Prior to Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan, young children in the Philippines already faced many obstacles that made obtaining an education difficult. These hardships come in the form of school distance, commuting through challenging terrain, lack of supplies, lack of food, etc. Such hardships are only exacerbated after the Typhoon.

Eskuwela Now is a communication tool that leverages SMS/text messages as a platform to coordinate a group of individuals to a specific location where a teacher can provide education lessons to all attendees, a concept of an on demand classroom or “pop-up” school.

Studies show that text messaging is the most common form of digital communication for Filipinos.

Parents and children subscribe to these message announcements by providing their phone numbers. When a teacher wants to mobilize to a specific location he or she will enter the following details through a form which will send out the information to all the subscribers: intended age group, school subject, location, time, description.

Another component of Eskuwela Now is the ability to connect teachers with other teachers and teaching materials through the website. Teachers have a central repository for curriculums, lessons plans and teaching content.

Immediate Impact:

The typhoon has disrupted schooling for countless children. Teaching organizations and damaged schools in the affected areas can leverage this technology to coordinate on demand classrooms so that school can once again resume, promoting a psychological influence of returning to normalcy.

Long Term Vision:

Eskuwela Now becomes a formalized institution with the intent of growing subscribers and having frequently scheduled on demand classroom sessions, not only aiding, but ultimately replacing the traditional brick and mortar school system. Teachers can leverage the toolkit and become mobile. Student grade levels are actively assessed, making it possible for children to receive an individualized formal education.

Donations can be accepted to support mobile teachers to provide school supplies, food, books, and digital textbooks . Annual metrics can provide a compelling story for continued monetary support.

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