Last month, when most of our volunteer teachers at the Goducate Literacy Centers in Laguna were sent to the Goducate Training Center in Iloilo to join the training for community development workers, our literacy centers were left with only one teacher each.
This was a bit tough for them— until they realised that some of the mothers were hanging around outside waiting for their kids, and that these mothers could be trained to help in the classroom. So our teachers encouraged them to take on some of the classroom responsibilities. After all, Goducate’s experience in Sabah, where mothers are trained to teach their children, has shown that such mothers make the most passionate and effective teachers.
Additional help is provided by Goducate college scholars, who volunteer their services. During their free periods. One example is John David, who had to drop out of college when he was a 3rd- year information-technology student because of his addiction to computer games. His parents refused to send him back to college.
However, when he was invited to join our 2nd Summer Music Workshop last year, he became so interested and learnt to play the viola well enough to earn a place back at college on a music scholarship. The scholarship covers his college fees. Goducate gives him an allowance to help with his other expenses. He now also helps teach at the Goducate Literacy Center at Ulik every Thursday, exemplifying how Goducate beneficiaries go on to help others.
Fathers in the community are also chipping in to help at the Goducate Literacy Centers. As in Sabah, they help largely with the construction of the Centers and with making the classroom furniture.
