Goducate Training Center (GTC) in Iloilio, Philippines, is Goducate’s “university” for training its future leaders.
Recently I was there to participate in one of its “leadership camps”. There were 240 trainees who attended the 3-day session on leadership, the vast majority being university students or recent graduates. I hope that many of these will catch the vision of helping needy Asians to help themselves and enrol for Goducate’s full-time training program to prepare themselves to serve in poor communities throughout Asia.
The present pilot batch of 20 full-time trainees have just completed their 6-month training program. Some of these graduates will stay on as staff and trainers at GTC, while others will be sent out to communities in the Philippines, China, and Indonesia in the near future.
In 2012, we plan to enrol about 100 full-time trainees who will be trained in cross-cultural studies, foreign languages, agriculture, community health, literacy, livelihood skills, music, self-defence, etc. We hope that the training will instill in all our graduates not only the desire but also the ability to help Asians help themselves.
Learning should be fun!Goducate's future leadersHousing campers in tent-city
About 50 Chinese Lifepegs members went to a nearby deer farm to enjoy great fall weather and to learn from the foreign members about some traditional American fall activities.
The hour’s bus ride gave us a chance to enjoy beautiful fall scenery, such as falling leaves and corn harvest in full swing, and to experience the peacefulness of being in the country. Once at the deer farm we made our way past pigs and chickens to a back pasture where we held our activities.
The first order of business was collecting firewood for the bonfire. After enough wood was collected, the games began. Six teams named after various fall items competed in activities, including a team-name cheer competition and pass-the-pumpkin. Each team also took part in two traditional American fall activities, bobbing for apples and pumpkin carving. None of the members on my team had ever carved a pumpkin before. The members showed great team work both in designing and carving.
Carved pumpkin
At sunset the bonfire was lit for the American tradition of roasting hot dogs over the open fire. Teams continued working together to make sure that everyone got their fill. After everyone had finished eating, we gathered around the fire both to stay warm and to enjoy the company of friends. There is something about a bonfire that brings people together and sets the stage for good conversations.
Too soon it was time to pack everything up and make our way back. During the dark walk back to the buses, one member commented that she had never done anything like this before and that she was very glad that she had joined in the activity. I think her thoughts were shared by all.
The reason why I joined the Lifepegs was for all kinds of activities. It always organizes abundant outdoor and indoor activities which are so interesting and challenging. Through the activities I learn about many international cultures, working as a team, making friends, and challenge the limit of myself!
After joining Lifepegs for a few months, I found I was crazy about Lifepegs! I liked being in the environment. I wanted my last summer holiday of my college life to become special and meaningful, so I made up my mind to attend the 2011 summer camp, which is the biggest festival in Lifepegs. The summer camp was so splendid. It was the happiest English learning environment that I have ever had. Interacting with teachers and new friends, playing the exciting games, designing the skit, buying stuff from the safari soko (camp store), attending the English corners and the skills night, all of them were so cool! I did enjoy the summer camp a lot. I am glad that I made a good choice to attend instead of going back home.
In the summer camp, not only did I improve my English and make a group of new friends, but also I learned other meaningful things that are beneficial to my life.
During the summer camp, I was a volunteer, technically, the marketing volunteer who was in charge of spreading the news about the summer camp and recruiting the people who wanted to attend. At the beginning, I thought it was an easy thing to do. But later, it didn’t run as smoothly as I expected. Not everyone was interested in the summer camp. There was a time I was very stressed and frustrated. But thanks to Cat, who brought me out of the predicament. She helped me to analyze the problems that I met, and gave me many suggestions on how to make plans, improve my communications skill, try to introduce the summer camp from different angles and so on.
Certificate for marketing volunteer, and with Cat, a Lifepegs staff member
The most important thing is that she is always optimistic and stimulates me to keep going. I got a lot of strength from her. Moreover, she had to deal with many volunteers at the same time. She is so amazing! Thank you Cat, you help me grow a lot.
Besides Cat, I also learned many things from the safari patrol. They played an important role in the whole summer camp. They fulfilled their responsibilities to arrange all the stuff systematically. I never heard them ever complain about it. Owing to their hard work, the summer camp could be so successful. They set me a very good example on how to be a responsible man.
Lifepegs is like a dictionary which adds meaning to my life and makes my college life complete and colorful. I firmly believe Lifepegs will have a bright future that shines everybody!
