Dubai: Dubai Cares has launched a programme in the Philippines to support adolescent girls and boys from poor rural households who have dropped out of school, or are at risk of dropping out, in two of the country’s poorest provinces.
The programme, called RAISE (Real Assets through Improved Skills and Education for Adolescent Girls), also addresses the numerous adversities of early child pregnancy on children’s education so that the girls can find their way back to school.
The Philippines faces high rates of early child-bearing and pregnancy that undermine the chances of achieving quality education, Dubai Cares said. According to the National Demographic and Health Survey, one in 10 Filipino women aged 15 to 19 years has begun childbearing.
RAISE will be implemented in Masbate and North Samar provinces. According to the Provincial Population Office of Masbate, teenage pregnancy rates in Masbate are rising and teen moms are either not in or have dropped out of school.
A mother in Masbate, Lolita, said her daughter Rosa had stopped attending school when she became pregnant at 17 years of age. Rosa is now 19 years old.
Lolita said: “Even if I don’t buy new clothes or shoes for myself, I make sure to first provide for all my children’s needs. We know that we can give them what they need to finish their education.”
Lolita learnt about the RAISE programme from one of the secondary schoolteachers in their village. She returned home and asked her husband to help convince Rosa to go back to school through the programme.
“With determination, my daughter Rosa continued her schooling and I took care of her nine-month old daughter when she was in school. Now with this programme, I am assured that my dream for her and for my other children will be fulfilled,” Lolita said.
Rosa completed grade 10 in March 2016 and is now studying in senior high school. Speaking on her Open High School Programme experience, Rosa said: “I dream of becoming a fashion designer and I have big dreams for my little girl too, just like my mother has for me.”
Dubai Cares has partnered with Plan International to implement RAISE, which provides learners with an alternative to regular classes that enables youth and adult learners to complete their education despite personal or family constraints and regardless of distance.
