RAFI, Children of Asia fight malnutrition

By Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.
February 16, 2013

CEBU CITY – To address malnutrition among children in four day care centers in Ermita, the Dolores Aboitiz Children’s Fund (DACF) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) signed a memorandum of agreement with Children of Asia on Feb. 5.

Barangay Ermita is one of the urban barangays in Cebu City that has a high incidence of poverty and malnutrition. In 2011, barangay Ermita had the highest malnutrition rate in Cebu City. Twelve percent of the children below six years old that year were found to be undernourished based on the standards used by the government.

The partnership will launch a project that will benefit 200 day care pupils in Barangay Ermita through the provision of daily nutritious meals, school supplies, and uniforms. It will also provide parenting seminars for the parents of the children.

Children of Asia will fund the training of day care workers, and, together with the barangay, provide additional honorarium for day care workers.

This grant was part of the RAFI-DACF Development Fund call for proposals last year.

DACF, in its pursuit to provide opportunities for the development and care of young children aged 0-8 years old, has launched a call for proposals for projects related to early childhood care and development (ECCD). Specific interventions must be on play and early childhood development, local culture integration, community participation in early childhood education, and developmentally appropriate practice.

Interested groups can submit concept applications on or before Jan. 31(1st cycle) or July 31 (2nd cycle) every year. For application forms and guidelines, please e-mail jan.montilla@rafi.org.ph or call 418-7234 local 512 and look for Jan Montilla.

DACF is under RAFI's Education focus area, believing that shaping the next generation of talents begins with nurturing the love for learning. Other focus areas of RAFI are Integrated Development, Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Culture & Heritage, and Leadership & Citizenship.