Grade 9 and 10 students raise funds for #NoStudentLeftBehind

By Gabrielle Villanueva of 10-Gratitude

Photo from Mafae Ong

IN RESPONSE to the call for donations for disadvantaged students during the ongoing pandemic (#NoStudentLeftBehind), ICAns launched an independent fundraiser named Project Baked last July 15. Headed by Zephia and Grade 9 batch representatives Mafae Ong (10-Optimism) and Robyn Montano (9-Kindness), Project Baked raised more than ₱130,000 through selling baked goods and, with the help of Smart Communications, donated 20 tablets, 20 Smart Pocket WiFi units, 40 Education Kits, and a printer.

Project Baked offered banana bread, french macarons, cupcakes, and cookies for sale with the help of Maxine Cotoco (10-Temperance), Raquel Uy (10-Perseverance), Kyra Chua (9-Kindness), Amber Go (9-Compassion), and Yessica Hao (9-Obedience) through the Project Baked Instagram account. Aside from homemade goods, project Baked partnered with ICAn-led businesses such as Branche PH, the Molten Drive, Sweetened Baker PH, Ice Cake Co., and Bake & Bliss, who donated a percentage of their profit for the sale of selected products.

The beneficiaries of this fundraiser included Concordia Children’s Services under the Education through Sponsorships (EAS) program, GK Padre Pio Sibal school, and IUplift, which is a non-profit organization with similar advocacy.

“My willingness to help others and my passion to create a difference is what inspired me to start this initiative. Though it wasn’t easy and wouldn’t be possible without so many people, Project Baked was certainly able to impact the lives of these students—and that very fact made it all worth it,” Mafae Ong’s sharing on the reason for the success of the fundraiser.