Getting an education seems distant for 12-year-old Shyradel Avisatado. She can still recall how her parents told her they can send her to school no more. Despite her desire to go to school, there’s little she can do.

Shy, as she is fondly called, lives with her family in Brgy. Luctob in the municipality of Macalelon in Quezon Province. Life is admittedly hard for the whole family, as their small piggery is their sole source of income.

“Maliit lang daw ang kinikita ng aming babuyan sa likod-bahay kaya sabi nila Mama at Papa, hindi na nila ako kayang tustusan sa pag-eskwela,” Shy shared.

More than their problems financially, going to school is also a challenge for her and her two siblings. Their residence is often flooded especially during high tides; hence, they have to take a boat just to go to school.

Just when chasing her dreams seems impossible for this young girl, hope came in. Two of DSWD’s core social protection programs—Kalahi-CIDSS and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program—entered their municipality and soon after, Shy sees her dream slowly becoming within her reach.

Under the Kalahi-CIDSS program, a seawall was constructed in their barangay. Shy shares how happy her parents are and the rest of her neighbors when the project was completed. With the seawall in the picture now, they are no longer frequented by floods, even when there are high tides. Hence, it is easier and safer for her and her siblings to go to school and they no longer have to ride a boat.

As for the small income of the family,  Shy and siblings became beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and receives a subsidy of Php1,400.00 per for their education and health needs under the condition that their family comply with the educational and health requirements.  Shy and her family could ask for more.

“Noong napasali kami sa Pantawid, ramdam naming pamilya ang tulong nito.  Pati kaming magkakapatid naramdaman kasi mas madalas na yong mga pagkakataong may nabibigay si Mama para sa pang-eskwela namin,” Shy shared.

She added that they have now money to pay for school contributions and buy things for school.

“Nakakasali na rin po ako ngayon sa mga school activities kaya po ginaganahan na akong mag-aral nang mabuti,” she relayed.

At her young age, Shy appreciates what the programs have brought her, especially when it comes to helping her get closer to her dreams.

“Yung mga kagaya ko pong nangangarap makapag-aral ay natupad na. Buhay at pangarap po ang binigyang katuparan sa amin ng KALAHI-CIDSS at Pantawid,” she said.

For a young girl like Shy, there’s no better news than hear that she can now go to school and chase her dreams. A picture of a determined and inspired girl, she will study hard and change the course of their lives for the better as her way of giving back to the hope provided to her by the programs. As a proof, she graduated on top of her grade school class. For Shy, that is indeed a good start.***