How time flies. Goducate’s first literacy center in Sabah celebrated its 4th anniversary last month. The day-long program included a variety of performances by different classes of songs, poems, and cultural and modern dances, a singing contest in which students and teachers participated (with teachers from other centers as judges), a beauty contest, and an afternoon packed with outdoor games (again with teachers and students participating). We were privileged to have a visitor from Singapore give an inspirational talk and be one of the judges.
Every year this center (the KSO center) has celebrated its anniversary without realizing its influence is on the other centers. At the time of KSO’s 4th anniversary, we had 25 Goducate Literacy Centers in Sabah. By now there are 27.
KSO is where many dreams have been moulded as both teachers and pupils have gained new perspectives on life. KSO has also been instrumental in the training of effective and efficient educators. It serves as a model center for the other Goducate centers.
Some 30 teachers have been through this center. Their contribution to the development and influence of KSO is immeasurable. Some of them have now taken on roles as trainers, supervisor, livelihood manager, and health worker. Some are still teaching in this center. Some are teaching in other centers. Many have to help out in newly opened centers. Some have found jobs (for example, as waitresses, hair stylists, housekeepers) but continue to teach some sessions at the literacy centers, in some cases literacy classes, in others livelihood training. Some have left the area, and have started literacy centers in their new locations. A few of them have been to other towns to help other organizations train their teachers.
When it comes to its facilities, this main center (or “mother-center”) has undergone many changes. At the start somebody’s living room was used as classroom. Then a one-classroom building was built. Now KSO has three classrooms (one of which is our audiovisual room) serving five teaching sessions a day. Two classrooms are used twice a day, and the audiovisual room once a day. There is also a livelihood-training area consisting of a mini-kitchen, a sewing area, and a hair salon. In addition KSO has a library and a playground, and it is the base of our mobile clinic.
KSO has reached this stage despite having to face many challenges, but these have led to a unity that has contributed to its development.