Together for a better future
George Davantes is a flight attendant at Lufthansa and project coordinator at help alliance for the Samar National High School project in the Philippines. With almost 7,000 students, Samar National High School in Catbalogan is the largest school in the Catbalogan Samar region in the eastern Philippines. George grew up not far from this school. During his numerous visits home, the flight attendant saw time and again that support was urgently needed there to create a good learning environment for the children. And so, he decided to submit an initial project proposal to help alliance in 2022. The most urgent needs were quickly identified: IT equipment, school materials for 3,000 children from low-income families and the introduction of regular lunches so that the children could concentrate on learning. Distributing the school materials presented George with a logistical challenge. But he was quickly able to get the local Lufthansa Group colleagues enthusiastic about his project. Numerous volunteers were found, who together packed 3,000 bags with the required school materials and distributed them to the pupils on the first day of school.
In our interview, George gives us an insight into his commitment as help alliance project manager
George, how did you become a help alliance project coordinator?
The contact with help alliance came about in 2021, in May, when I asked for help because I was working on another aid project for the Philippines at the time. However, as the project application cycle for 2021 was already closed, my project was unfortunately not accepted – but I was able to apply again for the following year.
Why did you decide to work on a project at Samar National High School?
Knowing that help is needed everywhere in the Philippines, I decided to contact my cousin at Samar National High School and we designed the Project Best School Equipment for Samar High School.
I have known the Samar National High School since I was a child, as I lived just a block away from it.
This is the third year you have been involved with Samar National High School, what have we been able to achieve locally over the last two years?
The impact of help alliance’s support has been significant. The distribution of school materials to the students had a direct impact on their educational progress. This led to an increase in learning motivation and performance. The provision of LCD projectors enabled interactive learning and improved the quality of teaching. Providing a regular lunch contributed to improving the health and concentration of the students.
Why is the new project section so important?
Samar National High School occupies an important position in the Philippines’ education system. As the largest secondary school in Samar with over 7,000 students, it plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the region’s youth. Investing in the development of the school can have a positive impact on the entire community and contribute to the overall progress of the region. With the school, we have found a partner that strives to be both an outstanding educational institution and a role model for sustainability and environmental protection. The implementation of solar panels is a step towards this vision.
What do you think are the biggest challenges you will face in the new phase of the project?
The biggest challenges in the future could be the availability of resources, infrastructure and possibly cultural differences. It is important to recognize these challenges and develop appropriate solutions tailored to the specific needs of the community. Close collaboration with the school administration, teachers and local authorities is crucial to fully understand the needs of the school and students. By working with local NGOs and volunteers and involving the community in the planning and implementation process, we can ensure that the aid brings the greatest possible benefit.
What is your interim conclusion after your first two years as project coordinator?
When I started with the help alliance in Catbalogan Samar 2 years ago, our project was just a small drop and now this drop has become a wave. I hope that it will become a whole sea in the next few years and that we can achieve much more together.
For 2024, help alliance has decided to take the next big step with George: In a pilot project, together with Samar State University and Cabugawa Primary School, a Digital Training Center will be set up at Samar National High School. The idea behind it: By providing students of all grades with access and a solid foundation in digital literacy and other important digital skills, their chances of employment and the opportunity to take up a skills-based entrepreneurial activity from which they can make a living will increase in the long term. The training center is designed to enable them to innovate and adapt to technological change in order to succeed in any career they aspire to. Especially beyond the boundaries of academic institutions, there are many young people who do not have access to digital education. The planned training center will therefore develop and offer special courses for marginalized groups and young school dropouts. Sustainability is also a goal here. The school is to be equipped with solar panels in order to reduce its environmental impact as well as the electricity costs of Samar National High School. The money saved as a result can be invested directly in educational work.
