| Philippine Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro (2nd from left), US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas (center), and USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia Gregory Beck (right) joined the top student winners (1st and 3rd from left) of a painting competition in 50 elementary schools in Mindanao, southern Philippines on “How the Philippine-American partnership in Education Helped My School and Community” at the celebration of USAID’s 50th anniversary in the Philippines on November 4 in Pasay City. In the background are some of the winning paintings. |
To commemorate USAID’s 50th anniversary in the Philippines, students in 50 elementary schools in areas most affected by poverty and conflict in Mindanao depicted in colorful paintings how USAID support “really helped decongest our classrooms, provided us with many usable books and other reading materials,” and “(made us) more united despite our different religions so that our community can progress,” according to the top winners in two regions.
USAID is helping the Philippine government improve basic education in Mindanao.
