Children in schools in remote areas of the Philippines have a new way to have access to more digital educational materials — even without electricity or internet.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently distributed 24 new Remote Area Community Hotspot for Education and Learning Plus servers to several schools.
The RACHEL-Plus servers from World Possible are portable and battery-powered, and contain copies of educational websites offline. This means the schools will receive free digital educational content delivered to tablets, laptops or smartphones with no internet or data plans required, reported the Church’s Philippines Newsroom.
On Sept. 26, the Church donated 13 servers to schools in the Department of Education Division of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. Then on Oct, 11, the Church gave 11 servers to the Schools Division Office of Nueva Ecija, San Antonio Annex at the San Antonio District office.
The San Antonio, Nueva Ecija, district was the first of the three areas in the Philippines to receive the RACHEL-Plus servers in 2021 for initial testing, reported Newsroom. Recipient schools agreed to focus the use of the device on improving the reading levels and comprehension, numeracy skills and improving research skills.
Some areas in the district have had trouble with cellular signals and internet access. The situation is made worse by frequent typhoons. Once the school officials saw the helpfulness of the servers, they reached out to the Church for more.
“We are very blessed because they provided materials for our teachers that will help deliver quality education to our children,” said San Antonio District Supervisor Esther D. Ramos.. “It will make teaching easier.”
In Laoag City, the assistant school division superintendent, Arnel S. Bandiola, said the Church of Jesus Christ has always been its partner in education.
“We couldn’t be thankful enough for your generosity and thinking of how this technology upgrade could benefit the learners in Laoag City,” he said. “Surely, this is the beginning of a more strengthened relationship between the Schools Division of Laoag City and the Church as we all think of the lives of the children in this community.”
Elder Steven Leininger and Sister Marilyn Leininger and Elder Lenard Haff and Sister Bonnie Haff, who serve among the volunteer senior service missionaries for the Church, took part in the donation events.
Sister Leininger said: “Every child needs a better future. Teaching them is an effort of love, care and service no one could ever imagine. Teaching them requires the best technological advancement available.”
