On Dec 13, Goducate Training Center in Iloilo, the Philippines, held a Christmas event for four neighboring communities. Over 500 people excitedly arrived many hours before the start of the festivities. For most of the children, it was their first time in a swimming pool. The night ended with very creative Christmas performances by the various communities. For most it was the highlight of 2012.
These four communities are where our trainees have been serving as part of their practical training to become community development workers.. Our trainees visit these communities several times per week to teach literacy, livelihood skills, public health, and to mentor children.
Most of our trainees inform us that this hands-on work in the community is the best part of their training. Through this community work, many lessons have been learned, many bridges have been built between Goducate and the villagers, and many useful skills have been imparted. These trainees have just graduated and are sad that they have to leave their new-found friends.
To minimize the “gap” that the communities may face between successive batches of trainees, Goducate Training Center staff and faculty have formed “follow-up” teams to continue their service to these communities, until the next batch of trainees arrives in Jan 2013.
Last 13-15 Nov 2012, I visited the Goducate Training Center (Iloilo) together with 3 people from Goducate HQ and 3 Singaporean visitors. My main purpose for the trip was to assist in the administrative aspects and policies of Goducate. Little did I know that I would also join the second trio of people in exploring the training center.
Lani and Maja
Vince, one of the GTC staff members, volunteered to tour us around at six in the morning. Being touted as the latest tourist spot in Iloilo, GTC is huge. There are several attractions which catered for private individuals and corporate gatherings, like the swimming pools, zorbie rides, horse-ride, zip-line, rock-climbing, Sky city (tree houses), in-house restaurant and facilities for team building activities. I gamely rode the zip-line twice, fed the pangasius fish, fed starving tilapias at the fish spa, learned about the rice & catfish model, was intrigued by the African night crawler worms and the vermiculture process. I also helped to gather fresh chicken eggs, smelled the organic plants, rested at the gazebo (the highest point of the Goducate training center) and hiked almost around the place. I stayed with the other Singaporean visitors in the second floor of an air-conditioned comfortable accommodation.
There were plants and trees all over the place: Duhat (Java Plum), Atis (sweetsop or sugar apple), hanging squash, bitter gourd, papayas, mangoes and tomatoes, to name some. Most of them were past their harvesting season, so this tourist was not privileged to bring back any organic fruit or veggie. Dormitories and drainage system were still being improved. Some of the pavements were also being developed. The place was busy with the on-going constructions and guests from schools and barangays. But at the end of the day, the place was quiet.
collecting eggschecking out the organic plants at the Goducate training center
To refuel us from the mental exercise of our daily administrative meetings and the walking and hiking, the delicious food prepared by Chef Bambi and her team was a real treat. The kitchen staff was neat.
GTC is home to the trainees who are being equipped to help needy Asians help themselves. Courses offered were in connection with the Community Development Work and English literacy. There were trainees from Cambodia and Laguna during that time. Trainees were required to converse in English outside their dorms.
Typical of Filipinos, the GTC staff and workers are very courteous. I thank all the cheerful staff and volunteers for their hospitality. All in all, my short stay in GTC was well-spent and I look forward to go back there again, especially during the mango harvest time.
For booking reservations/inquiries, contact:
Brgy. Sto.Angel, San Miguel, Iloilo. Philippines
Tel: 3367037 (Iloilo liaison city office) or
Tel: 09225506199 (Goducate Training Center, Iloilo)
Goducate Training Center is situated among poor rural communities in the municipality of San Miguel, Iloilo.
When we first started construction of the Goducate Training center two years ago, the area had been hit by a long drought and most of the farm land surrounding the center was barren and uncultivated. As we developed the 11 hectares of land, we discovered that there were 5 springs in our land. So one of the first structures that we constructed on the land was an impounding pond to provide water for our crops and for our neighbors’ fields.
Since the construction of the impounding lake, we have been providing water for all our own rice-fields and vegetable gardens, and supplying water to our neighbors’ rice-fields. The land in and around Goducate Training Center is now a beautiful green “oasis” even in the dry season.
Goducate trainees on their way to help our neighbors help themselvesGoducate turns a desert into an oasis
Goducate Training Center also provides employment for the communities around us. Most of our construction workers and support staff are from the neighboring communities. More important than the employment opportunities provided, is the training that is provided as they work at the center. Promising workers are identified for further training and employment in Goducate Training Center.
Goducate Training Center trainees also spend about half of their training to be community development workers in practical work, most of which is done in the neighboring communities. Daily our trainees go out to these communities to teach literacy, lifeskills, public health, agriculture, etc.
Before our community development workers graduate in December and are sent away to other poor communities, they must first help our neighbors to help themselves.
For booking inquiries please contact our booking officerat 09225506199
