PORAC, PHILIPPINES - When the coronavirus pandemic shut Philippine schools, a group of teachers living near the indigenous Aeta people became so concerned about the impact on the children of the isolated community that they initiated a novel approach to help them - learning by rickshaw.
"We had to think of an alternative way to bring the lessons to the children," said Mr Christopher Semsem, one of the teachers behind the project from the Villa Maria Integrated School. Teachers pre-record videos on their mobile phones that are played on the monitor to assist with lessons while avoiding the need for face-to-face contact with the children.
There is debate among anthropologists about the origins of the Aeta, but many have moved to permanent settlements after deforestation upended their traditional nomadic way of life.