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
Nineteen members of the Benjamin Aguilar Elementary School (BAES) Chapter of the Goducate Junior CDW (community development workers) Club graduated on March 24. Among the club members, nine graduated with academic awards that included first honors, second honors, third honors, five with honorable mentions, and one with special award.
BAES is located in Anabo, Lemery. Lemery is a fourth-class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. Provinces in the Philippines are divided into cities and municipalities (also known as towns), and municipalities are classified by income according to their average annual income over the previous 4 calendar years, with first class municipalities having an income of PHP 55,000,000 ($1,243,938) or more, and sixth class less than PHP 15,000,000 ($339.251).
Junior CDW Club is Goducate’s program for elementary schools in Iloilo, Philippines. Its mission is to educate and empower youths to be readily available and able to assist in helping meet the needs of their community. Goducate believes that the hope of a country lies in the children. The vision is that all Junior CDW Club members will actively participate in helping develop their families and their own communities and will train others to do likewise.
Members of Junior CDW Clubs are students in grades four, five, and six who are willing to participate and be trained. The officers and members of the clubs meet every Saturday, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. They do fun activities and learn the values of good leadership. They are mentored on how to handle activities, lead songs, organize programs, and be good leaders. They also learn livelihood skills such as making moringa powder and doing vermiculture.
During the School’s 43rd Recognition Program in the morning, BAES awarded a certificate of recognition to Goducate and to Goducate community development workers for their help to the school and its pupils. The 43rd commencement (graduation) exercises were held in the afternoon.
