How it started
Everyday we are able to help those around us, be it here in our local communities or in communities around the world. We are all God’s family. Our reach can be further and more powerful than we can imagine. One example is the outreach program to the Philippines that is supported through the Fil/Am Club here in the Diocese of Arlington.
In March of 2016 Fr. Posey, the Director of the Arlington Mission Office, and a delegation from the diocese visited the Philippines as outreach for the Pontifical Mission Society. There they met with the leaders of the Youth Servant Leadership and Education Program, known as YSLEP. YSLEP is part of a larger Catholic charity in the Philippines – Caritas Manilla.
The objective of YSLEP is to help poor but deserving students be able to finish their studies and receive either a college degree or vocational/technical training.
Fr. Posey and his group found this to be a very deserving program. Approximately $500.00 US will pay for one student to attend school for one year. This not only benefits the student and their families but also the community at large.
As the students needed several years of funding the Mission team set out to find a group that could sustain fundraising efforts. Father looked toward the Filipino/American (Fil/Am) group at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Vienna. They already had infrastructure and were well known throughout the area. Always willing to help where needed, they decided to take on the project with the full support of their pastor at OLGC.
The Fil/Am group started out by helping several students who had already begun their education but were struggling financially. In 2018 they had their first graduate, Claudine Diaton who pursued an undergraduate degree in Agriculture. In 2019 Leobert Francisco graduated with a degree in Secondary Education
generous hearts
With this initial success the group took on four students that they would support through four years of study. Funding came from not only individual donors but through several corporate sponsorships. Then the pandemic happened and everything became unknown. But as God is always in control, the students began virtual classes and were able to continue.
Unable to hold fundraisers, the Fil/Am group became concerned they would not be able to fulfill their commitment. The Ministry reached out to some of its main benefactors and their generosity allowed the program to continue to be funded.
into the future
These four students graduated in the Spring of 2023. Two young men and two young women. There are two English majors, an accountant, and a Social Studies major. Once the poorest of the poor, they are now able to help their families and their communities.
A new crop of scholars entered the program in 2024 and with the support of the community here and in the Philippines there is little doubt of their success!