Learning Centers – Page 23 – Goducate … Go And Educate!

2010-09-082010-09-13

Sabah Literacy Center – We want to learn to read at any price!

Water World is a 5 months old goducate center Sabah. It was named waterworld because once it was high tide the water reaches until the floor of our elevated school house. High tide will never be a hindrance to the students to go to school as well as volunteered teachers. I’ll show you some several ways to go to school even though high tide.

1.Bridge making is one way of going to our center. Students and teachers were together getting some logs.. making artificial bridge to step on and not getting too wet.

2. Up.. up.. pull is another way.. How? simple.. pull your shorts up and walk in water be sure to step on the right angle.. or else you will fall on the hole or you’ll step on the “floating object”.

3.Floating icebox is the easiest way to go to our center when its high tide.Just ride on it and ask someone to push you.

We think it’s ridiculous but that’s how they value their school and education. High tide will never be a hindrance for them to study and learn. I had shown you only 3 ways but there will be a lots of ways.

The visit.
Two weeks ago dentists from Philippines volunteered to visit and see the work in Sabah. They came in with their own tools and ready to extract the painful teeth of people in Khampung..

Some of them told us that never in their entire life ever seen a real dentist in person. Imagine some of the patients reaches the age of 60.. some ages 17-19 yrs old and the front teeth was “unidentified” already.The dentists did their job very well at 5 stations in 4 days. Despite of tiresome body and sleepless nights, the joy was still seen as they pull the tooth until the patients are now ready to give their BIG SMILE again..

The Father/ The patient

Uncle Asta is a husband of our volunteer teacher in one of our center ” WATER WORLD”. When the dentist came, he was one of the patients who patiently resist the pain of injection until his front teeth was pulled out.. He was so thankful. In return for his being grateful, he ask that if its possible he can help the waterworld by making a boat we just provide the materials and the labour was free..

Just this afternoon as I pass by in his house I saw him working for it.. It was a huge boat for our center in water world. This will be the 4th way of going to our center in the coming days.. Looking forward to that.. Row, row, row your boat.

2010-07-302010-07-31

Reaching poor unschooled children in Sabah

Many undocumented “refugees” from Philippines live in out-of-the-way villages in Sabah, Malaysia. Most of these villages are in tidal swamp areas that are flooded with sea-water at high tide and soggy and muddy at low tide.

The children in these villages are unable to attend schools and are illiterate. Goducate trains their mums (many of whom have been to school in the Philippines) to teach their own children. Undoubtedly, the best teacher is a kid’s own mum!

It’s a joy to see the face of a teenager who has discovered the meaning of alphabets! It is well worth the walk through the swamp!

It’s a greater joy to see the face of the mothers who feel empowered to teach their own children, nephews and neighbours!

Goducate hopes to help them to help themselves, so that they can contribute to the society their live in!

2010-06-112010-06-07

Sabah teachers get taste of modern life!

Last week we brought our Sabah Literacy Center teachers for team-building and training. These teachers have been trained by us to teach the children in their own kampongs. Many of them seldom leave their kampongs because they are “undocumented aliens” without the necessary identification papers.

The team-building sessions were held in a government complex.

We have now 48 teachers and needed to cast again our vision to them and for them to know each other. The government complex has a dormitory, conference hall and cafeteria.

Facilities wise it was very good exposure for all teachers. It was the first time for many of them to sleep in a spacious room with fan, each one having her own bed. For many it was also the first time to use a proper toilet, bath and sink for washing. We used this opportunity to them them about sanitation, and how to use a toilet in a non-offensive way.

It cost us 24 Malaysian Ringgit (about US$8) per head for accomodation and 3 meals.

Our theme was – One Team.
Session One: What is a Team
Session Two: What is Teamwork
Session Three: Handling Conflicts

All the activities/games were directed towards achieving the theme.

When it was time to discuss what they learned, it was very exciting. Our teachers are thinking! And learning on their own! We did not share any input except to wrap up afterwards.

They said that they learned:
– not to leave anyone behind
– without cooperation there is no team
– it is important to follow the leader
– it is important to know the instructions

(because of security reasons we are not publshing photos or mentioning names of individuals or venues)