ETON Helps Widen Access to Education

It all started with a news clip that showed children going to school—not by jeep, buses, or cars—and swimming meter upon meter of cold ocean water, just to reach their school building and attend their classes.  Dr. Jacqueline Tolentino, school director of ETON International School, was moved by the story shown in GMA7News of the school children of Mababoy Island in Masbate.  She had to do something, so right there and then, she went online and searched for information about the swimming school kids and the means how they could be helped.  In her search, she finally crossed paths with Jay Jaboneta and his Yellow Boat project.

The Yellow Boat project was made possible by a larger fund-drive known as the Masbate Funds for Little Kids.  Jay Jaboneta started it all when he came together with a group of friends in Facebook and started the mother project called Zamboanga Funds for Little Kids.  He raised enough money to buy a customized boat for kids to use when they travel to school, instead of swimming and putting their lives in danger.

Dr. Tolentino knew that she and the ETON family can and would be more than willing to extend any help and support to make the Yellow Boat of Hope project reach a lot of school kids.  Come the ETON Foundation Day, she made an appeal to the parents of ETON to give and share and be a part of this worthwhile project.  And, she was, indeed, overwhelmed with the strong support from the parents.  Many gladly gave and donated books, toys, school supplies, and even cash.  Dr. Tolentino, setting the example, donated a Yellow Boat for the school children of Mababoy Island.  All the donations were turned over to Jay Jaboneta for distribution and handover to the waiting recipients in Masbate.

Such a show of selfless support from the parents of ETON highlights their great capacity to unite and nurture, not just their very own kids, but even the faraway swimming school children of Masbate.