Author: Kristel

One of the objectives of Goducate Sports program is to help out-of-work people earn some income, for example as basketball officials, or as lifeguards. There are also the other important objectives of keeping out-of-school youths off the streets, and teaching them discipline, perseverance, obedience, teamwork and many other good characteristics.

The basketball program has been introduced in several districts in Laguna Province, Philipplines. On Feb 18-19, two Goducate members of staff were invited to conduct a seminar on basketball refereeing in another province. They were at the city of Bacoor in Cavite Province to train 10 jobless youths to be basketball referees. The youths were also given ideas about the kinds of sports activities that have been held in Laguna and that they could organize in Cavite.

Later this week, one of the Goducate staff members will return to Bacoor to help set up a basketball camp. Meanwhile the 10 youths will be able to help out at a basketball league that is about to be held there and possibly earn a little pocket money.

Goducate introduced a sports program in Laguna Province, Philippines, about a year ago. We used basketball to help youths with a passion for the game. We started by organizing a league match in two villages (Puy-puy and Tranca). Within a few weeks one boy was offered a place at a university on the strength of his basketball ability. The program has also offered other youths employment opportunities as basketball referees and table officials.

Early in February Goducate introduced volleyball in Tagumpay, a small lakeside town that was badly affected by flooding during a storm last August. A one-day volleyball league was organized. 8 teams participated. It started at 9 am and continued right up to 2 am. 90 people filled the hall. The winning team (Team San Pedro) was made up of high-school students, who each received a small cash prize. They will be offered more volleyball and team-building training at a camp in March.

Goducate hopes that this program will keep youths off the streets, train them in discipline, team-building and other characteristics, and enable some of them to get sports scholarships to schools or universities.

Eight members of the Goducate Laguna Orchestra filled SM San Pablo City, Philippines, a shopping mall, with romantic music on Valentine’s Day. Six of them are college students who are also Goducate scholars—ie, they receive scholarships on the strength of their musical ability from their college, which covers their college fees, while Goducate covers their other expenses needed for their courses. The other two are Goducate volunteers. The group played two sessions that day, one from 3-4 pm and the other from 5-6 pm.

It was the second time that Goducate musicians have performed at SM San Pablo City, the other being Christmas Day 2011.

Playing at events like this helps to fulfill Goducate’s aim of helping needy Asians help themselves. Apart from the fee received from the management of the shopping mall, the event was an opportunity for the musicians to receive inquiries from the public about the possibility of their being hired for events such as weddings and anniversaries.