(5) They risk their lives in the Philippines - One of the world's most dangerous ways to school

The World's Most Dangerous Ways to School

• The children's journeys are perilous but vital for a better future.

• Locations include the peninsula in the southern Philippines, with schools deep in the rainforest.

• Risks taken by children include climbing rocky faces and traversing treacherous paths.

Daily Routine of Students

• Day starts early at 5:30 a.m. in Mindanao, Philippines, close to the equator.

• Individuals like Ida Proceso wake early to prepare their families for school.

• Breakfast typically consists of rice, fish, and Moringa, highlighting the poverty faced by families (86% live in poverty).

Ivy's Journey to School

• Ivy, an eleven-year-old girl, must walk uphill for school due to the lack of educational facilities in her coastal settlement.

• The school, Auto Elementary and High School, is located over 2,500 feet higher on the mountain.

• Ivy's journey includes navigating through jungles alone, often without the assistance of her brothers who have graduated.

• Ivy's mother expresses concern for her safety, reminiscing about a past incident where Ivy fell while climbing.

Ryan's Struggle for Education

• Ryan, a twelve-year-old boy, begins his day by helping his grandmother before heading to school, facing water shortages in the process.

• Lives high up in the mountains; must hike over two hours to school, motivated by dreams of becoming an engineer.

• Lacks friends nearby due to geographical isolation, requiring reliance on his grandmother.

• His father, a motorbike taxi driver in Manila, sends a small monthly support check, illustrating financial struggles.

The Risks of the Journey

• Children risk serious injury climbing steep, overgrown rock faces called "pumpin" to reach school.

• The principal, Frederic, is aware of the dangers but understands alternatives are limited, as no public transportation is affordable for many families.

• Climbing routes through the jungle are community knowledge, as school transport options are virtually nonexistent.

Community Support and Safety Concerns

• Ivy feels responsible as the oldest child to lead the younger ones safely, emphasizing community among children.

• The isolation and treacherous paths, including encounters with wildlife like snakes, add to the constant danger faced daily.

• The social dynamics include reliance on friendships and help amongst peers for navigation and moral support.

Education as a Way Out

• Education is seen as a crucial stepping stone for future prosperity amidst prevailing poverty and isolation.

• Despite the dangers, both Ivy and Ryan persist, driven by aspirations and the hope of changing their circumstances.

The World's Most Dangerous Ways to School highlights the perilous journeys children undertake for education, particularly in remote areas like the southern Philippines. Students begin their day early, facing significant risks, such as climbing steep terrains and navigating through jungles. For instance, Ivy, an eleven-year-old girl, walks uphill over 2,500 feet to reach Auto Elementary and High School, often alone. Ryan, a twelve-year-old boy, endures a two-hour hike to school after assisting his elderly grandmother and dreams of becoming an engineer. Despite dangers like steep rock faces and wildlife encounters, children view education as a vital means for future prosperity, driven by dreams and community support.

The World's Most Dangerous Ways to School details the perilous journeys undertaken by children for education in remote locales, particularly the southern Philippines, where educational facilities are scarce.

Locations and Risks: Schools are often situated deep within the jungle, presenting several dangers during the journey. Children frequently climb steep, rocky terrains, navigate narrow paths, and face the risk of serious injuries while climbing "pumpin," overgrown rock faces.

Daily Routine of Students: The students' day starts at 5:30 a.m. in regions like Mindanao, which is located near the equator. An individual named Ida Proceso illustrates this daily routine, waking early to prepare her family for their school day. Breakfast commonly consists of staples like rice and fish, revealing the challenging socioeconomic conditions faced by many families, with 86% living in poverty.

Ivy's Journey to School: Eleven-year-old Ivy exemplifies the struggles faced by these children. She must make a daunting trek upward on foot to reach Auto Elementary and High School, situated over 2,500 feet above her coastal settlement. Often traversing the jungle alone, Ivy navigates paths without the company of her brothers who have already graduated. Her mother voices concern for her safety, recalling a past incident where Ivy fell during her climb.

Ryan's Struggle for Education: Ryan, a twelve-year-old boy, starts his day assisting his grandmother before embarking on a two-hour hike to school. He faces issues such as limited water supply and geographical isolation, which reduces his chances of forming friendships with peers. Ryan's father, a motorbike taxi driver in Manila, sends minimal monthly financial support, showcasing the family’s struggles to afford basic needs.

Community and Safety Concerns: The journeys are not just dangerous but also heavily reliant on community interdependence. Ivy often takes on the responsibility of ensuring younger children navigate the hazardous paths safely, and the companionship of friends provides vital support. However, wildlife encounters, such as snakes, further increase the risks involved in these expeditions.

Education as a Way Out: Both Ivy and Ryan perceive education as a critical pathway to improve their futures amidst pervasive poverty. Their aspirations, combined with the hope for better circumstances, motivate them to persist despite the dangers they face on their treacherous journeys to school. Education symbolizes a beacon of hope in their arduous lives, encapsulating the theme of perseverance against adversity.

The video on The World's Most Dangerous Ways to School imparts several historical lessons about the importance of education and the lengths individuals will go to attain it, especially in difficult socioeconomic contexts. Key lessons include:

1. Resilience and Determination: The determined journeys of children like Ivy and Ryan highlight how access to education often comes with significant challenges and risks, emphasizing the strength of human resilience in adversity.

2. Socioeconomic Disparities: The stark realities of poverty, with 86% of families in areas of Mindanao living below the poverty line, show how economic conditions can limit access to basic services, including education.

3. Community Interdependence: The reliance on community support among children navigating dangerous paths underscores the importance of social networks in overcoming challenges, a lesson that is historically relevant in various cultures facing adversity.

4. The Role of Education in Social Mobility: The aspirations of students driven by dreams of better futures serve as a reminder of education's role as a potent tool for social mobility and its capacity to break the cycles of poverty.

5. Cultural and Geographic Variability in Educational Access: The historical context of educational access illustrates how geographic and cultural factors shape the experiences of learners, a lesson relevant to educational reform movements throughout history.

Several concepts stand out from the documentary on The World's Most Dangerous Ways to School:

1. Dangerous Journeys: The documentary vividly illustrates the extreme lengths children must go to for education, including navigating treacherous paths and climbing steep terrains.

2. Resilience: The determination displayed by children like Ivy and Ryan, who face significant risks but continue to pursue education, highlights their resilience in the face of adversity.

3. Community Support: The reliance on friendship and community amongst children is crucial for their safety and moral support, emphasizing the importance of social networks in challenging environments.

4. Socioeconomic Struggles: The documentary sheds light on the poverty faced by families, with many living below the poverty line, depicting how economic conditions impact access to education.

5. Hope for a Better Future: Education is portrayed as a vital pathway to escape poverty and improve life circumstances, driving the children's aspirations and efforts despite the dangers they face.

6. Cultural Context: The geographic and cultural factors that shape the children's educational experiences reflect broader global issues, resonating with historical patterns of educational access and equity.

These concepts collectively emphasize the challenging realities faced by these children and the profound value they place on education.