Bringing Color to Camiguin’s Dreams

High up in the mountains of Camiguin, where the sound of waves meets the rustle of coconut trees, live children whose dreams are often tested by life’s simplest challenges. Their families survive through hard labor climbing tall coconut trees to make copra or fishing in the open sea just to put food on the table. For these young hearts, education is not always the top priority; survival is.

In this remote island community, many children go to school without proper supplies no notebooks, no pencils, not even crayons. Some of them have never even held a crayon before, never seen the world in color, only in shades of struggle. Rain pours often in Camiguin, soaking their worn-out bags and books as they walk long distances from the mountains down to school. Yet, with unshaken determination, they continue to learn, drenched but hopeful.

This inspired the Rotary Club of Pasig Central headed by Good President Nicklyn Oyan to reach out and bring light and color into their young lives. Through a heartfelt outreach program, Rotarians distributed school supplies and waterproof bags to these mountain children. The waterproof bags were not just gifts; they became shields of hope protecting books, dreams, and spirits from the island’s endless rain.

As we handed each child a new bag, their eyes sparkled with pure joy. For the first time, they opened boxes of crayons, discovering what “color” truly means bright reds, sunny yellows, ocean blues shades they had only seen in nature, now in their very own hands.

Because of Rotary, these children of Camiguin now walk to school with confidence, rain or shine. Their books stay dry, and their spirits, even brighter. More than supplies, we gave them a reminder: that education is the key to change and every small act of kindness can paint a better tomorrow.

Written by: Good President Nicklyn Oyan, Rotary Club of Pasig Central