TREK mountaineers bring aid to schoolchildren in remote provinces

Posted at 5:16 pm July 28, 2011

Tags: Inspirational Stories, Typhoons and Natural Disasters

SHARE YOUR STORIES

Got a similar Story? Share it here

See list of businesses related to Inspirational Stories

See list of businesses related to Typhoon and Natural Disasters

By KC Santos

MANILA CITY, METRO MANILA – Kelly Austria and Rex de los Reyes, co-founders of the mountaineering group Trails to Empower Kids (TREK), shared how their ascent to Mount Ugu in Benguet years ago opened their eyes on the dire needs of communities hidden in isolation.

“We could not ignore these schoolchildren knowing there is a lot that we can do t help them,” Kelly says.

With an initial membership of seven, TREK was formed in 2007 by friends who believed that they can help ease the burden of school children living in mountainous regions.

Their group now aims to help schoolchildren in the most remote and underserved provinces in the country.

Kelly, along with TREK members, recently spent her birthday with the schoolchildren of Saybuan Primary School, Barangay Tinongdan in Itogon, Benguet, the group’s first successful community project.

TREK members often travel through rough roads, trekking the muddiest and steepest slopes and carrying loads of donations to communities which need the assistance.

“In our treks, especially up in the remote mountains, one can easily empathize with their plight. Hiking even for a day is enough for us to know the hardships these children must face bravely,” Rex says.

He adds that the assistance the group gives is “small” but can help foster learning among the children.

Kelly says the experience opened their eyes to the challenges that schoolchildren in remote areas have to face everyday just to get to school.

“Most of our student beneficiaries walk miles on muddy paths to get to school. The situation worsens when it rains, so we do our best to provide each student with raincoats, boots and backpacks.”

“We also saw a lot of schools that don’t have facilities like comfort rooms, so we provide construction materials and partner with the community for the construction,” Kelly says.

Rex adds that TREK also aims to let these schoolchildren “know that there are people who care for them makes them quickly learn the fundamental value of sharing and kindness.”

TREK now conducts annual outreach projects particularly for tribal communities.

“We get to see and appreciate the rich culture of our tribes and how a lot of them get by with so little. Students have to contend with books that are so rare and few. Most do not have papers to write on or pencils to use,” Kelly says.

TREK has already extended educational and relief assistance to 10 localities in Aurora, Kalinga, Nueva Vizcaya, Zambales, and Benguet. The group has also aided residents of Rizal and Pangasinan who were devastated by Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

“Every time we organize a project, we meet new volunteers and donors who end up being our friends. The joy returned to us every time a student smiles and a parent conveys his or her words of appreciation are great” she says.

To help boost local tourism, Kelly adds that TREK members also find time to take photos and write about the most picturesque and interesting wonders they see along the way to their missions.

Kelly says TREK is “open” for people who want to share in the joy of giving, especially now that the group is getting ready for another mission on August 20 and 21.

She says the main bulk of the books are provided by partner Diwa Learning Systems but for future missions, TREK needs additional encyclopedias, maps, educational toys, storybooks, coloring books, and hygiene kits.

The project would benefit 117 students of a school located in Purok Atan in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya which suffers lack of school supplies, electricity and restrooms, even clean running water.

“Each project takes much time and effort but the rewards are tremendous,” Kelly says.

(Photos courtesy of Kelly Austria)

Get more information about TREK