Books for the Barrios

BOOKS for the BARRIOS, Inc. (BftB) is a non-profit corporation which has demonstrated the capability to deliver mass quantities of quality educational materials, procured from donor individuals and the discards of U.S. public school districts, to the most remote disadvantaged school in the Republic of the Philippines. For nearly two decades project staff have succeeded in managing the distribution, without loss or diversion, of hundreds of tons of materials to those students and teachers most in need throughout the archipelago. Evaluation responses from recipient officials and studies of the impact of the materials delivered confirm that the specific needs of the children are being met and that the level of educational opportunity has risen dramatically. Furthermore, the BftB model school and teacher training programs have provided an excellent method of upgrading the quality of instruction on a nation-wide scale.

In the last eight years BftB has gathered, transported and distributed over three million primary and secondary textbook, reference books and educational aids and devices; bringing the opportunity for a high-quality educational experience to over six million eager youths. We have been able to create this model of efficiency and impact with the help of local community support and sponsorship grants from the National Geographic Society, Madrigal Wan Hai Lines, LBC Corporation, Goldilocks Bakeshop, Inc., Rotary International Foundation, the Dora Levit Fund for People, and the Charles Mosser Foundation.

BtfB is now ready to further develop its organization by capturing this level of interest and propelling itself into a more stable financial standing. This will enable concentration on the institutionalization of systems and structures that will enhance our long-term quality control and self-sufficiency.

Corporate foundation financial grants will help BftB achieve this status. Our goal is to continue to meet the urgent educational needs of the children of the Philippines by placing 160,000 kilos of the finest educational resources into eight hundred public schools each year.

Over the entire service-life of the books, a multiplier effect will guarantee millions of pupils a brighter educational opportunity.

Women's International Center acknowledges the invaluable contribution that Nancy and Dan Harrington and their Books for the Barrios have given to the children of the Philippines with the 1999 Living Legacy Award.