AAI helps rebuild school for “Badjao sea gypsy” community

April 2025

By Albert Santoli, AAI Director

Children travel to school in small canoes.

In the Philippines, communities facing the greatest hardship and who remain the most underserved include the indigenous tribes living in ramshackle wooden houseboats in windswept coastal waters in the Sulu and Celebes Seas. 

In Sulu province of the Muslim Mindanao region, the boat dwelling people are known as “Badjao” or “Sama” sea gypsies, who seldom stay in one area long enough to attend schools or where educational facilities are non-existent. Sulu has approximately 400 islands and islets with 157 island municipalities covering an overall area of around 80,000 hectares.

"The Badjao are largely illiterate and seldom attend school," says Dr. Yolanda of One World I

nstitute, who is an expert on the sea people. "However, they are very smart and instinctive.  When they have access to school, they learn very quickly."

Kabukan Island Schoolhouse

Asia America Initiative serves as a bridge for action. Starting with the construction of remote school facilities, children are provided with positive interaction and equal treatment, regardless of their religion, tribe, or cultural group. School teachers help to ferry them to school from the ocean on small canoe-like boats.  Principal Nash of Lugmah Elementary School has become known for his school's inclusion of Badjao children who live near the coastline of Indanan Province in his school's area.  "AAI has been a pioneer in education for these forgotten children," he says. "Together, we facilitate mutual respect and inspiration." 

New Lugmah classroom with Badjao students