Author: Leo

So far this year Goducate has started 3 new literacy centers in Laguna, The Philippines, giving us a total of 5, which together have 72 students. Most of the students are pre-school children, though there are some older ones, who for various reasons are unable to attend school.

At two of the new centers the students were so keen to start that lessons have been held in very temporary structures. At Ulik lessons have been conducted under a tent, which also serves as a shelter for our music students in the area. At Burol, lessons have been held in the open, at first with students sitting on banana leaves, then as more joined the class, they sat on tarpaulin sheets.

Last month we were privileged to be visited by Goducate’s literacy trainer who is based in Iloilo, who came to motivate and upgrade our teachers. Her training sessions were attended by Goducate staff and volunteers as well as by some of the mothers of the students.

We were also very pleased last month to received from the Department of Education in Bay, Laguna, a certificate of appreciation for the Goducate literacy program. It signifies recognition that our program is a valuable support for the Department’s program.

Five of the first batch of trainees who completed the Goducate training program for basketball officials did not have to wait long to get their first jobs. And the jobs were not for matches at village level (where they had done their training), but at inter-university level. This job opportunity for out-of-school youth arose with the 10-day visit of the Indonesian Youth Team from West Java to play against eight colleges and universities in The Philippines.

The three serving as referees earned PHP300 ($ 7) each per game, and the two who were table officials received PHP200 ($4.70) each. PHP 300 is considered the daily minimum wage at provincial level. For these boys, the sums represent a great deal. For instance, Jay-R, one of the referees, had to leave college 2 years ago because of financial difficulties. His income as referee is sufficient for his personal needs. Erwin, who was unable to complete high school, became a trouble-maker in his family, but now is a trained table official.

Apart from the thrill of landing their first jobs, the boys had another memorable experience—their 10-day stay in a hotel was the first time they had slept in an air-conditioned room.

Our basketball training program is now being introduced in other villages. We hope that through it many out-of-school youth will be able to get back to schools or colleges through sports scholarships, or to be able to earn a living.

Within weeks of being appointed Goducate’s Sports Director, David (Boycie) Zamar, implemented Goducate’s first basketball program in Barangay Pupuy, in Laguna Province, The Philippines (a barangay is the smallest administrative unit in The Philippines).

The 4-week program, which has just been completed, included 2 sessions of coaching to be table officials, and 2 sessions of coaching to be referees.

The program also included a basketball league, which 11 teams, each consisting of 12-15 players entered. The program was held at the barangay’s gymnasium, which the barangay council and its youth council allowed us to use. The players brought their friends and families along, such that some 300 people turned up on the weekday evenings (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday), and 500 on Sat evenings. The teams consisted mainly of underprivileged and out-of-school youth. The idea of the league was for us to identify players who might qualify for sports scholarships. Unlike some previous basketball matches in the area, which had to be discontinued because of unruly behavior among players and spectators, our league matches ran smoothly, possibly because of the emphasis we placed on discipline and sportsmanship in the address to both players and spectators before the matches.

Within a week of the start of the program, an out of school youth was offered a college sports scholarship on the strength of his basketball skills. He will receive free tuition, accommodation, as well as an allowance. By the end of the 4 week program, 7 other players were selected to be presented for sports scholarships. The players will continue their training at basketball camps. We are also planning a tie up with TESDA (the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority), to channel some of these out-of-school youth towards its courses.

Several members of Goducate staff were among those who attended the training for table officials and for referees. Jonathan, a Goducate staff member has been selected to go Cebu City for the National Private Schools Athletic Association and National Referees Accreditation to be held in the 3rd week of April. If he passes the test he will be our first member of staff to receive a license to officiate nationwide at basketball events.

The training sessions were conducted by Coach Boycie and his two friends, George Magsino (an FIBA licensed referee) and Jojo Rivera (a licensed basketball coach). Jojo has invited the Goducate Sports Program to run the Basketball Clinic for Kids and Youth in April at BF Homes, Paranaque, a middle and upper class residential development south of Manila. Although the youth in this area are privileged kids who will not need Goducate help, our involvement there will enable those from the poor areas who qualify as table officials and referees to earn some income there.

For now, the Goducate Sports Program has started sessions in Barangay Tranca for underprivileged youth. We hope to run programs in many other barangays soon, and to get as many people as possible back to school on sports scholarships before the start of the school year in June.

There have been other outcomes of the Goducate Sports Program. One is that FESSAP (Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines) has appointed Goducate as its partner. FESSAP has also appointed our Sports Director, Boycie, to be its Chairman of the Coaches Commission, and me as Chairman for Youth Development at barangay/barrio level.