[Press Release] KRIS Library to Give Books and School Supplies to Kids Who Swim to Schools in Zamboanga Peninsula

By Arizza Sahi Nocum KRIS Volunteer The Kristiyano-Islam Peace Library (Kris) will give books and school supplies to poor Muslim children who swim at sea or wade through turbulent river waters to reach their schools in two remote villages in Zamboanga City and Zamboanga de Sur. Kris has partnered with the Kaisa Heritage Foundation and…

Human Rights Online Philippines

July 3, 2011

3–5 minutes

Elementary school, Facebook, Libraries, Muslim, Philippine, Quezon City, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Peninsula

Poor Muslim children try their hands at one of the eight computers free for their use at the Kristiyano-Islam (Kris) Peace Library in Manicahan, Zamboanga City. Kris will soon be giving books and school supplies to equally poor Christian and Muslim children who swim or wade to school and libraries every day in the Zamboanga Peninsula. Caption and Photo by KRIS

By Arizza Sahi Nocum

KRIS Volunteer

Four scholars at the 5,000-book-collection-full Kristiano-Islam Peace Library are deep in thought as they do their “group assignment” at the two-story Kris Library in Barangay Manicahan, Zamboanga City. The Kaisa Heritage Foundation and the actor Diether Ocampo’s Kabataan Inyong Dapat Suportahan (KIDS) Foundation are helping Kris build and refurbish ill-equipped libraries in remote areas in the Philippines.

The Kristiyano-Islam Peace Library (Kris) will give books and school supplies to poor Muslim children who swim at sea or wade through turbulent river waters to reach their schools in two remote villages in Zamboanga City and Zamboanga de Sur.

Kris has partnered with the Kaisa Heritage Foundation and actor-businessman Diether “Diet” Ocampo’s Kabataan Inyong Dapat Supportahan (KIDS) Foundation to also help refurbish book-deprived libraries used by kids in Layag Layag and Tungawan in Zamboanga City and Zamboanga del Sur, respectively.

“Parents and public school officials in Manila panic about suspending classes during heavy rains. In the communities we are helping, swimming and wading to school through turbulent seas and rivers with rampaging waters is a most natural thing kids do to get to school,’’ said Armand Dean Nocum, founder of Kris, a non-government organization engaged in the building of libraries, refurbishing of incomplete libraries and the distribution of books to poor and remote communities.

In Zamboanga City, Kris will help fill up with books the Talon-Talon Elementary School library which is used by Muslim kids coming the from the Layag-Layag mangrove community—kids who wade or swim to school through the open sea for two hours every day.

“We’ll also give the Layag-Layag kids textbooks from Kaisa Foundation under Ms. Teresita Ang See so they will no longer risk their lives or get wet swimming ashore just to copy from or borrow textbooks from their classmates,” Nocum said.
In Tungawan, Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Kris will help fill up the library of the Claret Mission Center of Claretian priest Fr. Larry Lorenzo so kids there will no longer have to walk hours over a combination of muddy, stony mountain terrain; and flood-prone rivers to reach the town’s public library.

Ocampo’s KIDS Foundation will also help Kris complete its second library in an informal settler community in Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City. Kris built its first two-story library in Manicahan, Zamboanga City where kids now do research and gain free access to its eight donated computers.

Kris is among the beneficiaries of the2nd Diether Ocampo Celebrity Charity Golf Cup in Tagaytay Highlands on July 21, 2011.

“We hope people will support this charity golf cup to help raise funds for many of our literacy advocacy projects,” said Nocum.

Those interested to join the 2nd Diether Ocampo Cup, which will see the gathering of many showbiz personalities may call Ms. Peach or Marose at 09228734183, 09195897879, 352-2313 or contact Kris at http://www.krislibrary.com for tickets.

People can also help by donating books, school supplies and old computers by bringing them at the Kris drop-off points at Kris Library, No. 9, Dona Isidora Street, Don Antonio Heights, Diliman Quezon City or at Dean & Kings Legal PR and Communications Marketing firm located at Suite 300, Kimvi Realty & Dev’t Bldg, 1191 Maria Orosa St., Ermita, Manila (please check Pls call me there at Tel 3393732/Cel. 09228169510. Pls look for Jess/Rose. Tnx.http://www.krislibrary.com/contact-us.html for map and direction).

Reference:
Arizza Nocum
09995609435
352 2313 / 571 8997
arizza.nocum@gmail.com