Leo – Page 2 – Goducate … Go And Educate!

2019-04-112019-04-11

Goducate volunteers in Laguna, Philippines, farm mushrooms as livelihood project

Goducate encourages its workers and its projects to be self-supporting.

Last year, my family and three other volunteer families in Laguna, Philippines, began growing oyster mushrooms as a means of generating income to support ourselves and our community programmes. We are helped by Goducate sponsors who contribute to the capital costs of this project.

The “farms” (sheds that provide a relatively cool environment for the mushrooms) are located in two villages, one of the farms being shared by three families. The harvest gives each family about PhP4000 (USD 77) per month, which contributes substantially towards the families’ needs.

The project also enables some schoolchildren to earn some money for their school transport. These children help to put mushroom spawn and the substrate into bags. My six foster children (two in college and 4 in high school) also earn some money for their transport by helping with the harvesting.

Goducate is helping the government’s Family Development Session, a programme for the poor. We are helping with the Sustainable Livelihood section of this programme, and have been asked to introduce mushroom farming to the community.

Jonatan and wife Stephanie, in charge of music programme in the community

2019-02-142019-02-14

Goducate scholars from Laguna have eyes opened by a visit to Tambaliza

The Goducate scholarship program has been running for a few years for students from Laguna, Philippines. Recently it was extended to students from two other places –the island of Tambaliza, and central Iloilo. So arrangements were made for the scholarship holders from Laguna to meet the others, to learn from and to encourage each other.

The Laguna team preparing a meal to share with the Tambaliza scholars

The scholarship program enables students who otherwise cannot afford it to obtain a tertiary education. In return, scholarship holders help out with Goducate programs.

One group of Laguna scholarship holders visited the 13 from central Iloilo, and another visited the 6 from Tambaliza.

The 6 males who are the Goducate scholars from Tambaliza

Tambaliza Island is also known as the Pan de Azucar. This island is one of the 17 variously inhabited and uninhabited islands that come under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Concepcion in North-eastern Iloilo. Tambaliza is known for Mount Pan de Azucar (Mount Sugarloaf), a steep volcanic cone. The main means of livelihood on this island is fishing.

The Laguna students who visited the homes of the Tambaliza students learnt of the financial hardships faced by the latter. Most did not go home for weekends. Instead, after paying for various university fees and projects, they used the remaining money for food instead of for travel home. The Tambaliza students also shared about their challenges with their studies.

At the home of Tambaliza scholar (guy in blue shirt), with his sister (centre in purple top)

This trip was an eye-opener for the students from Laguna. It made them realize how privileged they are to be living in Laguna. What they learnt has greatly motivated them to study hard and to start dreaming of being able to help the needy on Tambaliza Island.

2019-01-302019-02-04

Goducate Training Center in Laguna upgraded

The Goducate Training Center in Laguna has undergone a massive upgrading to become a posh event center.

The Goducate Training Center in Laguna had consisted of a roofed hall with a wall on only one side. It was used for all kinds of Goducate activities, from basketball, to music, to trainings of all kinds.

However, Goducate tries as much as possible to be a self-sustaining organization. By enclosing that hall, making it fully air-conditioned, and providing Wi-Fi connections, the place is suitable to be rented out for events such as weddings, birthdays, seminars, conferences.

The hall can seat 500 people, and there is plenty of parking space. There are few such facilities in the town of Bay, where GTC Laguna is situated. The income from fees for booking that hall can go towards Goducate’s community projects. When not rented out, it can still be used for the usual Goducate activities, except basketball, which is now held on a court in the village.

The upgrading took about 4 months, and was completed in early December. The first rental was for a wedding held on Dec 15. The income from that wedding reception helped to pay for a basketball league held later in the month.