Livelihood Training – Page 6 – Goducate … Go And Educate!

2016-04-082016-04-11

Goducate in Laguna partners police to “Support Sports and Avoid Illegal Drugs”

In the middle of last year. Goducate in Laguna began to work with the police, training them to be basketball officials (see blog of Aug 14, 2015). The idea behind the partnership was to help the police to reach out to youth through sports. Keeping youth focused on a sport can help keep them out of trouble.

As part of this partnership, a friendly basketball league was held at the Goducate center in Laguna on April 6. One of the largest problems in the Philippines now among youths is drug addiction, so the theme for the event was “Support Sports and Avoid Illegal Drugs”. We agreed that building a strong relationship and trust between the community and the authorities could help prevent youths from being tempted by drugs, and one way of building such relationships is through sports, which is very popular in the Philippines.

Altogether 7 teams took part in the league, including the village chieftain’s team. In addition, Goducate’s sports coordinator also invited 2 Philippines Basketball Association (PBA) players to give their testimonies at the event. Both came from the leading teams in the PBA league, and both believe in the value of sports as a means of keeping youths out of trouble. The participants were much encouraged by hearing how these players managed to overcome their struggles to be successful PBA players. One of them told of how basketball enabled him to finish his studies and attain financial freedom.

The participants were also addressed by our Municipal Chief of Police, who encouraged them to avoid illegal vices. In particular, he talked about the adverse effects of drug addiction not only on the addicts but also on their families, and he warned them how hard it is to break the addiction.

Listening to the Municipal Chief of Police

2016-02-262016-03-02

Goducate Laguna partners an organic farming project in neighboring province

Last year, Tony Vic and his wife Amber came home after a spell in the USA to settle in Talisay, Batangas, the province neighhboring ours (Laguna). They had heard about the community work that Goducate is doing in the villages in Iloilo, so they went over in the last quarter of last year to see what is being done. And since Laguna is a province neighboring Batangas, they visited us too, first in November, and then on several more occasions.

The visits kindled their desire to help the villagers in their neighborhood, and they decided to do so by setting up a model farm on a 2000 sq m plot of land that they own. There they will promote organic and hydroponics farming.

The groundbreaking ceremony for this farm was held on Feb 22. The Municipal Mayor of Talisay had visited the plot of land, and was represented by his Administrative Officer to plant a vegetable at the ground-breaking ceremony. Also present at the ceremony were the town’s head of agriculture, and the president of the farmer’s association.

A coconut tree also was also planted to symbolize a partnership with Goducate. Goducate will be assisting the project to start on vermiculture, to produce fertilizer for the farm.

Municipal representative planting first vegetable

Planting coconut tree to symbolize partnership with Goducate

2016-02-122016-02-12

Goducate’s music program in Laguna gets a boost with gifts of recorders

Last December a group of Singaporean friends came to see the Goducate community work in Laguna, and offered gifts for children in the various villages we work in. The children selected were those taking part in our literacy, sports, and music programs. 430 children from 11 villages each received a school bag and school supplies, snacks, and a recorder.

Recorder classes have been held every Saturday. Most of the teachers are our Goducate scholars (college students receiving a Goducate bursary); others are our community development workers.

After a month 205 children were still attending the recorder classes regularly. 54 of these were chosen to play in late January for those sponsors who paid a return visit after a trip to Manila.

Next month we will hold an evaluation. Those who pass the theory and practical examinations will be allowed to proceed to learn a brass or string instrument. Most of our students prefer brass instruments, and we hope that we will be able to acquire sufficient of these instruments.

Goducate’s music program has been valuable not only in keeping children off the streets, but also in giving children a valuable skill, and in instilling in them much discipline.

Goducate scholar teaching a recorder class