Mt. Zion - Tribal Children's Literacy Program (TCLP)
Evangelism via Education in the Philippines
Our Story
The Tribal Children’s Literacy Program (TCLP) exists to bring hope, education, and the gospel of Jesus Christ to indigenous tribal communities in the Northeast Mindanao region of the Philippines.
Mt. Zion - TCLP was established as an outreach to the Mamanwa tribe, one of the most marginalized and historically unreached tribal groups in the Philippines, breaking cycles of illiteracy, poverty, and isolation.
Mission: Evangelism Via Education
T.C.L.P is dedicated to furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ using education as a means to reach out to these tribal children, believing that every child’s family will be reached by the gospel as well.
Our Impact in the Community
Mamanwa Tribe
Background
The Mamanwa look very similar to the people of Africa, the Aborigines of Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Two decades ago, they were one of the most primitive tribes in the Philippines and lived mostly as nomads, hunting and gathering in family clans, hiking for days over long distances in the mountains looking for food and shelter, and living an animistic way of life.
Civil unrest and cutting of the rain forest have caused many Mamanwa to “squat” in settlements close to towns where they can barter their forest products or, more often, beg for a living. Because they look very different from the rest of the brown, tan-skinned and straight-haired Filipinos and other tribal groups and also because of their lifestyle, they are looked down upon by the Non-Tribal Filipinos. This pushes them farther into poverty and isolation. They were ashamed to send their children to school, hence they were 100% illiterate.
Mamanwa Tribe - Initial Outreach
The outreach to the predominantly Mamanwa tribe started in 1988. They were 100% illiterate.
Wycliffe Bible translators had already translated the bible into the Mamanwa dialect back in 1976, but since the Mamanwa were illiterate, they were not able to read it.
In the beginning, there was an attempt to teach the adults how to read and write, but it wasn’t working, so the focus shifted to the next generation -the children - and the Tribal Children’s Literacy Program (TCLP) was born.
Mt. Zion - Tribal Children's Literacy Program Campus
The Mt. Zion–TCLP campus is located on a 12-acre property in Northeastern Mindanao. This building was originally used as a dormitory for children living in remote mountain areas, allowing them to attend school during the Philippine school year, which runs from June to March. In recent years, the Philippine government has established additional elementary and high schools in these mountain communities, eliminating the need for students to stay in the dormitory. Having faithfully served its original purpose, the building will now be repurposed as an activity center and will be made available to local churches for seminars, retreats, and church camps.
Of the 12-acre Mt. Zion–TCLP campus, 2.5 acres have been designated for the Mamanwa families of TCLP students. This land allows families to settle, build permanent homes, and establish a stable community of their own—providing an alternative to a traditionally nomadic way of life.
Child Sponsorship
Our programs to combat illiteracy and give the next generation of children options for their future are funded primarily through Child Sponsorships. Children receive education, school lunch, and all the necessary supplies to attend school and be successful. In addition to education, we actively advocate for the Mamanwa people within the community, where discrimination has left them unable to participate in routine activities. Beyond this, our sponsored children attend Kids Klub to learn Bible lessons and the whole family is invited to church to hear the Word of God.
Education for Children
Free Elementary& High School Education
With the prayers and financial support of individuals and churches across the United States, TCLP has helped more than 2,000 Mamanwa children enroll in Philippine public schools.
Many of these students have successfully completed elementary education—preschool through sixth grade—and many continue on to high school, which TCLP guarantees as an opportunity.
College education is optional and depends on whether a sponsor chooses to continue supporting their TCLP-sponsored child through college.
Every child in our program receives educational support.
A child may be accepted into TCLP even without an assigned sponsor. All sponsorship contributions are placed into a general fund, which helps provide support for children, including those who do not have sponsors yet.
This represents a remarkable transformation because thirty years ago, it was rare to find a Mamanwa child who had completed elementary school. Today, many of these children can read and write in their own Mamanwa dialect, as well as in Cebuano, the trade dialect in the area, and English.
Most importantly, they are now able to read the Bible and share God’s Word with their families. We give thanks to God for the lives being changed through education and faithful support.
Free School Uniforms
Through the sponsor’s monthly donations, kids who are accepted into TCLP get free uniforms every other year.
Uniforms are distributed at the beginning of classes every June.
Free Tuition & School Supplies
Public school tuition is approximately $25.00 per year for each student in elementary and high school.
Aside from the free school uniforms, they also receive free school supplies such as notebooks, pencils, crayons, and other classroom materials when school opens in June and additional supplies every month.
Free Lunch Program
TCLP provides free lunches to our students during school days. The children come to the Mt. Zion -TCLP campus during their lunch break at the local public school to have free lunches and then return to school.
This program helps supplement their daily food intake, as many families are unable to provide three full meals each day. Most parents rely on small subsistence farms in the mountain areas, growing staple crops such as corn and sweet yams—often just enough to survive. Many fathers also fish in the nearby lake, but when they don't catch any fish, families rely solely on corn and yams with salt.
The parents serve as volunteers in our program, taking turns by helping our staff prepare the food. When there is leftover food, it's distributed among the families to take home.
Because of food insecurity, many children struggle to begin their school day with adequate nourishment, which has led some to drop out of school.
The lunch feeding program at Mt. Zion –TCLP campus has been a vital support—helping children stay healthy, focused, and improving daily school attendance.
Tribal Church
Mt. Zion - TCLP Campus
The tribal church inside the campus offers activities for children and families to hear the word of God:
- Bible studies on Wednesdays
- Prayer meetings on Fridays
- Kids Klub on Saturdays
- Families attend church on Sundays
Kids Klub
Every Saturday, the children come to the Mt. Zion -TCLP Center to participate in:
- Bible study lessons
- Play games
- Worship together
- A nutritious meal
Children learn about the redeeming love of Jesus and how special they are to Him.
This is the main goal of TCLP: to bring Christ to these children, and prayerfully, the children bring Christ to their parents who are still worshipping the Gods of the trees, lakes, and many different spirits that they perceive around them.
Expanding Outreach to New Communities
We are praying for more sponsors and God’s provision to reach out to other mountain communities.
Our goal is to open up TCLP in these far-flung areas next school year. This would allow more Mamanwa children the opportunity to go to school and be ushered into a church, with the hope of eventually knowing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Mt. Zion - TCLP Missionaries and Staff
Reaching out to tribal children and their families in Mindanao, Philippines.
From Left to Right: Byron Gary, Joy Gary, Gil Ballon, Dorcas Ballon, Airelyn Sarmen, Bernabe Sarment, Elsa Mantilla and Claudio Mantilla
Directors
BYRON AND JOY GARY
Missionaries/Coordinators:
GIL AND DORCAS BALLON
Missionaries/Coordinators
BERNABE AND AIRELYN SARMEN
Missionaries-Church Liaison
CLAUDIO AND ELSA MANTILLA
How You Can Help
We are grateful for your prayer, encouragement, and support. Sustainable monthly or yearly support allows the children to attend school, supplements their nutrition with a daily meal, and introduces families to the hope of Christ.
Gifts may be designated for the following by clicking on the "Donate" link below:
- General Fund - funds go toward the greatest area of need
- Special Projects
- Child Sponsorship
- Missionary Support
Your support provides long-term transformation for children, families, and entire tribal communities through education and the gospel.
“The gift of education is a gift for life, but the gift of salvation is a gift for eternity.” - Byron and Joy Gary
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- Mt. Zion - TCLP team
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