With only a small boat as their mode of transportation, some young learners traverse the open waters of Guiuan, Eastern Samar to get to school every day.

This municipality located at the southernmost end of the province is one of the beneficiaries of the partnership between Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI) and Consuelo Foundation.

“I think it started November last year… the Consuelo Foundation already knew about what Knowledge Channel does,” said Doris Nuval, KCFI’s school and community engagement head.

“One of their projects is Project HOPE or Help Operation for Protection and Empowerment. Meron silang mga schools na tinulungan at meron silang mga community shelters na tinayo para sa mga victims ng typhoon Yolanda.  Ang gusto nilang gawin is to put educational TV facilities sa mga schools.”

More than 10 schools and community shelters in Leyte and Samar, as well as in other areas in Bacolod, Baguio, Quezon City and Manila, benefited from the project.

KCFI has also connected four off-grid island schools in Palawan in collaboration with Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI).

“Meron silang computer pero hindi ganun kalakas ang access nila sa internet, so bihira din silang gumamit ng mga videos sa pagtuturo nila,” shared Christine Baking, volunteer and training coordinator of KCFI.

The schools received Knowledge Channel On-Demand packages—laptops preinstalled with Knowledge Channel episodes, games and other multimedia resources.

Teachers of the beneficiary schools were also trained on how to maximize the use of Knowledge Channel in their lessons.

MFI and its affiliates started in 2012 to address the needs of public schools in Palawan.