In most far-flung communities of indigenous people, learning is a painstaking process.

Why? Because the rural poor, indigenous children live in mineral-rich Mindanao. 

President Rodrigo Duterte sent his military troops to occupy Lumad schools and communities, making space instead for foreign and domestic mining, logging and agricultural corporations.

What does that mean for the more than 3,600 Lumad children? That means losing the right to education. That means seeing your classroom burned, bombed, and turned into government military camps.

But it’s not that easy.  When schools and classrooms are brutally ripped apart, children and communities rebuild by any means possible.

There are now even temporary schools set up in the evacuation centers, called Bakwit (evacuate) schools where the Lumad community took refuge from military occupation.

For the Lumad, it takes a village to raise a child and a movement to build a school.

A Bakwit School’s success is made possible through the help of people like you.  This year, the fight of Lumad for their right to education, land and self-determination continues.

Donate today.

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