Typhoon Rai (known as Odette in Philippines) is the 15th typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2021. This powerful and catastrophic tropical cyclone struck the Philippines over the third week of December. As of December 29, the Department of Social Welfare and Development reported that a total of 1.4 million families or 5.4 million individuals had been affected by Typhoon Rai in 7017 barangays (villages) in Regions V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, Mimaropa, and Caraga.
Every day, there were people sleeping along the road, asking for help for their basic needs such as food, water, and medicine. Several areas had no electricity or means of communicating electronically with others. Many Goducate staff had their homes badly affected. The pictures show the homes of some affected Goducate workers. These pictures were sent by those in areas who were able to send information electronically. Goducate has raised some funds to help those affected, and relief operations are already being carried out.
*Our guest writer is Rossa Mae Diaz Luceno, a Goducate volunteer.
Goducate
Laguna envisions setting up places where underprivileged students can gather to
study. The goal is to establish three physical study hubs with stable internet
connections.
So far, there are hubs in three places:
The hub in Goducate Laguna headquarters (in Barangay Puypuy, Bay) is already open for students.
The one in Meek & Lowly Sanctuary (in Barangay Tagumpay, Bay) is also open for students, but internet connection has yet to be fully established.
There is still no fixed physical hub in Barangay Mabacan, Calauan, but the houses of Goducate staff and/or scholars are being used as temporary hubs.
In the third week of November, laptops were distributed to some Goducate Scholars and other students. There are also plans to purchase other items, such as printers, tables, whiteboards, etc., for the study hubs to be fully operational.
*Our guest writer is Jeric Pereira, a volunteer staff member at Goducate Laguna and person in charge of the study hubs.
GoBeyond, a Goducate programme to help young professionals in
all walks of their lives, will be officially launched in November.
From the start of their career to the daily grinds of life, young professionals face numerous challenges, regardless of their background or social status. Some of the issues include, but are not limited to, niche discovery, career advancement, and skills development. As a result of a variety of factors, many young professionals believe that their skills are no longer relevant or up to date, and that they have a gap that needs to be filled. They want to thrive and succeed, but they do not have the resources or training to do so, and there are no groups or peers who share the same interests for them to connect with. Such issues impact not only the individuals but also the nation’s progress.
That
is why GoBeyond aspires to
establish a movement that supports all young professionals, across the globe,
by providing an avenue for them to create, connect, collaborate, and be part of
a community in which they may all start their journey of discovering, learning,
growing, and building healthy relationships.
With
that goal in mind, we will implement various activities and programs, such as
talks, seminars, training, and forums, to engage, equip, and empower young
professionals. One of these is the Asia Forum for Leaders, which will host a
series of talks by representatives ofpartnering
organizations that are tailored to the specific needs and interests of our
target market. Examples of these talks would be topics on the Marketplace,
Leadership, Relationships, Passion, and Personal Development. Individual and
group mentorship in various fields for guidance, counselling, and consultancy
would also be available.
We hope that by doing so, people will discover their unique abilities, maximize them, and find that being a part of a global movement is enjoyable, fulfilling, and purposeful. These abilities should help them to develop leadership qualities and eventually become mentors to future generations of young professionals.
Planning session on GoBeyond
*Our guest writer is Aga Abarte, the Coordinator of GoBeyond.
