Goducate Training Center (GTC), in Iloilo, Philippines, held its first Recruitment Conference on May 6-8.
Invitations had been sent to new university graduates, to working people, and to those who had expressed interest in being trained as community development workers (CDWs). Over 300 people from all over the Philippines attended the conference.
The topics covered included the history of Goducate, its philosophies, its CDW training program, and the opportunities available for Goducate-trained CDWs. The Goducate Coordinator for Indonesia, Pak Thomos, spoke on the opportunities available in Indonesia. Filipino Goducate workers who had previously served in China spoke on the challenges and opportunities available in China. Since Goducate does not do things in the “traditional” way, the most useful sessions were the Question and Answer sessions, during which many fears and doubts were removed.
Booths were set up for recruitment for GTC’s next training session (June to December). Our target is to train 50 to 70 CDWs for Indonesia, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, etc. At the end of the conference about 50 had shown interest to be trained.
Booths were also set up by the present batch of GTC trainees, who will be graduating shortly and will be sent to various fields (mostly to Indonesia). These booths displayed the trainees’ work in the poor communities surrounding GTC. They had taught the children in these communities livelihood skills (eg. making food items and handicrafts, doing manicure and pedicure), and these children sold their goods and services during the conference to earn some money for their school fees.
These children impressed the conference attenders with their skills in music, drama, and oratory skills. It was very encouraging to hear these poor village children speak so confidently in English before a large crowd of university graduates.
May GTC continue to train CDWs to help needy Asian help themselves.
For Inquiries, call: Tel 09225506199 Email gtc_iloilo@yahoo.com (Goducate Training Center Iloilo Philippines)