Development for Peace in Sulu In February 2005, during renewed fighting in the southern Philippines province of Sulu between government forces and Muslim guerillas on the island of Jolo, Asia America Initiative Director Al Santoli and Deputy Director Miki Scheidel conducted a working visit to further the AAI’s Development for Peace in Sulu [DPIS] program. During their stay in the provincial capitol, the DPIS area remained peaceful. Local educators and officials attributed the sustained peace in Jolo to the hope and enthusiasm inspired by the DPIS partnership between grassroots leaders and more than 20,000 public school students and their families with their “American friends” and Filipino “brothers and sisters” of the AAI. The project, authorized in 2002 by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao [ARMM] Governor Paruk Hussin, received a Presidential Citation in 2003 for helping to build peace in the violence-plagued region. Sulu is rated as the most impoverished province in the Philippines, with a school drop-out rate around 65 percent and desperately impoverished health and living conditions. Decades of armed conflict has been perpetuated by the hopelessness and isolation of the province inhabitants. In Jolo, Mr. Santoli and Ms. Scheidel distributed school and medical supplies and conducted developmental meetings with local officials, religious leaders and grassroots medical and educational service providers. The AAI has inspired the formation of grassroots committees to develop and oversee the integration of health, education and civil society programs. The AAI has created a “community service” scholarship program for high school and college students, which has been enthusiastically received. In addition, American schools are sending donations for an Adopt a Classroom project. An Adult Literacy and Livelihood program, in partnership with the Jolo Department of Education, is assisting 120 single-mothers to create entrepreneurial baking and fish-selling businesses at the local town markets. The unique approach of the Development for Peace project is based on a consistent interpersonal relationship with the front-line community in order to build hope, deter violence, and build a better future. The Development for Peace in Sulu program is implemented through joint efforts with local NGO partners, American private foundations and corporations, logistics support by the Philippine armed forces, as well as a grant from the U.S. Congress through the USAID. “This project builds trust between cultures and encourages youth to resist exploitation by violent organizations,” says AAI Director, Al Santoli.
Mohammad Tulawie Elementary School Band welcomes the AAI delegation at Jolo Airport.
AAI Deputy Director Miki Scheidel is greeted by Sulu Province Department of Education Director Dr. Amy Malbun.
Mohammad Tulawie Elementary School students perform a traditional Tausug dance.
Mohammad Tulawie Elementary School students perform an “American dance,” to honor AAI delegation --the Virginia Reel.
Science kits for elementary schools provided by Boston-based Sabre Foundation and chalkboards made by local carpenters for model schools.
Jolo carpenters building tables for DPIS program model elementary schools.
Students at Tanjung elementary school with revitalized classrooms through DPIS.
AAI Philippines Manager Atty. Nabil Tan contributes to Mohammad Tulawie Elementary’s Student Council’s first yearbook project for the 2005 graduating class.
AAI Team with Mohammad Tulawie Elementary School Student Council.
Mohammad Tulawie Elementary School pupils express gratitude to AAI Deputy-Director Miki Scheidel.
AAI Team meets with Jolo Education Committee, made up of Principals of Model Schools and Superintendent Malbun.
Adult literacy/vocational single mothers cooperative livelihood project, preparing fish to preserve and sell in local markets.
Adult literacy/vocational women’s project preparing fish for morning market.
Teachers from Jolo School of Fisheries, with the largest high school population in the province, in a planning meeting with AAI visitors.
Lacking funding support from national or regional Education Departments, conditions in the Jolo School of Fisheries laboratory and production center are in urgent need of renovation.
New chicken coup at the Jolo Agricultural High School, which is a combined education and livelihood project, funded by the AAI and built and developed by the faculty and students of the high school.
Lacking books in classrooms due to resource deficits, mini-libraries in the public schools are made available to all students. Funds are needed to build full-sized libraries in each model school.
Growing mini-library in Tanjung Elementary School supported with books provided by the AAI.
Educational Television [ETV] provided by the ABS-CBN Foundation, through the AAI, provides multi-media learning programs for five major subjects. The television programs teach requirements needed for students to learn national standards of education; in partnership with the Philippines Department of Education.
AAI Directors, Al Santoli and Miki Scheidel meet at the DPIS model day care center in San Raymundo Baranguay, Jolo, with Director Datu B. Kiram to plan renovations.
At Cirilo Bueno Elementary School in Jolo, Al Santoli and Miki Scheidel inaugurate the Adopt-a-Classroom project, distributing school supplies donated by high school students from Chicago, Illinois and Sringfield, Missouri.
At Mindanao State University in Patikul, Sulu, the inaugural 18 awardees of the AAI’s “Community Service Scholarship” program meet with Miki Scheidel. The graduating seniors, who perform volunteer work at the Sulu Regional Hospital and local elementary schools, are preparing to form entrepreneurial businesses upon graduation in Spring 2005.
Handicrafts from sea shells made by the AAI’s “Community Service Scholarship" students, which AAI is seeking business and micro-enterprise partners to help create entrepeneural cooperatives and distribution networks for artisans in Sulu.
The first graduating high school “Community Service Scholarship” students at Sulu High School meet with Miki Scheidel. The students will attend either Notre Dame College in Jolo or Mindanao State University in Patikul next semester.
Words of Wisdom posted at Port Area Elementary School's small computer room which reads "The past cannot be changed, but the future is still in your power."
Young future leaders of Sulu, at Mohammad Tulawie Elementary School, the first DPIS model school, with dreams of hope and happiness to fulfill. | 
