The AMY Foundation is pleased to announce that Alexander Jacob T. Yao has founded the Youth Volunteers initiative of the foundation and will be spearheading its various planned service projects. Jacob, as he is fondly called by family and friends, has brought in his sister, Clara Nicole T. Yao, to join him in this new initiative. Jacob and Clara have long tagged along with their mom at various past events of the foundation and they believe it is time their generation should start to become involved with the AMY Foundation so that one day they will become worthy stewards to continue its legacy of supporting under-privileged children through education.
What made Jacob decide on starting this Youth Volunteer initiative?
“Growing up, my parents have often echoed my grandfather’s belief that “Education should be a right and not a privilege” to instill in me and my sister a deep sense of gratitude for us having the opportunity to study at international schools. It’s because of my Ankong’s hard work and sacrifice that we are so blessed. This pandemic has also made me realize that while my sister and I had no problem shifting to online-learning, it wasn’t the same for many of the students attending public schools in our country. I felt it’s time my sister and I should do something, no matter how small, to help those who need helping, especially in the area of education which is very close to my family’s heart”.
Jacob and Clara, despite being “home-bound” for the past year due to the government’s mandate of keeping the youth and elderly safe in their homes, worked “behind-the-scene” to help organize the foundation’s recent Pamaskong Handog as Panahon ng Pandemya (Sharing the Gift of Christmas During the Pandemic), a partnership with the Sagrada Familia Parish. The foundation distributed Noche Buena packages to 110 families belonging to the parish.
The siblings also assisted in launching the foundation’s Balik Eskuwela (Back-to-School) Project, a project that’s close to their mom’s heart. The Balik Eskuwela Project is a partnership with local government units (LGUs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) which aims to provide school supplies to students in public schools in Metro Manila.
Since founding the Youth Volunteers initiative, Jacob and Clara are hoping to develop more partnerships with other public schools not only in Metro Manila but also in far-flung areas, recognizing that the pandemic has also adversely affected these hard to reach communities.
Plans for a feeding program, once the government will allow students to resume face-to-face classes, is among their top projects they hope to launch. Jacob believes that poor nutrition negatively affects not only the physical development of children but also their learning capacity. Jacob and Clara plan to reach out to family and friends to support the feeding program and he hopes this is something the Youth Volunteers of the AMY Foundation will be able to sustain for the years to come.
