by Cale Belyn Cruz

Sama-Bajau children from Barangay Kasanyangan, Zamboanga City used to hold in-person classes at a borrowed location in their community. In 2022, Sunlife Foundation funded the construction of a new “Classroom on Stilts,” allowing the children to start learning in a safe space of their own. With the completion of the new community-owned learning center in November 2022, the Sama-Bajau now have a dedicated safe learning space for their children.

The Ups and Downs of Constructing the First Sama-Bajau Boat Classroom

In March 2016, a boat classroom called the Angiskul ma Bangka (Studying in Bancas) was constructed for the Early Childhood Development Program for the Sama-Bajau children of Zamboanga. Rooted in their cultural heritage and identity, the floating classroom echoed the seafaring nature of the Sama-Bajau.

The Angiskul ma Bangka (AMB) had many levels of relevance to the Sama Bajau: it represented both their desire for an education and their pride in their culture. However, in 2019, due to wear and tear, the boat school had to be decommissioned. With no learning center, Sama-Bajau children lost their access to a safe place to learn.

Relaunch of AMB as a “Classroom on Stilts”

Since the closure of the boat classroom in 2019, the Sama-Bajau children from Barangay Kasanyangan, Zamboanga City did not have an accessible learning center in their community for the longest time. Come December 2021, Cartwheel Foundation received a grant from Sunlife Foundation to revive the AMB school. Though having traditionally lived on houseboats, many Sama-Bajau have since settled in houses on stilts along the coasts of Mindanao. With that, Cartwheel chose to build a classroom on stilts instead of another boat classroom, to still reflect the Sama-Bajau culture while settling with a design that was more resilient.  The “Classroom on Stilts” is designed to accommodate at least 80 Sama-Bajau learners and is sturdy enough to last for at least five years.

Sunlife Foundation’s grant also covered other essential learning needs such as:

• Covering a portion of the daily operations of the Early Childhood Development Program for school year (2021-2022);
• Supporting the employment and career development of two Sama-Bajau community teachers; and
• Purchasing educational supplies for the home-based and in-school learning of at least 80 Sama-Bajau students.

The Classroom on Stilts officially opened in November 2022 for Sama-Bajau children to start learning in a safe space. The Sama-Bajau community, young and old, gathered for the relaunch and blessing of their school, affirming their shared commitment and responsibility to support their children’s education and well-being. Watch the video of the relaunch here.

Inclusive education means having an accessible and safe space to learn

With the newly launched “Classroom on Stilts,” Sama-Bajau children now have a better opportunity for a brighter future. As community teacher, Suraya, said in her thank you letter to Sunlife Foundation: “Muli, maraming maraming salamat sa ipinundar niyong “TAHANAN” ng edukasyon, pagmamahal at pangarap sa aming mga katutubong Sama-Bajau na kabataan.” (Again, thank you for your donation for the construction of a HOME for education, love and dreams for our young Sama-Bajau learners). 

The relaunch of the new AMB “Classroom on Stilts” would not have been possible without the hard work of Cartwheel Foundation’s on-the-ground partner, Ateneo de Zamboanga Center for Community Extension Services (ADZU-CCES), who spearheaded the construction process and organized the reopening ceremonies. Many thanks as well to the offices of the City of Zamboanga and Barangay Kasanyangan for their support.