Paying It Forward: Mano Amiga students raise funds for the Autism Society

February 14, 2019

The Battle of the Bands staged by the grade 9 class could have been like any other performance event, but students took it upon themselves to make it more meaningful. Recalling how one of their schoolmates had been diagnosed as belonging to the autism spectrum, the students decided to direct all their ticket sales to the organization Autism Society Philippines.

Students invited a specialist to speak at the beginning of their program, sharing with audiences a few words about how autism affects a child and their learning. To add more to the sum for donating, the students also held a garage sale that sourced items from the community. In the end, the students raised a total of 12,270 PHP which will support the programs of the Autism Society Philippines.

The school’s formation program aims to instil the values of social responsibility and apostolic service in its students. “Although the students do not come from privileged backgrounds, they are aware that they can still make a valuable contribution to helping address social problems,” Principal Revelyn Tria-Siasoyco said. “We are proud of the students for their proactiveness in being of service to the community at large.”

Beyond being conscious of the needs of others, this shows how students have recognized how they can be in solidarity with a sector–by making an effort to build communities that keep giving.