Helping others help themselves

In a Gulf News community report, Mathews Stephen — a grade nine pupil in Ras Al Khaimah, wrote about how old books can educate a poor child.

[These were] big, wonderful thoughts from a small person.

It touched my heart.

I also think the initiative will complement my young son's charitable mission in the Philippines.

My son Ravindranath won a cultural competition last year in Australia and one of his prizes was a visit to his mother's country of origin to launch an education-related project.

He chose to launch a "Read and IT Awareness Campaign" where we donated resource materials to two marginalised elementary schools in Sorsogon province in southern Luzon, Philippines.

In this small project, we aimed to motivate and sustain children's interest in reading and learning about computer technology.

We received support from kind and generous individuals in Australia and the Philippines and were able to donate second-hand computers, old resource and school books, blank exercise books, writing implements and second-hand school bags to less fortunate students.

The pupils in these poor schools were ecstatic, as they were able to have books to read other than their standard school books and were able to learn about computers for the first time.

Books can open up a new world in the lives of poor students who do not have the chance to see places other than their own.

They are also able to read about the cultures of other people in other parts of world.

If we could have some used books or other learning materials that students in this region do not need any more, we are sure that it would put more smiles on the faces of school children.

You can get in touch with me on ffabandekar9@gmail.com.

— The reader is based in Abu Dhabi

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