What started off as a literacy and feeding program for children of workers in a sugarcane plantation has evolved into what is now Go Bikes Philippines, which serves in several villages in the Province of Negros.
The Go Bikes Ministry started in March 2021 to serve teenagers who were depressed and families who were struggling because of the Covid-19 pandemic. School closures because of the pandemic meant that school children were losing out on their education. Many parents had lost their jobs, and a survey had found that quite a number of children had committed suicide or were having mental problems.
Our team goes out every Wednesday to one village (Talisay), and on Saturdays we break up into three groups to serve three different villages (Napilas Dos, Caridad, and Yolanda). I visit the areas 2-3 days before our team goes out, to get somebody in the community to cook the food for the day of our visit. I give this person the funds required for the food.
The literacy classes are conducted for children aged 4-13 years. Classes also include songs and games.
Our volunteers are youth leaders and adults willing to share their skills.
We have also recruited youths in the areas we serve to help as volunteers. These youth have much potential. They are strong, teachable, and creative, and they also have leadership potential.
Providing education online would be much more efficient than going out physically to different areas, but wifi connection remains poor in many parts of the Philippines.
*Our guest writer is Goducate volunteer Andrian Pagsuguiron.