Insights – Page 2 – Goducate … Go And Educate!

2021-08-132021-08-18

Goducate scholars continue to help and serve

The Covid-19 pandemic has meant that all teaching in the Philippines had to be done online. This change has caused some students to be stressed, some to be depressed, and some to miss the fellowship that they used to have in school.

To cheer the students up, an end-of-term retreat was organized for Goducate scholars at a resort in Barangay Cawili, Calamba, Laguna, on July 19-20. The retreat gave the Scholars a chance to enjoy fellowship with fellow-scholars through eating, swimming, singing, and sharing together. It also showed the scholars that everybody needs rest breaks. We are grateful to the sponsor for making this end-of-term retreat possible.

Two of our 44 Goducate scholars have graduated from college. Kinerey Perez Baya graduated with Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation at St. Therese MTC- College, and Queenzel Lopecillo Ibabao with Bachelor of Science in Education at Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Sta. Mesa.

Two Goducate scholars were not able to complete their college courses because of family problems, and one withdrew from the scholarship because she is able, through taking on a job, to sustain her own needs as a student.

Goducate scholars have done some Goducate-linked volunteer work. Ten of them have been helping with a leadership program for the police run by My Brother’s Keeper. These scholars have used their technological skills to help as administrators and facilitators for the zoom meetings for different regions. Scholars have also helped with other online programs, the feeding program, the music program, etc.

*Our guest writer is Gemma Abrenilla, a staff member of Goducate Laguna.

2021-01-152021-01-26

Goducate’s Sing Your English program now delivered to homes in Indonesia

Goducate’s Sing Your English program (SYE) used to be taught in schools in Indonesia, but was temporarily halted when the Minister of Education announced on June 15, 2020 that extracurricular programs, whether delivered online or offline, should not be forced on students, especially during a pandemic.

Convinced that the ability to communicate in English is important, Goducate began to promote SYE online through a webinar for teachers. The webinar was attended by thousands of teachers from all over Indonesia, and as far as Sabang (Aceh) and Papua. The teachers were encouraged to register their own children for the SYE program on Zoom, and also to invite the parents of children attending their SYE Zoom lessons to join the class.

The response was amazing. As of November 2020, there were more than 100 SYE Z-Class students and registration is continuing, though the number of parents joining the classes is far from the target.

The SYE Zoom Classes are held every afternoon. Class levels range from Kindergarten to Junior High School. Parents are delighted that their children are occupied by SYE at home.

There is no charge for the SYE Zoom classes but students are encouraged to buy the SYE books.

*Our guest writer is Sarah Sihombing, SYE Coordinator/Programme Development.

2020-11-202020-11-26

Goducate helps victims of typhoons in Philippines

Goducate’s Meek and Lowly Community Center in Tagumpay, Bay, Laguna, Philippines, housed local residents who had to evacuate their homes because of two powerful typhoons that have hit the area so far this month.

Typhoon Rolly (international name Goni) was the most powerful storm recorded worldwide this year. It made landfall in the region of Bicol twice and went on to hit land twice more in the region of Calabarzon as a typhoon, before rapidly weakening into a tropical storm over the West Philippines Sea.

Most of the houses in Barangay Tagumpay are not very sturdily built. Hence on Oct 31, before the typhoon began, some people already asked permission to bring their belongings to the Center so that it would be easy for them to evacuate their homes when they needed to. They moved into the Center on Nov 1.

Because of the need to observe social distancing in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Meek and Lowly Community Center could accommodate 23 families (97 individuals) only who needed shelter from Typhoon Rolly. Others had to seek shelter elsewhere. Febie Ibaňez, a Goducate volunteer, together with Goducate scholars, ensured that safety protocols were followed. The Barangay Captain and Rural Health Unit (RHU) medical team visited the evacuees several times to check that conditions were satisfactory.

The Municipal Social and Welfare Development (MSWD) immediately distributed food packs, alcohol-based disinfectants, and face masks. Congresswoman Ruth Hernandez also visited the Center with relief supplies. Through this visit, the congresswoman learnt about life in the village. It led her to invite Goducate to draw up a proposal for the materials needed for the reconstruction of the damaged houses of those evacuees.

The evacuees were able to return home on Nov 2 after a night at the center, but many asked whether they could leave their belongings at the Center until such time as their homes were repaired.

Typhoon Rolly was followed by Typhoons Siony and Tonyo, but these were not severe enough to force the villagers to leave their homes. However, these typhoons were followed by Typhoon Ulysses (international name Vamco), which was as strong as Typhoon Rolly and caused severe flooding also.

During Typhoon Ulysses, 20 families (99 individuals) were admitted to the Meek and Lowly Community Center on Nov 12. There they were visited by Barangay officials, who distributed food packs. Because of concern that the Meek and Lowly Center would soon be flooded, the Barangay officials transferred the evacuees to another center after a couple of days.

Goducate supporters also contributed funds for meals for the families and volunteers.

*Flood water still on the rise during Typhoon Ulysses*

*Our guest writer is Honeylyn Pereira, a Goducate staff member.