GROUP Give a smile stayed true to its name when it delivered aid to typhoon victims in Isabela province.

The group, composed of young professionals who believe in the importance of education, donated clothes and school supplies and facilitated games for the children to relieve the stress and trauma brought by the recent calamity that hit the province.

“Kailangan bawat isa sa atin ay gawin ‘yung part natin. Ang community ay dapat magkaroon ng sapat na awareness kung paano harapin ang mga disasters na tulad nito,” Jamillah Marie Calapit, the group’s social media manager, said.

“Mula sa mga donasyong pagkain at ilang damit, sinikap din ng grupo na pasayahin ang mga bata sa ilang palaro at yoga. Kalakip ng ilang mensahe ng pag-asa na kahit anong mangyari ay may susuporta sa kanila anuman ang kanilang pagdaanan,” she added.

For years, Give a Smile has been providing school supplies and books to poor students in different parts of the country.

It also supports the implementation of the Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan of the Department of Education.

“Sa new normal na kinakaharap natin ngayon, may kanya-kanya tayong struggles na kailangang kaharapin — sa part ng mga bata, ng mga magulang at ng mga guro. Gusto nating ipaintindi sa kanila na bukod sa family nila, nandito tayo para makinig sa kanila, para i-guide sila,” Calapit said.

Calapit, who is also a teacher, said that education must continue.

“Ang learning hindi dapat matigil kaya naman ang DepEd ginagawa ang lahat para maihatid pa rin ang quality education sa lahat. Marami tayong options para ma-deliver ang education amidst pandemic, kailangan lang natin magtulungan,” she said.