Visual examination of soil texture shows that it is predominantly sandy loam to sandy clay loam. Combined with the sloping terrain, these make the water retention capacity of the soil rather poor because of high seepage and percolation rates.
The area is rainfed. As mentioned by the caretaker, the cropping pattern had always been Rice-Rice, which means that only two rice crops were grown in the area. For household consumption, however, remnants of squash, alugbati, and mungbean were seen in four paddy plots. Watering of the plants is done by siphoning water through a continuous ½-inch PVC tube with one end immersed into a well.
Another important information elicited from the caretaker was that during the rainy season, so much water would cascade from the hillside into the paddy areas. Since there is no provision for a catchment structure, the runoff water would flood the ricefields and oftentimes caused damage to the standing crop.
There is no power supply in the area since the Iloilo Electric Cooperative I (ILECO 1) transmission line is a bit remote from the site. While energizing the campsite through ILECO 1 is a good option, some non-conventional energy sources should be considered because of their possible scientific and educational relevance. This will be further explained under the topic on recommendations.
The Philippines continues to have a very high birth-rate because of the Roman Catholic Church’s opposition to birth control. As a result of this many families struggle to provide for the needs of their children. Added to this problem, is the fact many adults (especially the ladies) have to go abroad to look for work. Therefore, many children grow up without the care of a mother.
Lack of money and lack of parental guidance has resulted in a many out-of-school youths, many unwanted pregnancies, teenage marriages and juvenile delinquents.
A year ago, Goducate decided to start weekend camps for Filipino youths in the island of Panay. Groups of about 100 youths from poor villages were invited to join these weekend camps – where they attended teaching sessions, played games and made new friends. The result of these camps was remarkable. Parents noticed visible changes in the behaviour of their kids. And the kids clamoured to join subsequent camps. However, due to the lack of camp facilities and funds it was not possible to invite these youths to follow-up camps.
The Committee Of Camp Goducate Philippines
At about the same time when we started experimenting with youth camps, a Singaporean who presently resides in Brisbane, Australia asked me how he could help. I suggested to him that it was a good thing to help the poor youths of Philippines and he readily gave a generous check – which was then used as the down-payment for a 6 hectare piece of land in Alimodian, Iloilo Province, Philippines.
The owner of this land, Mrs Gonzales, was a poor single mum who ran a market-stall selling vegetables. Later she became a successful wholesaler of mangoes. With the profits of her business, she bought this piece of land many years ago. It was a beautiful piece of flat land surrounded by hills. On the flat land are 2 springs of water, which do not ever stop flowing. Each weekend, she and her children would go to this piece of land to plant mahogany trees, fruit trees and bamboo on the slope of the hills. The flat land was cultivated with rice.
Camp Goducate
I had the privilege of meeting Mrs Gonzales through mutual friends. When she heard that we were looking for land to build a camp, she offered her land at a very good price.
A camp committee is presently looking at how we can best develop this land so that poor youths can have the chance to learn many useful lessons and skills.
The cost to develop this large piece of land is beyond our present resources.
The possibilities are mind-boggling.
The number and needs of Filipino youth is scary.
But we must do our best to help them – before it is too late!
More photos (click thumbnail to view photos):
[nggtags gallery=camp1]
On Oct 25, Goducate opened its new learning center in the little village of Lanit, 25 minutes drive from the city of Iloilo, Philippines.
About 6 months ago, some Goducate workers started Saturday classes for the children of this village. Prior to this, these same Goducate workers had been teaching these same poor kids in the city of Iloilo.
However, when their families were relocated to Lanit to make way for the new airport, the kids asked these workers to continue teaching them. So the Goducate workers asked permission from the Lanit village-head (called “barangay captain” in the Philippines) to use the village basketball court to hold classes for the kids. However, this became unfeasible later when there was competition from other users for the basketball court.
When a kind Filipino, who resides in the USA, heard about our need, he offered us the use of his large rice-fields in that area for free. So it was decided to fill a small portion of land at the edge of his rice-field and build a little building for a Goducate Learning Center.
The children at the Goducate learning center in Lanit
Lanit is a relocation site for former squatters in Iloilo. Most families struggle to make ends meet and to keep their children in school.
When I arrived on the afternoon of October 25 for the Official Opening of the center, the little building was filled with over a hundred children and another hundred parents and well-wishers. The local village (barangay) officials were also there.
It was indeed a joyous occasion for that little neglected village on the edge of the rice-fields.
The little kids will now get to learn their ABC’s.
And the older kids will have a nice place to study and play.
More photos (click thumbnail to view photos):
[nggtags gallery=lanit-lc]
