Philippine-Australian Alumni Association gives underprivileged kids a chance at education

Philippine-Australian Alumni Association gives underprivileged kids a chance at education

Feb 11, 2013 - The Philippine Australian Alumni Association, Inc. (PA3i), an organisation of scholars and graduates from Australia’s premier academic institutions, recently donated over Php500,000 to World Vision Philippines.

Philippine-Australian Alumni Association gives underprivileged kids a chance at education.jpeg

PA3i gives back. Officers of the PA3i, led by its current national president Sim Marfori, hand over the proceeds of PaaralRUN benefit marathon to Director Filomena Portales, public engagement director, World Vision Philippines.

PA3i’s donation to World Vision’s Child Sponsorship Program will help around 30 underprivileged Filipino children residing in a poor community in Cavite to four years of education. It will also provide skills training and livelihood assistance as well as give the selected children improved health care, better nutrition, and safer water and sanitation, . The donated funds were proceeds from PaaralRUN: Run for a Brighter Future, a benefit run that PA3i organised in September 2012.

“Recognising how privileged we are for the opportunity of having Australian education, PA3i is committed to ‘pay it forward’ by helping the less fortunate Filipino children have access to education. PaaralRUN has given us the chance to give back, and we are more empowered to continue using our resources, capabilities and education to contribute to the development of our nation,” said Sim Marfori, national president, PA3i.

Over 400 hundred runners joined the 3K, 5K and 10K marathons held at Roxas Boulevard, Manila in September 2012. Simultaneous runs were also held in Baguio, Los Banos, Cebu, Bohol, Davao, Iligan, Cagayan De Oro, Caraga, and Cotabato.

Aside from the runners who supported the event’s cause, Australian universities–including University of Newcastle, Curtin University, Charles Darwin University, and University of Melbourne–also supported the project.

“We, Filipinos, are known for our ‘bayanihan’ spirit, and we are grateful for the support that we received from both the Filipino and Australian communities in making PaaralRUN a success. Through our combined efforts, we are now on our way to achieving our goal of giving opportunities for education and making a difference in the lives of Filipino children,” Marfori added.END