The Kristiyano-Islam Peace Library, or KRIS, is an award-winning, non-profit, non-government organization based in Manila devoted to making education more accessible to Filipino youth living in poor and conflicted communities. Through its libraries, scholarship programs, and learning projects, it has been giving aid to hundreds of students from Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay, Davao City, Rizal, and Metro Manila since 2001.
Background: A Tale of Conflict, Poverty, and Educational Strife
After the shocking tragedy of September 11 in the US, terrorism in the Philippines quickly followed suit through an infamous series of bombings and kidnappings in Mindanao (the Southern peninsula of the Philippines) that continue to this day... (Read More)
History
In 2001, Armand Dean N. Nocum—an award-winning journalist from the Philippine Daily Inquirer—sought to help his hometown of Zamboanga by pushing forward his own solution: youth education. Nocum reasoned out that, primarily, peace could only be achieved by understanding and that understanding could only be achieved by education. Secondarily, a promotion of youth education will boost morale, give hope, and unlock opportunities to alleviate the status of many... (Read more)
Mission
KRIS Library aims to change the game. It will provide libraries, scholarships, and other educational necessities either directly or indirectly to Filipino children in poor, conflicted communities. It will guide its beneficiaries in every step of the way by establishing mutual learning, tutorial, and literacy programs tailor-fit to suit the needs of the community’s youth.
Vision
KRIS Library sees an empowered Filipino youth—enlightened individuals who have improved their status on life by studying hard and working hard. By harnessing the tools of education, they will not only help themselves but also help others. KRIS Library’s highest dream is to spark a cycle of empowerment, poverty alleviation, peace, and service in the Filipino youth.
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