Goducate … Go And Educate! – Page 160 – Helping Asians Help Themselves

2011-12-092011-12-09

Pedro – life transformed by Goducate

c-IMG_9118a-ORIGINAL — Pedro on his new motor-bike

Pedro, aged 32 and married with two young children, was a jobless and aimless fellow who first appeared at the Goducate Training Center (GTC) with his armed gang, hoping to extort some ‘protection money’ during the early stages of construction. Careful negotiations and counselling sessions with us subsequently led him out of the gang, and he joined the GTC construction team.

We also visited his family, showing them kindness and slowly helped them out of poverty. He owned no land or property, but we offered him opportunities at the GTC to learn farming. We shared our farming expertise with him and soon gave him charge of the hundreds of mango trees at the GTC.

Goducate’s philosophy of helping the poor to help themselves is seen in Pedro’s story – before long, he was able to repair his shack of a house, and subsequently bought a motor-bike, using it to visit other villagers in the area to teach them the farming and crop-growing skills he had picked up from the GTC.

2011-12-062011-12-06

Franklin – life transformed by Goducate

cIMG_9128 — Franklin with his ampalaya harvest

When Franklin first came to Goducate, he was given the job of helping with the clearing of the jungle-like land which the Goducate Training Center (GTC) now stands on. After that, he continued to help us till the ground and grow useful plants and vegetables.

Now one of our hardworking, trusted workers, Franklin is married with one child. Although he owned a small piece of land not far away from the GTC, he could not afford seeds or fertilizer for planting. He and his family used to live very simply on one or two meals (rice and vegs only) a day. His desire to grow something on his land was soon realised when Goducate helped him with the initial investment of a few seeds.

After a few months, he has a thriving crop of ampalaya (bitter gourds) as well as hot peppers, pumpkins and rice on his own land. His family now has the means to add fish and meat regularly to their diet. At the GTC, he works tirelessly in the farms, regularly harvesting heaps of ampalaya, chilli and other vegetables for us.

2011-12-02

Perfume-making added to livelihood skills in Laguna

The livelihood program (SELP, Self Empowerment and Leadership Program) in Laguna recently held a session to upgrade soap-making skills, to teach perfume-making, and to motivate the members. It was attended by around 30 people, consisting of 9 leaders, 8 members, and the rest who were newcomers.

SELP covers 6 villages. Establishing the program has helped attract members by indicating to them that there will be continuing training.

The skills upgrading in soap-making was required because some of the members had found that the detergent they were producing was not producing much froth. We have also been able to find a new source of raw materials that enables the women to pool together to buy more cheaply in bulk.

Members sell their soap products by going house to house. On average, a woman sells about 10 kg soap powder and 5 litres of dishwashing liquid a week.

The most eagerly awaited item of the day’s session was the perfume-making. The expected market for the products would be high-school and college students.