Uplifting Hope In New Hope Elementary School

On Monday, November 24, 2025—despite class suspensions brought about by the approaching Typhoon Verbena—the VSS Optimum Retention Team pushed through with its planned outreach at New Hope Elementary School in Barangay Sta. Elena, Tacloban City. Their mission: to bring encouragement, support, and resources to a school community facing both academic and nutritional challenges.

According to one of the teachers, it was the first time in his teaching career to witness a “3-in-1 Activity” happening in a single day. The program opened with a film showing of the Creation Story, introducing the students to God as our Creator. This was followed by the turnover of musical instruments—a guitar, cajón, and keyboard—intended to strengthen the school’s music ministry, along with a generous set of sports equipment, including two volleyballs with a net, two basketballs, two chess sets, and three badminton sets with extra shuttlecocks. These donations aim to further support their champion athletes from the recent Tacloban City District Meet.

To complete the activity, the team provided a feeding program for all students who came despite the gloomy, rainy weather. Learners enjoyed Jollibee meals along with freshly cooked chicken porridge with carrots—simple yet meaningful nourishment for young minds and bodies.

The impact of this visit was deeply appreciated, shared School Head Mrs. Aileen Apostol. With 45% of their 513 learners identified as Emerging Readers—children who are just beginning to read but still struggle with word recognition, phonics, and comprehension—the school faces significant hurdles. Compounding this is the alarming nutrition data from the 2025 Midline Status Report, which shows that 41.5% of their students are undernourished, many of whom are wasted or stunted. These intertwined concerns of literacy and malnutrition greatly affect students’ focus, stamina, and overall school performance.

One particularly heartbreaking story came from a 10-year-old boy who shared that he could only attend classes twice a week because he needed to earn money by fetching water for neighboring households—paid only ₱2 per container. Moved by this reality, the VSS Optimum Retention Team immediately pledged continued support, committing to fund at least three feeding days per week using their own incentives and blessings.

Guided by the Lord’s reminder in Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” and the promise in Proverbs 19:17, “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deed,” the VSS Optimum Retention Team—together with TQLD and the IT Department—brought hope, help, and heartfelt compassion to the learners of New Hope Elementary School. Their efforts reflect the core mission of VSS: to uplift communities and transform lives through faith-driven generosity.