Lin – Goducate … Go And Educate!

2011-05-182011-05-18

Basic Computer Skills Training at Goducate Literacy Centers In Sabah

The Goducate Literacy Centers in Sabah have yielded wonderful smart young people who are now being given advanced classes and trainings. Some of these students have joined the volunteer teaching team. One form of training they are receiving is basic computer skills. They also learn how to operate simple machines such as the photocopier, the printer, and the laminating machine.

I have received an email from one of our teenage volunteer teachers. She was so excited to tell me that she now knows how to upload pictures.

The best outcome so far from this training has been the reproduction of the workbooks we are using in the literacy program. The young trainees are responsible for ensuring that each learner gets the bit of the workbook he or she needs.

ScreenShot330 — Learning how to use Facebook

2011-05-16

Reflexology training for Goducate teachers in Sabah

A certified physical therapist decided to spend a short vacation in Sabah. Upon meeting the volunteer mothers teaching in the Goducate literacy centers, she decided to share with them her knowledge about reflexology.

Most of the mothers already practise “hilot”, the massaging of muscles and joints, oftentimes to restore minor joint dislocations. They may also do massages to induce relaxation or to soothe certain pains. The methods that they use had been passed on to them from someone in the family or had been learnt by observation of others. Now, they had a chance not only to learn the scientific basis of what they have been doing, but also what should be or should not be done and why.

The training was done one Saturday when they were off from literacy work. They were willing to travel back to the Goducate Community Center to avail themselves of such training. For most of them, the training will not only enrich their knowledge but also be a possible source of income. Most of all, the knowledge they gain could turn out to be something very beneficial to their own family, because the majority of the people in this particular community in Sabah have no access to medical services on account of being undocumented aliens. They have come to Sabah to escape the poverty and civil strife in the southern part of The Philippines.

The physical therapist came over for a break, not expecting to train others. Soon she will go back to her workplace with a smile on her face, knowing that she was able to help others in her own simple way.

2011-04-272011-04-21

Goducate Sabah at Transforming Our City Together Exhibition 2011

Goducate Sabah was invited to put up a photo exhibit in the Transforming Our City Together Exhibition 2011 in Penang, Malaysia. The conference was a gathering of organizations, businessmen, leaders, and volunteers who are calling for transformation in society.

One of the main speakers, Dr Kim Tan of Transformational Business Network spoke on corporate social responsibility and how good business practices positively affect transformation in the community. Goducate volunteers who attended the conference joined the workshop on education. The facilitator, educationist John Cruz, emphasized that transformation, be it in business, politics, culture, entertainment, etc, are all connected with education. When he visited the Goducate booth he expressed that this what was he was talking about and was quite impressed by how Goducate started learning centers that are run by mothers and by former students turned volunteer teachers.

Of the 40 exhibitors, Goducate Sabah, another learning center run by John Cruz, and a soon-to-be-started center by another group were the only three that are into literacy work. The exhibition was open to the public, and what Goducate is doing to help transform poor communities of women and children into productive learners and responsible members of their communities attracted much interest and appreciation.