ACED receives grant from St. Charles Borromeo Philippine Medical Mission

The Ateneo Center for Educational Development (ACED) received a third grant from St. Charles Borromeo Philippine Medical Mission (SCBPMM) to support food packs for families who need this intervention the most. This particular grant from the SCBPMM is for 90 families of elementary school children and beneficiaries from Hilltop Open Space Community in Lagro, Quezon City.

Starting January 11, 2023, over the course of 40 weeks, 120 food packs will be distributed to the beneficiaries weekly, and other relevant activities and webinars will be conducted for them. The provision of food packs is estimated to end by October 11, 2023.

This grant hopes to address hunger and malnutrition in a very poor community that is the biggest among the urban poor within the jurisdiction of the Ascension of Our Lord Parish. The dwelling places of the residents are made from wood and scrap iron sheets, and most of those who earn a living for the families are daily paid workers. A number of residents also plant and harvest vegetables at the back of the community to sell at a nearby market.

An important component of the initiative is to measure and monitor the height, weight, and other indicators of health of the beneficiaries in order to strengthen the available proof on the effectiveness of the Food Packs Program.

The preparations for the initiative started on December 1, 2022 through December 16, 2022 with the selection of beneficiaries in coordination with the Ascension of Our Lord Parish and the measurement of the beneficiaries’ health indicators. The orientation for the beneficiaries took place from January 2 to 6, 2023.

The partnership between SCBPMM and ACED began three years ago when they supported 70 grades 7 and 8 students from Commonwealth High School. Last year, they assisted 80 beneficiaries from the First 1000 Days of Life in the Nuestra Señora dela Paz community in Payatas, Quezon City.

SCBPMM is an organization dedicated to promoting the inherent right of the poor and underprivileged in the Philippines to receive basic and adequate health care, food, and shelter and to empower them through education to become responsible and productive members of society.

To learn more about ACED’s Food Augmentation Program, please email aced@ateneo.edu.

Photos courtesy of ACED