Goducate Training Center’s 7th batch of trainees graduate

The 7th Goducate Training Center (GTC) Commencement Exercises held on Dec 18, 2015, was a joint graduation ceremony for those who completed training programs offered in GTC in 2015–namely, the training of Community Development Workers (CDWs), the Technical Education and Services Development Authority (TESDA) training, and the Alternative Learning System (ALS) training.

The event was graced by the ALS Local official, a TESDA Officer, and San Miguel Mayor Hon. Dunstan Claudio Sale. It was also attended by the graduating students’ relatives. In his address Mayor Sale gave a challenging message to the graduates.

The 17 newly qualified CDWs trainees are all eager to bring light and hope to their own communities. Some showed a keenness to help other needy Asian communities.

50 TESDA trainees who completed their required 436 hours (equivalent to 55 training days) of house-keeping training received their certificates of completion. Of these, 18 have passed the National Certification 2 examination on housekeeping, which makes them fully qualified housekeepers. The certificate is valid for 5 years. The other 32 will be taking their National Certification 2 examination next week. All of them hope their training will enable them to help their families escape poverty.

This year’s three ALS passers from the first batch were also given recognition. Most of the ALS 2nd batch of trainees also attended the ceremony. They will soon be taking the ALS Accreditation and Equivalency Examination. The ALS is a Philippines Department of Education program for people who have not finished their schooling to continue their school education.

GTC is proud of its graduates and believes that wherever they will go, they will uphold Goducate’s mission of Helping Needy Asians Help Themselves.

Mayor Sale giving his address
Mayor Sale giving his address
Graduating CDWs and TESDA housekeeping trainees
Graduating CDWs and TESDA housekeeping trainees

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

Goducate Scholars share love with the aged at Christmas

For Christmas 2015, Goducate scholars decided to show their love and compassion to the needy, so they planned a Caroling for a Cause, with the proceeds going to the residents of a center for the aged who had no families.

The Goducate scholars went carolling in different villages on Dec 21-23, and collected about 6000 pesos, which they used to buy gifts for the residents of the center. On Boxing Day, they visited the center for the aged to sing to the residents as well as to distribute the gifts.

Spending time with sick man
Spending time with sick man
Putting new slippers on residents
Putting new slippers on residents

Goducate Training Center in Iloilo runs staff-enhancement program

Although the main function of the Goducate Training Center (GTC) in Iloilo is to train people to be community development workers, in the pursuit for excellence its staff and volunteers need to be continually learning new things. The topics for the staff-enhancement session held last month were intended to groom staff to run leadership and other programs, and to deal with the public.

The session was attended by staff, volunteers, and trainees. A seminar on proper decorum, grooming and hygiene was held in the morning, and a workshop on public speaking followed in the afternoon.

The proper decorum, grooming and hygiene seminar was designed to teach the participants how to be good stewards of their bodies, how to properly conduct oneself in public and how to look pleasing and appropriate for the occasion. The interactive seminar culminated with a challenge to each team to do a makeover and to dress up their chosen representatives.

The public-speaking workshop aimed to equip the participants to be good speakers and to increase their confidence in speaking to the public. The guest speaker gave an enriching and dynamic lecture. The activity ended with teams practising the essentials of public speaking with their group mates.

Practising how to do a makeover
Practising how to do a makeover
Lecture on public speaking
Lecture on public speaking

*Our guest writer is Joanna de Leon, a community development worker