Church Provides Quality Educational Content Sans the Internet to Last Mile Schools in Laoag

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints distributed Remote Area Community Hotspot for Education and Learning (RACHEL) Plus Servers to thirteen schools in the Department of Education – Division of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte on Monday, September 26. Principals and school heads, together with Dr. Vilma D. Eda, Schools Division Superintendent, were present during the turnover of the device. 

Mr. Arnel S. Bandiola, Assistant School Division Superintendent, emphasized, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has always been our partner in education. We couldn’t be thankful enough for your generosity and thinking of how this technology upgrade could benefit the learners in Laoag City. Surely, this is the beginning of a more strengthened relationship between the Schools Division of Laoag City and the Church as we all think of the lives of the children in this community.”

RACHEL (Remote Area Community Hotspot for Education and Learning) is a portable, battery-powered device containing copies of educational websites offline. This means that RACHEL can go anywhere worldwide and wirelessly deliver free digital educational content to nearby tablets, laptops, or smartphones with no internet or data plans required.

The Church seeks to alleviate suffering, promote self-reliance, and offer service opportunities, including the distribution of the RACHEL-Plus Servers. Funding from Church members worldwide and local volunteers provide its unique support system.

Elder Steven Leininger and Sister Marilyn Leininger, and Elder Lenard and Sister Bonnie Haff, who serve among the volunteer senior service missionaries for the Church, said that as members of the Church, our greatest priority should be blessing the lives of children. Sister Leininger highlighted, “Every child needs a better future. Teaching them is an effort of love, care, and service no one could ever imagine. Teaching them requires the best technological advancement available.”

Also present during the turnover were Mr. Romeo Rodriguez of World Possible, the non-profit organization behind RACHEL Plus, and the Laoag Philippines Stake (diocese) president, Dennis Catubay, who emphasized how the Church values quality education. President Catubay said, “Through education, we can change the world and have better leaders in the future. This is why members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through the Latter-day Saints Charities put the effort in imparting and investing to our children, whose educational needs must be met so we can all have a promising future.”

In her acceptance message, Dr. Vilma D. Eda expressed, “Our principals and heads will ensure that each teacher will put value to the love given by the Latter-day Saints Charities. These devices will transform children in the community, help them develop skills, and guide them as they progress in their learning.”

The Church handed over the devices to the principals, school heads, and coordinators of each of the schools in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, namely, Vira Elementary School, Caaoacan Elementary School, Balatong Integrated School, Bacsil Elementary School, Salet Elementary School, Cataban Elementary School, Amarosa Elementary School, Bacsil Elementary School, Cutaban Elementary School, Gabu National High School, and Ilocos Norte Regional School of Fisheries.