Author: Leo

On April 17, 2017, 30 youths from the Goducate music program in Laguna, Philippines, not only received a set of school supplies but also watched a dance by the Jollibee mascot. Jollibee is a Filipino multinational chain of fast-food restaurants. For some of the youths, this meeting with the full-sized mascot was very memorable because it was their first encounter with it.

The occasion was a Gift-Giving Event conducted by AIESEC members at the University of the Philippines. They had chosen the Goducate music program as their beneficiary for this event. At this event the 30 youths demonstrated their violin-playing and recorder-playing skills. In turn the 25 AIESEC members distributed gift packs containing a notebook, pencils, crayons, paper, and a sharpener.

AIESEC is a platform for young people to explore and develop their leadership potential. It is an independent, international, non-profit, non-political organization run by students and recent graduates of institutes of higher education. Founded in 1948 in 7 countries, it is now present in 126 countries and territories. AIESEC was originally an acronym for Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économiques et Commerciales, but has now become the name of the organization.

Goducate is very grateful to the AIESEC members of the University of the Philippines UP. We share their vision and mission of helping the community.

In the Philippines, Sept 5 to Oct 5 was designated National Teachers’ Month for 2016. The theme for this month was “Guro Kabalikat sa Pagbabago”, meaning that teachers ought to be shown appreciation.

On Oct 3 & 5 Goducate helped to show appreciation to the teachers in two elementary schools, one in Puypuy, and one in Masaya. Ever since Goducate Laguna was set up, these schools have looked to Goducate as their partner whenever they had a community project.

For the Teachers’ Day celebration at these schools, Bernard Benedicto, a Goducate community worker, together with and some Goducate volunteers, helped the students to give the teachers a surprise. The Goducate team encouraged the students to write personal thank-you letters to their teachers, and also taught them a song to sing for the teachers. In addition, Goducate gave cakes and flowers to each teacher to show our gratitude for shaping the lives and minds of the students.

These actions led the principal of Masaya to say that in her 30 years of teaching she has not come across an organization like Goducate, which is sincere in its love for the community and always ready to offer a helping hand to the people.