Category: Philippines

A Barangay Caravan is a one-day program consisting of a Health Information Drive, Community Development Lectures, a Medical Mission, and Basketball Training. A barangay (meaning village or district) is the smallest administrative unit in the Philippines.

The first Barangay Caravan was held in Barangay Aglalana, Passi City, Iloilo, on March 25. The event was attended by approximately 200 locals of all ages.

“This idea of barangay caravan was made because we want to accommodate all ages in just one setting. It is an effective blend of compassionate health care and strategic community development,” said Leanne Jurisprudencia, the Caravan’s team leader. In the past, teams offering different components of the Caravan would visit a barangay separately.

In Barangay Aglalana, the community development workers shared about hypertension and diabetes to the elderly, while basic parenting was discussed with the mothers and fathers in the community. The children were also taught about basic proper hygiene.

Two medical doctors and one dentist also came from Iloilo city to provide free health service to the locals.  And Goducate volunteers gave out free antibiotics and vitamins as prescribed..

Meanwhile, the GoBasket team coached young schoolboys in basketball.

Also, free haircuts were provided for men and young boys, and black rubber shoes for everyone who attended the program.

“We are really lucky that Goducate came here in Aglalana and gave us free check- ups and free medicines. And there are free shoes also,” said Miss Jhanette Palma, one of the beneficiaries of the program.

“The goal of this program is not just to provide medical care and assistance to communities with little access but also to reach out and open doors to different barangay of target municipalities to share compassion. We aim to reach all of the Philippines through this platform,” Ma’am Leanne stated.

*Our guest writer is Diana Joy Dubria, a trainee at the Goducate Training Center in Iloilo

On Feb 7, Goducate in Laguna sealed a partnership with Barangay (village) Balanac in the municipality of Magdalena, for Goducate scholars to be community development trainers there. The village has scarce resources. For instance, it is 10 km away from the nearest public hospital, so the residents seldom seek medical help.

 

Most of our 23 Goducate scholars in different universities in Laguna are in their third or fourth year of study, and thus are very busy complying with their school requirements. Yet they make time for their community work. Even those scholars who have graduated continue to help out in our community projects.

Some of them teach children aged 4-12 every Saturday. They teach subjects such as good behaviour (through stories) and proper hygiene, as well as musical skills. Some scholars are part of the Health Information Program. They check blood pressures and teach people the causes of hypertension and diabetes, and simple measures of preventing these diseases.

 

A team of Goducate scholars will now be visiting Barangay Balanac every Saturday.It is our joy to see the scholars appreciate what they have and their willingness to help others.

*Our guest writer is Mariane Angela Reyes, representative of the Goducate Training Center, Laguna

On December 12 Goducate helped the Philippines Department of Social Welfare & Development (DSWD), Guimaras Province, with a family program designed to address the needs of fathers in leading the home. 32 fathers enthusiastically committed to build better homes through leading their families responsibly.
This partnership with the DSWD in Guimaras had started earlier, with programs for youth against drug addiction, teenage pregnancy, and HIV/AIDS.

Guimaras is an island province in the Philippines located in the region of Western Visayas. It is situated in the Panay Gulf, between the islands of Panay and Negros.
DSWD approached Goducate for help with running the youth programs and giving the lectures. Goducate produced fun, relevant, and interactive programs to address these issues. It also trained our local partners to facilitate small-group discussions and the games. The youth were informed about the pressing concerns of the topics under discussion, and were also given opportunities to make right decisions for themselves.

Five similar programs were conducted in different areas in Guimaras in the last quarter of 2017, and attended by a total of approximately 500 young people.

Goducate is one with the government in believing that the country will change for the better if families are transformed holistically.

*Our guest writer in Joanna De Leon, a community development worker