Life for most families in the Tondo district in Manila, Philippines is fraught with adversity – parents struggle to provide for their children and send them to school. Add to that the challenges brought about by the prolonged pandemic, and it can only get worse from here.

In fulfilling our Lasallian mission to serve the last, the lost, and the least, we partnered with the Purple Community Fund (PCF) seven years ago as part of our school’s service initiatives. PCF runs several livelihood and skills training programmes, one of which involves upcycling ring pulls from cans of drinks into a range of eco-fashion handbags, clothing and accessories. Making these products provide employment to mothers in Tondo, and proceeds from the sales of these accessories go directly back to PCF’s community welfare programmes.

PCF team members showing our students how to make bracelets out of ring pulls during their visit to SJI International in 2018.

In 2017, PCF’s sister charity Upskills+ Foundation was born, expanding existing livelihood programmes and building up education and mentorship programmes to provide vocational and academic scholarships to Tondo children.

Through our partnerships with PCF and Upskills+, we sponsor scholarships through non-uniform days and collect ring pulls for the livelihood projects they run. Our IB Business Students are brand ambassadors for upcycled products and accessories they make out of these ring pulls.

We also organise emergency relief efforts in the event of fires, floods, and last year sent electronics devices over so students could access education throughout the hard lockdown imposed.

School closures due to the pandemic persist, but scholars can access online learning and continue to be hopeful for a better future, thanks to the funds raised through our non-uniform days held twice a year.

Last 27 August, our non-uniform day raised $3,525.10, which will sponsor 21 scholarships for Tondo children.

While the pandemic shows no signs of slowing down, so do our school community’s continued partnership with PCF and Upskills+ to ensure that these families get adequate help, not if but when they need it.