The Clear Eye Of Science

A teacher from Masiricampo Abantas Memorial Educational Center in the Islamic City of Marawi peers through a new binocular microscope acquired by the school’s parent-teacher community association (PTCA) through USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM). Under its Education Awareness Support Effort (EASE), GEM matches peso for peso the funds raised by PTCAs in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao to establish mini-libraries, science laboratories, multi-media centers and other programs and facilities in their schools. To date, 685 PTCAs in Mindanao have improved education services for their children with the help of the GEM Program, which expects to award up to 850 additional EASE matching grants over the next four years. GEM is implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Economic Development Council. GEM