Education Wave That's Uplifting the Sama-Bajau of the Philippines

Sama-Bajau 'Sea Gypsies': Once nomads of the high seas.

The Sama-Bajau, often called the "Sea Gypsies" of Southeast Asia, are traditionally seafaring people known for their exceptional fishing and free-diving skills. Historically, they have lived a nomadic lifestyle aboard their boats, roaming the waters of the Sulu and Celebes Seas. However, due to various socio-political pressures, many have settled along coastal areas in the Philippines, where they face significant challenges, including discrimination and lack of access to education and healthcare.

Cartwheel Foundation's Educational Mission

In an inspiring initiative, the Cartwheel Foundation is making strides to transform the lives of the Sama-Bajau children by providing them with culturally relevant education. Founded in 1999, this non-profit works to integrate Sama-Bajau's rich maritime culture into a formal education framework, thereby fostering pride among young learners about their heritage. The foundation's efforts include setting up floating schools that deliver lessons in Tausug, Tagalog, and English and training local community members as teachers.

The Cartwheel Foundation is a non-profit organisation that nurtures Filipino indigenous heritage through relevant education since 1999

Impact and Future Aspirations

The Cartwheel Foundation has made commendable progress, supporting over 1,200 preschool graduates and positively impacting around 12,000 indigenous people. Through education, they aim to equip the Sama-Bajau with the skills necessary to thrive in a changing world and foster greater acceptance and integration within the broader Filipino society.

The Cartwheel Foundation is a non-profit organisation that nurtures Filipino indigenous heritage through relevant education since 1999. So far, it has extended assistance to approximately 11,000 indigenous peoples throughout the Philippines. Their mission is to empower indigenous youth and communities by improving their self-sustaining capacities and increasing access to resources. Through culturally relevant education, Cartwheel seeks to give these communities the chance to enjoy their right to quality learning.