underway in hundreds of Mindanao schools, the great need for educational resources in the region became clear. Creative Learning picked up the ball and worked with Primrose Schools to raise funds to supply Learning Kits procured by school supplies manufacturer, School Specialty, Inc.

When fundraising to purchase the classroom kits, Primrose students also learned about the Philippines in lessons which will continue once the kits are distributed.

“Our students are anxiously waiting to see the kits being used, through photos and letters that the beneficiaries will send back. It gives our students in the United States a real-life lesson on volunteerism,” said Kristin McCabe of Primrose Schools.

According to Jessica Kruvant Wilson of Creative Learning: “The reason we are so committed to this program is that all the children benefit. The children of Mindanao receive much needed educational toys that are on par with what children use in the United States. Young students in the United States are able to learn about diversity, multiculturalism and the similarities of life for children in the Philippines. No matter where they live, all children love to learn and play.”

Three hundred Learning Kits arrived in the Philippines  in June; Creative Associates delivered them to 229 schools in the ARMM and Zamboanga Peninsula in July.