Project Complete! Building a Classroom and a Library in San Pedro, Philippines

The project at a glance

San Pedro school, on the island of Negros in the Philippines, has welcomed Children of the Mekong sponsored children since 2005. Set in the heart of the mountains, the school plays an important role in giving local children access to education — some of them travelling long distances to attend classes.

To make education accessible to as many children as possible, the school chose to scrap enrolment fees. This decision allows even the poorest families to send their children to school, and helps prevent pupils from dropping out.

Over the years, the school has taken in a growing number of pupils. But this rise in numbers led to a shortage of space for pupils to work in good conditions.

To improve learning conditions and give pupils an environment better suited to their studies, the project therefore set out to build two new classrooms and a library.

How the project unfolded

The project was carried out in several stages, in part because it involved constructing more than one building.

Priority was given first to building the two classrooms, given the growing number of pupils. This first phase went very smoothly, and in September 2025 the two new classrooms were officially opened.

Since they came into use, teachers and pupils have been delighted to have them — they’ve even begun painting murals on the walls, bringing the spaces to life. Once the classrooms were finished, work could begin on the library.

This second phase, sadly, ran into more difficulties. In early 2026, work had to be paused because of the economic impact of the war in Iran, which drove sharp inflation. The rising cost of materials made it hard to press on, and construction slowed.

But in July 2026, after a few months’ delay and thanks to the wonderful work of the local teams, the library was finally complete!

The pupils are overjoyed to have a space of their own, where they can study and gather in peace. Father Weno (the local coordinator), the teachers, and the pupils are all deeply grateful for the help that has made this school so comfortable and welcoming for these young people.