The Goducate Children’s Home has long wanted to be self-sustainable. It has also wanted to teach the children at the home not only to stand on their own feet, but also to go and impart what they have learnt to the community. Over the years we have been gathering information and trying out various projects. Recently, our administrator, Noe Pulmones, went to the Philippines for intensive training in livelihood programs. We are now starting to introduce these programs, starting with short-range goals but with the aim of reaching long-term goals.
Feasibility studies have shown that raising tilapia for sale has more advantages than any other livelihood project. Thus during the Khmer New Year vacation, the boys at the home dug out two new fish ponds.
Last month three members of the Goducate Orchestra—Jessica Evangelista (flautist), Mariel Camposo (violinist), and Kimberly Cabalfin (violinist)—graduated from high school in Laguna. Through an informal arrangement Goducate was invited to present them with Certificates of Recognition at the school’s graduation ceremony. This presentation was a complete surprise to the students and their parents.
Jessica
Jessica graduated as class valedictorian. She received 11 medals and numerous certificates for her various extracurricular activities. Her parents were surprised that she topped the class because she spent so much time on orchestra practice. Asked how she managed, she said, “Thank you for the Goducate Orchestra, for the discipline that it taught me. One thing I Iearn that being an orchestra member is just like you are studying in school. Being an orchestra member, you need to persevere, you need to listen carefully to the conductor, you need to practice the skills and knowledge that the teacher teaches you. And the same principles you need in studying in school. That’s why, the principles I acquired being an orchestra member, I applied it when I was studying high school”.
Jessica’s mother told me that when Mrs Calora, the lady who donated the land for the school, heard that Jessica received a Certificate of Recognition from Goducate for her services as a volunteer going to villages to teach other children music, Mrs Calora was impressed and said that she would look for sponsors to help young people like Jessica.
It made me realize that there are people willing to help the needy but they don’t know who to support. Goducate helps the needy to help themselves and others, and to draw these people to the attention of sponsors.
Earlier this year, Goducate discussed our dreams with our teachers (who are the local mums that we have trained to teach their own people) and we came to the “conclusion” that we should aim for 100 centers in the north Sabah area.
At that time, it seemed like an impossible dream. However, when I returned to Sabah recently one month after that planning meeting – we had started another 7 literacy centers! 7 new centers in 1 month is not bad at all!!
Most of these centers are small – with about 50 to 60 children. Most of them are held in the “balcony” of a house or in the sitting room of a house. These premises are offered by kampong people who are keen that their kids get to learn to read and write.
For the time being, teachers from neighboring kampongs with established literacy centers are sent to teach. In a few months, local mums will be trained (on the job, and in our training program) to take over.
New school in sitting room of kampong's "rich" man's houseNew school in "balcony" of house
Goducate hopes to move on to southern Sabah this year and repeat this dream to help needy people help themselves to read and write.
