Goducate … Go And Educate! – Page 34 – Helping Asians Help Themselves

2017-04-212017-05-22

AIESEC brings gifts and Jollibee mascot to Goducate musicians in Laguna

On April 17, 2017, 30 youths from the Goducate music program in Laguna, Philippines, not only received a set of school supplies but also watched a dance by the Jollibee mascot. Jollibee is a Filipino multinational chain of fast-food restaurants. For some of the youths, this meeting with the full-sized mascot was very memorable because it was their first encounter with it.

The occasion was a Gift-Giving Event conducted by AIESEC members at the University of the Philippines. They had chosen the Goducate music program as their beneficiary for this event. At this event the 30 youths demonstrated their violin-playing and recorder-playing skills. In turn the 25 AIESEC members distributed gift packs containing a notebook, pencils, crayons, paper, and a sharpener.

AIESEC is a platform for young people to explore and develop their leadership potential. It is an independent, international, non-profit, non-political organization run by students and recent graduates of institutes of higher education. Founded in 1948 in 7 countries, it is now present in 126 countries and territories. AIESEC was originally an acronym for Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économiques et Commerciales, but has now become the name of the organization.

Goducate is very grateful to the AIESEC members of the University of the Philippines UP. We share their vision and mission of helping the community.

Musicians with Jollibee mascot, AIESEC members, and Goducate staff

2017-03-172017-03-29

Barangay leaders in Panay, Philippines, attend Goducate’s leadership forum

Goducate’s goal is to Go & Educate so that we can help Asians help themselves.

One of the best ways of helping communities is by training their leaders.

To do this, Goducate started a forum called Asia Forum for Leaders” (AFL). The program is for training leaders from different spheres of influence —political, community, police, educational, religious, etc.

At the soft launch of the program in September last year (see blog Oct 7), there was a one-day forum for 14 community (barangay) leaders, followed by a 3-day forum for 90 church leaders at the Goducate Training Center in Iloilo, Philippines.

Earlier this month, on March 2, we had another forum at the Goducate Training Center for barangay leaders, attended this time by over 200 barangay officials from the Province of Panay, Philippines. The theme was “Leadership in the 21st Century.”

The topics covered included changes in the 21st Century, responses expected by constituents, changes in leadership styles, etc. I conducted the training, together with Leo Decinal, our community trainer in Laguna Province.

The barangay captains participated enthusiastically, and there are now plans for follow-up workshop in the next few months.

2017-03-032017-03-21

Goducate supports literacy activities for children in Myanmar

Goducate supports a team in Myanmar that conducts literacy activities for children and interested adults in 8 communities scattered around the fringe of Yangon. 3 of these communities were added in the past year and a half. Two of us from Goducate headquarters in Singapore visited the team in late February.

At each community the team teaches 60-80 children. The children gather as soon as soon as the team arrives. Some would have just returned from school, but many do not go to school because of poverty, distance, and the transient nature of their stay within a community. Children are largely left to themselves during the day because their parents work as menial labourers or are out looking for work, leaving the children under the passive care of grandparents, if any. So, not surprisingly, the children look forward to the team’s weekly visits. They learn many new things through the activities, and they certainly enjoy the fun, laughter, and togetherness.

We made a courtesy call on the widow of a farmer who had been a very welcoming host, allowing his front yard, with makeshift roof, to be used as a “classroom” for the past 3 years. Sadly, the farmer passed away at the end of last year. His widow continues to do the same, and even provides snacks for the children at each gathering. It is because of people like these who willingly provide the use of their homes, that the team can carry out their work with the children.

Our visit was short and it was good to know that Goducate makes a difference in the lives of so many children and in the communities.