Goducate centres in Sabah observed Nutrition Month from April 7 to April 30. A school day in short, so students go home for meals, but during that Nutrition Month, students at each of the 22 schoolhouses were given a meal in school on one of the days.
Apart from the literacy program, Goducate has been promoting health in the communities in Sabah. There is a regular de-worming programme, basic health screening (because most of the people there are not entitled to treatment at state facilities), and an effort to get the community to grow and eat moringa, a plant with many nutrients.
Some of the mothers helped to prepare the meal for the feeding programme. The meal consisted of rice porridge with chicken and moringa. This was an opportunity for reinforcing to the mothers the importance of nutrition for the children, and the relation between health and school performance.
Students having meal at schoolhouse 1Students having meal at schoolhouse 1
Goducate is partnering with the Department of Social Welfare Development in Laguna, Philippines, to conduct the Children’s Summer Activities for children in 15 villages who are “4P” beneficiaries.
The 4P (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) is a Philippine government program that aims to eradicate extreme poverty by investing in health and education, especially for children aged 14 and under. It is patterned on programs in other developing programs, such as the Oportunidades program in Brazil and the Bolsa Familia program in Mexico. The Department of Social Welfare Development uses a proxy-means test to identify families eligible for this program.
The program focuses on two objectives—social assistance through the provision of cash to address short-term financial needs, and social development through investing in building up the child’s capacity to break the intergenerational poverty cycle. The second objective is the same as Goducate’s..
The 3-day class with its theme “Enhance the Children to Better Face the Future” was designed by Goducate and approved by the regional authorities, who believe that it “It is better to build a child than to restore a man”. The lessons focus on the children’s responsibility in the family and society. It was designed for children aged 7-11. The topics covered range from responsible handling of garbage (such as where to dispose of garbage and how to segregate into the right cans for recycling and environmental friendliness) to respecting and being grateful to parents, the aged, and those who have helped them in any way.
The class will be repeated in every village. While the lessons are in progress the parents are kept busy preparing the meals.
Mother assisting child with practical workParents bringing material for preparing foodGraduation day.
Last month, Goducate hosted a 3-week massage course at the Goducate Training Center in Laguna for 7 deaf people and 18 other beneficiaries of the government’s Department of Social and Welfare Development’s (DSWD) Conditional Cash Transfer Program. Goducate has been partnering the department in implementing its Family Development Session in 15 villages, catering to more than 2000 families.
Laguna is south of Manila and is the resort capital of Luzon, where city people like to spend their weekends enjoying the scenic view of Laguna Lake and soaking themselves in the natural hot Spring, from Mt. Makiling. Another attraction is the spa and massage service that some of the resorts offer. The possibility of getting jobs doing massage at these resorts is the reason why we partner with TESDA (Technical Skills and Development Authority ), the LGU ( Local Goverment Unit ), and DSWD to train people in massage.
