How World Vision Helped a School Rise Above Poverty

When Grace Bohol was assigned to Ormocanay Elementary School in Samar, she quickly realized teaching kindergarten students was the least of her problems.

- By ANETH NG-LIM

From the muddy path leading to the school, to high student dropout, to poor parental involvement, teacher Grace faced what looked to be insurmountable challenges. Instead of backing down, she buckled down to work and achieved small victories one by one, thanks to World Vision Development Foundation (WVDF) by her side.

"I remember when it rained back then, the water in the nearby stream would overflow and we would need to walk through mud, or force our way through floods, just to be able to get to school," teacher Grace recalled.

Yet the biggest hurdle wasn't the floods or the mud—it was poverty. For many families, economic survival meant every pair of hands counted, including those of young children. Instead of learning the alphabet, these children were in the fields, harvesting rice or helping with household chores.

A partnership that changed everything Change arrived when WVDF began working with Ormocanay Elementary School. "World Vision's arrival made all the difference," teacher Grace recalled. "They drove enrollment, provided essential resources, and lifted heavy burdens from both teachers and parents."

Ormocanay is one of 10 schools in Samar supported by WVDF. From 2011 to 2025, the organization's interventions ranged from school supply distribution and teacher training to classroom repairs and child protection programs—many funded by generous donors overseas, including World Vision Japan.