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Goducate Training Center in Iloilo resumes its activities

The Goducate Training Center in Iloilo, Philippines, which had been quiet for some eight months because of restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, has come back to life now that the Local Government Unit of Iloilo is allowing gatherings, albeit with observance of protocols such as the wearing of facemasks and social distancing. There has been the resumption of training activities as well as the opening of the place to visitors.

Laughter and giggles from both young and old, families and friends, are heard once again. Screams of joy echo from the pool area as children and parents are having fun, enjoying the cool water and the fresh air. In every corner, groups of friends are taking pictures, savoring the sweet moments together. Bikers are wheeling around and the zip line is getting busy.  Family Fun Learning is a new activity that has been added to the package. This program helps busy parents and children to bond together through gardening, arts and crafts, and picking vegetables.

The family picking vegetables

The team building program has also resumed. Workers get a break from their ordinary routine and relax through engaging in meaningful activities that shape character and strengthen the relationship. Deca Homes Iloilo visited for this purpose. Their staff work mainly from home. Excitement and joy were seen on their faces when they met and had fellowship together after a long while. A mother’s unconditional love was a lesson emphasized by their leader while they sat around the bonfire under a starry night as the ceremony came to close. The participants were dressed in formal attire for the closing ceremony, during which awards were given for their performance during the program.

Team building for the staff of Deca Homes

*Our guest writer is Rebecca Depalubos, a Goducate staff member.

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Goducate Sabah Holds First Online Youth Camp

To cater to youth stuck at home and no school to attend because of restrictions arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, Goducate conducted its first online youth camp on May 30-31. The camp was for youth in Malaysia, where the government has imposed a Movement Control Order (MCO), and in the Philippines, where there is Enhanced Community Quarantine (CQ).

Over 50 participants, the majority from Sabah, Malaysia, attended the camp, which was titled “Mission Grounded Life: True Keys to Successful Living”. Goducate Philippines volunteers were the speakers for the main topics, which were Smart Use of Technology and Mental Wellness. In the afternoon there were skill-based interactive sessions on topics ranging from basic gardening, personality development, home making, basic home first aid, and sports such as basketball and volleyball. These sessions were led by specialists from the Philippines and facilitators from Goducate Sabah, Malaysia.

Goducate Sabah is aiming to reach out to the youth both in Malaysia and the Philippines, regardless of culture, religious affiliation, and backgrounds, through creating digital platforms and educating our youth to be responsible and productive during this pandemic. The two-day camp was run using the software Zoom, which has breakout sessions that allow participants to be divided into smaller groups for more detailed discussion and interactions.

During this Online Zoom Camp, participants learnt how to make a video, as individuals or as teams, that show what they learned in the camp. There were games and contests too, for the participants, to enjoy and to get to know each other better. Maurelline, one of the youth facilitators shared, “It was a great experience. I was nervous in the beginning but with the guidance of the organizers I was able to do it”.

*Our guest writer is the Goducate Sabah Training Coordinator.

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Goducate Training Center development continues at frantic pace

The rainy season is fast approaching in the Philippines. Thankfully, most of the rain has fallen in other parts of the Philippines and has been rather light on our camp-site in Iloilo, Philippines.

As the roads leading to the camp-site will be muddy, work requiring heavy equipment must be done before the heavy rains come. Also, heavier building materials (eg. steel beams, concrete posts) must be brought on site before the roads become unpassable to heavy trucks.

We are doing our best not to damage the roads leading to the campsite as this will affect our neighbours, who are mostly poor rice farmers. If we want to help poor Asians help themselves, these are the first group of people that we should do our best to help.

We are planning a seminar for them to teach them how to increase their yields by growing hybrid rice. Learning to work with them will help our trainees to work with other poor farming communities in Asia.

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