New Jersey high school student sells art online for Aeta school kids

Sofia Ong and Kiwi, a watercolor on her ArtForACauseBySofia. All the proceeds will be donated to the Pagsasarili Foundation. CONTRIBUTED

While visiting the Philippines, Sofia Ong, a student at Roxbury High School in Morris County, New Jersey, was stirred by the plight of indigenous school children in an area that was devastated by a volcanic eruption years ago. Since that visit, she has been selling her art work on social media to help them.

Born in the Philippines but raised in the United States, Ong and her family frequently visited her grandmother’s hometowns in Tarlac and Pampanga. There, she saw the lingering impact of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption of 1991, especially on displaced indigenous Aeta children.

The Covid pandemic closure of schools made things worse, because they had no access to digital technology, she reported.

“Learning about their struggle during the pandemic inspired me to organize a fundraiser to help them,” she told INQUIRER.net via email.

“So, I got the idea of helping those in need through my love for art. By organizing this fundraiser, I really hope to help the indigenous students get the new school supplies and classrooms built that they need for a proper education,” she added.

Ong designed a website and a link to her Etsy shop where she sells her art work as a fundraiser. She also has an Instagram account @sofiakaitlyn.co, where she posts about her art and fundraiser.

Aeta students with Pagsasarili Foundation staff and supporters. CONTRIBUTED

A family friend, Marilen Castro-Narciso, led her to the Pagsasarili Foundation in the Philippines as the recipient of the funds she raises. Castro-Narciso is a teacher at the O.B. Montessori school, which started and runs the foundation to help people in need.

“My Etsy’s proceeds go to the Pagsasarili Foundation. I wanted to support and aid them with reaching their goals of helping those in need. They are very grateful for all the help and support they’re receiving.”

Ong says her community has been very supportive of her fundraiser: “Many people are sharing my Etsy store and contributing to my cause.  Right now, I’m focused on helping the Aetas, but I would like to help other communities in need in the future.”

Sadly, she hasn’t been able to visit the Philippines lately because of Covid. Many of her relatives still live there, and she would really like to visit the Aeta children.

Currently in high school, Ong is planning to major in computer science in college and is interested in “graphic design and non-digital and digital art.”