For the 630 students of San Roque Elementary School, the walk to class is not a simple one. The school sits in an area prone to flooding, and for many children, getting to their classroom means walking through water — daily, without complaint, because learning matters.
The Boots of Hope initiative changed that.
Working alongside the Inner Wheel Club of Rosario Diamond, FWA-UK funded the procurement and distribution of 630 pairs of colourful rain boots — one for every student from Kindergarten to Grade 6, and their teachers. Months of planning went into the project: volunteers canvassed suppliers across Manila, Baclaran and Cavite to find the best quality at the most affordable cost, then hauled, transported and distributed every pair by hand.
On the morning of 9 March, the school filled with hundreds of children in white and green uniforms, gathered under shade canopies to receive their boots. By the end of the day, classrooms across the school were filled with Grade 1s, 2s and 3s proudly holding up red, blue, pink and green boots — many wearing them before they’d even left the room.
“We believe that no student and educator should have to walk through floodwater just to reach school,” the project report states. “Through Boots of Hope, they can reach school safely, confidently and with dignity.”
The boots will not only serve their original recipients — they will be passed on to siblings and younger children as their owners grow, extending the reach of every single pair.
This project was made possible through the initiative of FWA-UK Past Chairman Ms. Velly Cattermole, whose compassion helped bring it to life. Our deep thanks go also to Past District Chairman Ms. Ofelia Valiente, Club President Ms. Arnilda Jaen, and the full team of the Inner Wheel Club of Rosario Diamond, whose tireless coordination — from Divisoria to Bulacan — ensured every child was reached.
A Partnership Built on Shared Purpose
This project is the latest in a growing collaboration between FWA-UK and the Inner Wheel Club of Rosario Diamond — a partnership that has previously reached the Guanella Home for Special Children, women in prison through Pagkalinga sa mga Kababaihan sa Selda, and communities across Navotas City through Operation Paglingap.
What makes this partnership work is not resources alone — it is shared values. A belief that support should arrive with dignity. That distance is not a reason for indifference. That the work of caring for others is worth the logistics, the hauling, the canvassing, the planning, and the long drives to Bulacan.
As FWA-UK Chairman Glyndell Belmonte reflected in her message to the board:
“These reports reflect the meaningful impact of our partnership and how the funds entrusted to these projects have been translated into tangible support for students, teachers, and staff. Every effort we make as an association — whether through fundraising, partnerships, or outreach — creates real and lasting impact.”
Thank You
None of this happens without you. Every membership fee paid, every event ticket bought, every raffle prize donated, every table reserved at PND — it all flows toward moments like these. A child in Bulacan walking to school in dry boots. A student in Pasay City sitting down to a warm meal.
Thank you for being part of this.