Father Ted Bandsma foundation was founded in 1997 and has the goal to offer underprivileged children in Villaverde (Philippines) a good education. The foundation continues the life’s work of Father Ted Bandsma.
Villaverde is a small town on the Philippines, 8 hour drive from the capital Manila. The population lives from the revenues of rice. There is no irrigation in the whole area. Therefore it happens often that the crops fail due to drought. This means for the habitants that they have little income and that poverty dominates.
Thanks to a couple of big sponsors the foundation started building a grade school in Villaverde in 2004. The foundation pays for the education of most of the poor children. At this moment more than 260 children follow their education here, including not sponsored children. Together with the children from the high school approximately 900 children are being educated. The costs are € 211,00 per child per year, including school uniform.
A few legacies, bequeathed to the foundation, made it possible to build a boarding school in 2011. A total of 30 children who live more than 10km from the school can stay here. During the school week they stay over and in the weekend they go home. Previously it was impossible to offer these children an education.
The board of the foundation commits themselves completely voluntary for these children, so 100% of the sponsor money goes to Villaverde.