The Macatabo Early Childhood Development Centre is a preschool that is located on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines outside the city of Davao. The school was built in 1998 on property donated the previous year by a local family. The Centre was developed to serve the parents of the local Manogo and Bagobo Indigenous people who are predominantly farm workers, not financially stable, and have low education levels. The school educates children, ages 2 to 5 years old and prepares them for the local public school system. It also allows care givers time to pursue additional employment opportunities. The one room schoolhouse was built by the regional government with a single toilette, cook area and outdoor play yard. The operating costs of the school and the teacher’s salary is provided by the government. The school was originally built to house 10 children but has experienced up to 63 children being enrolled at one time. Since opening, the school has educated over 1300 students, many of whom have continued through the school system to become educators and other prominent citizens in their community.A joint effort between Canadian, US and Philippine Rotary Clubs addressed the state of disrepair and the crowded and unhygienic conditions.
In mid 2024, Rotary Club of Welland Rotarian, Peter Inman, visited the area with his family for the celebration of their son marrying the daughter of Lorenzo and Annabel Yumang, a local family. During the visit, Rotarian Peter was introduced to the local school and recognized its state of disrepair and the crowded and unhygienic conditions. Peter and Lorenzo reached out to the local, Davao 2000 Rotary Club, through member René Thöne. After the completion of a detailed needs assessment, using the Rotary International framework for Global Grant Applications, a plan was developed to upgrade the school for a sustainable future.
The initial project was projected to be valued at US$20,000 to US$40,000. In order to complete the project, Rotarian, Brad Wood from the Rotary Club of Welland organized a project proposal and went out to seek partners. The Rotary Club of Jamestown, NY stepped up and Rotarian David Troxell, who had a long history of delivering international projects, helped to coordinate and refine the project after visiting the site in January 2025. The refined project had a value of US$10,000 ($5000 from each club) and was to be completed during the upcoming school break to minimize impact to the children. Quick and responsible procurement of materials and close supervision by Lorenzo, an engineer who had successfully executed many similar projects, enabled the project to be successfully completed.
The final project saw the building being completely refurbished with new flooring, windows, doors, and a completely refurbished roof. The single toilet was replaced with three flush toilets (male, female, and adult). The wood fired kitchen facility was replaced with a new facility equipped with a refrigerator and gas cook top. The entire facility was repainted and new storage spaces and desks were installed. New water and sanitation systems were established to support the school and the electrical system was upgraded. Superior quality materials were selected for the project to ensure longevity, low maintenance and easy cleaning of the facility. Concurrent with the upgrades, the school received new uniforms, backpacks, teaching supplies and appliances from the Rotarians and volunteers that helped execute the project. The reopening of the school has seen the enrolment increase, parents participating in the cleaning and maintenance of the school, the Government hiring a new qualified teacher and the children receiving healthy lunches every day. It has become evident that displaying compassion and care for disadvantaged people can help to uplift their pride and empower them to participate in improving their future. This joint effort between Canadian, US and Philippine Rotary Clubs demonstrates how working together can make positive, lasting change in the world.
PHOTOS:
1) Davao 2000 Rotary Club conducting a Needs Assessment at the school
2) Children returning to school
3) New washroom with original condition in the top left