Books are the world-changing instruments in the hands of Sa Aklat Sisikat (SAS).

?[The Foundation] promotes a love and habit of reading beyond the typical book donation and storytelling events,? explains venerable children?s author and SAS trustee Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz. Founded 10 years ago, SAS conducts a 31-day Reading Program for fourth graders among its public school partners, which begins by providing 60 topnotch local storybooks for each classroom.

SAS doesn?t forget the teachers either, making sure participating mentors receive a small transportation allowance as well as copies of STAR Teacher, a glossy magazine which features tips for teaching and reading material. The foundation also holds three-day teachers conferences and even a development program for principals. Since 1999, SAS has worked with 691 public schools, 141,332 students and 3,642 principals and teachers.

?Over the years, it has developed a core of public school teachers who act as group facilitators during the weekend training,? Sta. Romana-Cruz says. ?Initially, it used to be purely run by teachers from private schools.?

Possible donations: P150,000 sponsors the entire reading program for a single public school while P6,000 gives a set of 60 new books to a participating school. ?We need corporate partnerships to sustain the programs, which are expensive to run,? Sta. Romana-Cruz says. ?And there will never be enough books.?

For inquiries and donations: E-mail sas@readerstransform.com, call 886-3888 local 3523 or 3525, fax 889-8135, text 0917-8818740, log on to http://readerstransform. com, or visit Sa Aklat Sisikat Foundation, Inc., at the 35th Floor, Petron MegaPlaza, 358 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City.

Champions for Children

If there is any organization that?s synonymous with the welfare of children, it is the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) ?and they need your help. Michelle Parazo-Borromeo, Unicef Philippines Head of Private Fundraising and Partnerships, explains: ?This isn?t common knowledge, but Unicef doesn?t receive any funding from the United Nations. We have to raise our own funds from voluntary donations from individual donors, private companies and governments.? To achieve this, Unicef Philippines has launched its Champions For Children program, which seeks out supporters who are willing to pledge regular, monthly donations. The program targets 5,000 champions for 2009 for Unicef?s ongoing programs, Borromeo says. ?It?s important for us to have monthly pledge donors because this allows us to have a pool of funds we can program and commit.? There are programs for health and nutrition, child protection and building wells, among others.

Possible donations: P600 a month (P20 a day) will provide oral rehydration salts for 24 children suffering from diarrhea. P500 (P16.67 a day) will send five children back to school with supplies.

For inquiries and donations: Visit any Unicef booth in select Metro Manila malls. Call the donation hotline at 758-1000, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. After signing up, champions will receive a confirmation SMS or call, a welcome letter from Unicef National Ambassador Gary Valenciano and a donor guide booklet.

Mano Amiga Academy

A Philippine version of the Mexico-originated schools that seek to transform lives through education, Mano Amiga Academy just commenced its second school year with 60 impoverished students accepted for Kindergarten and Prep. This is almost double the 35 that the school started out with. ?Most of our students and families from last year chose to continue on with Mano Amiga, and we take that as a sign that we?re doing well and that the community is noticing,? says Mano Amiga Director Ramon Austria. Due to its current size, Mano Amiga, which is located in Taguig City, cannot accommodate all the applicants ?something they hope to change in time. The school is currently housed in a Habitat for Humanity building that they are swiftly outgrowing, especially since Mano Amiga plans to add one school level a year.

Aside from ongoing Saturday enrichment activities, Mano Amiga has opened a community library for the area?s children, which doubles as a study center. Austria says they now have ?over 1,000 books in our collection, and it?s growing.? Mano Amiga also offers English classes for adults in collaboration with the Center for East Asian Languages. Up next are plans to put up an outdoor playground and a new school campus, as well as more programs for parents and other sectors of the community.

Possible donations: P23,600 will sponsor one child?s education for one year. Mano Amiga is raising funds for its prospective new campus as well. Other needed donations include: school supplies and books. ?Pre-school books are a priority, but we also accept books for older kids for our library,? Austria says. ?Grade school and high school textbooks are in demand.? They also welcome volunteers for their Saturday enrichment programs. ?

For inquiries and donations: Contact Mano Amiga?s Development Director Lynn Pinugu at 0920-9283552 and lpinugu@altius.org.