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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.

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GoDeeds Talks Brings Light to the Needy

One of Goducate Laguna’s latest programs is “GoDeeds Talks”, an online program that is livestreamed on our official Facebook page every Thursday night, and that features the good deeds of individuals, institutions, or organizations. The aim of the program is to spread acts of kindness and to inspire people to display concern and compassion to others, especially in these trying times.

The first episode was launched on July 2, 2020, and the program celebrated its 1st anniversary on June 17 and 24, 2021.

At first it was challenging for the team to collect stories to feature, as well as to get funding for the program. But three young professionals from Living Water Baptist Church in Laguna and the GoDeeds Team helped to sustain and support the program for one year.

Over the year, GoDeeds Talks has become a movement or a channel, not just a simple program. Many partnerships were built during relief operations in Bicol, Rizal, and Cagayan when the team was doing community work, especially with police programs such as Barangayanihan (community pantry).

For the 1st anniversary celebrations, the team wanted a project that could be helpful for the community. The team thought up the Handog Liwanag Project (bringing solar light to the needy). They raised funds through their two anniversary programs. For the first program, musicians serenaded viewers, who sent in voluntary donations. Over the two weeks, enough funds were raised for 20 solar panels, which were immediately distributed and installed in homes without a source of electricity.

The second week’s program was an audiovisual presentation to update viewers about the program and inform them of the background of the beneficiaries of the Handog Liwanag Project.

The following link is about the Handog Liwanag Project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpMiQictmZs

*Our guest writer is Rossa Mae Diaz Luceno, a Goducate volunteer.

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Full stomachs, full hearts from Goducate’s feeding program in Laguna

All over the world, poverty rates have risen because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Many communities in the Philippines lack access to basic day-to-day necessities. So, Goducate Laguna started its feeding program in November last year in 5 areas/communities — Tagumpay, Talahiban, Puypuy Baba, Mabacan Ulik, and Mabacan Burol. Every Saturday, children would be fed through this program. Despite the difficulties brought on by the pandemic, the program continued; though at times, because of lack of funds, the children were fed only bread or biscuits instead of porridge or chicken macaroni soup.

However, this June the feeding program was intensified. The new program will be continued for six months. Every month, the body mass index (BMI) of the children will be checked to see whether there is any improvement. On two weekdays, underweight children are given meals fortified with a balance of nutrients designed especially for the needs of undernourished children. On Saturdays, the program will continue to cater for both underweight and normal-weight children.

The program does not consist solely of feeding. Before the feeding, Goducate volunteers teach the children through story-telling, action songs, and games, so that not only their stomachs, but also their hearts and minds, are filled. Initially, there were about 150 children in the program. Currently, there are 393 children, and 133 of them are in the malnourished group. The number of areas served has also increased from five to nine, the four additional ones being Lalao/Trancapuy, Marianville, Bayan/Relocation, and Bayog. It has been gratifying to see the improvement in the children’s health as well as in their knowledge about good deeds and moral issues. 

*Our guest writer is Lhowen A. Rocafort , a Goducate scholar and once a beneficiary of another feeding program.