In partnership with the Philippine Red Cross, the Goducate Training Center (GTC) in San Miguel, Iloilo, is in its second year of helping others through blood donation. With the theme “Dugo Mo, Ibulig Mo” (Help others through your blood), a blood-donation day was held on June 15 in GTC’s multipurpose hall. An event of this kind kindles compassion in donors for others, and strengthens the spirit of volunteerism among those in the Goducate team and their allies.
Out of 29 interested donors from Goducate trainees, staff, and workers, and from the communities surrounding GTC area, 19 were deemed suitable donors
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What made this year’s blood-donation day remarkable was that the donors came not only from the Philippines but also from the United States, China, and Malaysia. It so happened that the American trainers at the Goducate Learning Center in China had accompanied their Chinese trainees to GTC to finish off their training to be community development workers. The Malaysian is a GTC trainee. This combination of donors led the organizers of this event to label it “GTC Bloodletting Activity Version 2.0- The International Version”.
*Our guest writer is Joanna De Leon
Trainee from China undergoing blood test before blood donationAmerican trainer in China donating blood
On May 19-23 Goducate Laguna held our 6th summer music workshop, with 53 participants.
One of our volunteer teachers was 23-year-old Jay-Ar. In 2008 he graduated from high school but was not able to pursue his college studies because of financial difficulties. Being the firstborn in a family of 6 siblings, he was obliged to find a job to help support the family.
When he joined our music program in 2012, he soon learnt to play several wind instruments, and was given a chance to pursue his studies through a Goducate scholarship. Students who take part in our community programs (including the music program) are eligible to apply for these scholarships, sponsored by a Goducate supporter. Jay-Ar was also granted free tuition by his college after passing an audition to become part of the college brassband.
He is now in the 4th year of his course for the Bachelor of Science in Education, and hopes to graduate by next year.
Jay-Ar plays the saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, and flute. He helps in our music program weekly, training others to play an instrument. It is part of Goducate culture for those who have been helped to go on to help others. This kind of movement makes a program sustainable.
Jay-Ar teaching the wind classJay-Ar and students giving recital at the camp
Junior Chamber International (JCI) is a non-profit organization that provides development opportunities that empower young people aged 18-40 to create positive change. It engages in activities ranging from community development to national and international projects, which demonstrate members’ social responsibility in improving themselves and others through participation, leadership, and action. Such activities and aims are very much in line with Goducate’s.
JCI is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and it has chapters in more than 100 countries. Its Iloilo Ilang-Ilang Chapter is an all-female chapter of JCI Philippines.
To celebrate JCI’s 100th anniversary, JCI Iloilo Ilang-Ilang launched a project entitled “Langit sa Lanit (Heaven in Lanit)” . to help and empower the Aeta “Ati” tribe in Lanit. Lanit is a village belonging to Iloilo City. The Aetas are the indigenous tribe in Iloilo Province. They are one of the ancestors of the Filipinos. They are now considered a minority. Most of them are uneducated and needy. They usually come from remote areas, especially the mountainous ones. Because of poverty and lack of food, livelihood, and other opportunities in the mountainous areas, they venture into the city. A few families are living in the compound of a pastor in Lanit.
For the Langit sa Lanit project, JCI Iloilo Ilang-Ilang partnered with the local barangay officials, Barangay Health Workers, APEX Club of Iloilo City, Central Philippine University (CPU) Medical Team, Western Visayas Medical Doctors, Doane Baptist Church Young People, and Goducate.
To prepare and equip its partners, JCI Iloilo Ilang-Ilang held a lecture on “Understanding Indigenous People” on April 14 at a restaurant in the city.
The project was launched at the compound of the Ati Tribe on April 15 with activities such as a demonstration of how to wash hands property, a talk on family planning, a ear check-up, and training on the commercial production of native chicken. Goducate helped with “Can You Hear Me 2.0?”, the ear-check-up program.
Aetas from other municipalities were also invited to the launch of the program, so in total 46 Aetas participated that day. JCI Iloilo Ilang-Ilang, together with its partners, will continue to monitor and help the group.
Doctor from CPU demonstrating hand washing techniqueGoducate team with certificate of appreciation from JCI
*Our guest writer is Joanna De Leon, a Goducate community development worker
