On October 7, 2006, P&A for a Cause (PAUSE) formally kicked off its long-term undertaking, “Project P&Aaralan,” with a contract signing at the P&A Head Office. P&A and its partner organizations for this project — Philippine Business for Social Progess (PBSP), Kapitbahayan Elementary School, Department of Education (DepEd), and Kabisig ng Kalahi Foundation– signed the contract.
Through Project: P&Aaralan, PAUSE will provide educational assistance to deserving students and teachers of a selected school in Metro Manila. (PBSP and PAUSE selected the Kapitbahayan Elementary School in Navotas for this project.) PAUSE will donate workbooks and other educational materials to outstanding students, and scholarship grants will be awarded to two teachers who are willing to take enhancement courses in special education.
In addition, the project is geared toward the development of the physical, cognitive and psycho-social conditions of “differently-abled” children and malnourished students. In coordination with Kabisig ng Kalahi Foundation, PAUSE will implement an enhanced feeding program to support 100 malnourished children, and will provide educational materials and supplies for differently-abled students.
Project: P&Aaralan also advocated employee volunteering, where P&A staff members will be engaged in various volunteering activities in support of the P&Aaralan project and nearby PBSP-assisted urban poor communities.
Present during the October 7 contract signing were Greg Navarro, Fred Damina and Francis Albalate; Edwin Umali (PBSP board member); Vicky Wieneke (President, Kabisig ng Kalahi); and Dr. Emelita Delos Reyes (Principal, Kapitbahayan Elementary School).