Para Sa Mga Bata! Teachers Bartered Plants For Their Students' School Supplies

The upcoming school year will no doubt be challenging for parents, students, and teachers alike. Although the Department of Education (DepEd) has assured that they are ready to carry out blended learning and distance learning (see a simulation of their classes here), there are still kids who struggle to get hold of learning materials such as school supplies.

Despite the difficulties, teachers prove that they are willing to go the extra mile for their students. In Campaasan Elementary School in Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro, a group of teachers came up with a unique initiative to help out young learners who do not have access to their own gadgets or a stable Internet connection: a barter project that exchanged plants with printing supplies, activity sheets, and health kits for the kids.

“We have come up with this barter system instead of soliciting goods and items from the people because we know no one is exempted [from] this pandemic,” shares Campaasan Elementary School principal, Lucy Ferranco, in an interview with Summit Media.

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The project, called “Halaman Ko, Barter Mo,” was an instant hit — even the parents in the community decided to help out by donating their plants! Instead of money, the school lists specific things — school supplies, health kits, alcohol, face masks, thermal scanners, and more — that they would need in exchange for a particular plant. It gained a huge following on social media that pretty soon, good Samaritans also started donating cash to support the project. Meanwhile, the teachers assured that the learning modules they would be able to produce with the donations would be a big help to their blended learning setup.

“Katulad po ng kasabihan, ‘it’s not how much you do, but how much love you put in what you are doing and that’s what counts’,” shares Teacher Lucy. “

Watch their inspiring video below and find out how else you can support their initiative.

Want to become a plant mom journey? Click here for a guide on how to care for your houseplants!

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