Growing up in a small village in the mountains of Sitio Sinariri in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro, Marlou Layhot, 25, never imagined he would be able to continue his studies, let alone be accepted as Operation Blessing’s Back-To-School (BTS) scholar.
Marlou belonged to the indigenous Mangyan group and had grown up with his parents and siblings. Life in the mountains was tough, and Marlou’s family survived by planting crops and trimming coconuts.
Despite the challenges, Marlou had always dreamed of something more. “I wanted to be a cop,” he admitted, but his dream had always seemed far-fetched as he had started school at the age of 14 and stopped going for two years due to the bad influence of his peers.
But everything changed when Marlou was given the opportunity to go back to school, thanks to a scholarship from Operation Blessing.
“As a BTS scholar, I receive financial assistance, which is a great help to me and my family,” Marlou explained. Aside from constructing a school for their community, Operation Blessing assisted the students of Sitio Sinariri with their needs by supplying them with armchairs and distributing school supplies in collaboration with the AY Foundation.
As Marlou sat in his classroom, surrounded by students much younger than him, he felt a sense of pride and determination. He was well aware that he had a lot of catching up to do, but he was determined to succeed.
“I want to finish my studies so I can pursue my dreams and help my family,” he said, his voice full of hope.
And now that he’s taking a step closer to fulfilling his dreams, Marlou is thankful and happy. “I extend my gratitude to Operation
Blessing and Orphan’s Promise for all the Godsend blessings they have given our community. May you continue to reach more people in need.”
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Thanks to partners like YOU, underprivileged youth like Marlou are given a chance for a brighter future!
For ways to support our mission, visit www.operationblessing.ph or contact 09399215543 or 09189067753 for more details.