Teachers and staff of Nasunogan Elementary School, representatives of MERCY Malaysia, the executives of Maybank Foundation, with Shahril Azuar Jimin CEO of Maybank Foundation (center) and the board of trustees of Maybank Foundation (CDN Photo/Tonee Despojo)
Students of Nasunogan Elementary School were all smiles when they saw their school building completely rebuilt with better facilities and classrooms to boast of.
Students of the school have been given new hope now that they could come back to school with functional classrooms, a fully-equipped computer laboratory, and a school canteen. The students have been provided a safe learning environment through the joint efforts of Medical Relief Society (MERCY) Malaysia and Maybank Foundation.
Medical Relief Society (MERCY) Malaysia is a relief organization from Malaysia founded in 1999, the organization focuses on helping disaster-stricken areas. They were one of the first who responded and brought help to Ormoc after Typhoon Yolanda hit the area. MERCY Malaysia helped by bringing in doctors and medical aid from Malaysia.
With funding from Maybank Foundation (info on Maybank Foundation) the Nasunogan Elementary School was rebuilt with better structures. Maybank Foundation has donated a total of RM200,000.00 or about P3 million to Nasunogan Elementary School through MERCY Malaysia to completely rehabilitate the school. Together with MERCY Malaysia the foundation flew in architects, engineers, and experts to build a strong and typhoon resilient school.
According to Shahril Azuar Jimin CEO of Maybank Foundation, Nasunogan Elementary School will not just be a school for the children in the community, but will also become an evacuation center.
Recently, MERCY Malaysia has built an office in Ormoc to continue to extend help. The foundation continues to provide program to the community and provide education for preparedness for whatever calamity.
Nasunogan Elementary School was one of the schools that were badly hit by the strongest typhoon Yolanda last November 8, 2013.