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Goducate Project Leaders Training – Finally we meet and dream together!

Last week, Goducate project leaders from 6 Asian countries gathered in Singapore for the first Goducate Project Leaders Training. Most of these are men and women who lead teams of Goducate volunteers in the countries where they serve.

For some it was the first time to hold a passport and leave their country. These were dear men who had been so busy serving in their Goducate projects and have never had the opportunity to leave their country. For many it was their first time to get to meet other Goducate project leaders and Headquarters Coordinating staff.

But for all it was the first time that we could spend time learning from each other and be challenged by others to dream BIG! For most project leaders, it was often a struggle just to get enough funds to support themselves and their projects. Survival rather than expansion was the priority.

But we were reminded constantly throughout the training that we have to dream BIG because Asia has a big population and the majority are poor in need of help to help themselves. The project leaders who had dreamt big and expanded their ministries shared their stories and encouraged the others.

Many Goducate supporters and volunteers joined the project leaders for the training sessions.

Goducate is a non-profit organization that needs many more volunteers to help!
Please volunteer!

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Goducate Team Leaders from China arrive for training

The first team leaders to arrive for the Goducate Training (Jan 18-22) were our North China team leaders, K and M (names withheld for security reasons). This dear couple have served in north China for 6 years.

K and M meeting with Goducate Leaders in Singapore
K and M meeting with Goducate Leaders in Singapore

They presently lead a team of almost 50 foreigners from US, Philippines and Singapore and about a dozen local Chinese. Most of the foreigners serve as teachers in different universities, colleges and polytechnics. The local Chinese serve as support staff to these teachers and in various important roles in our Goducate training programs.

China is progressing so fast. When we first started our projects in China in 2004 there was great need for English teachers. Today, the supply of foreign English teachers often exceeds the needs of China’s universities. China is indeed becoming an attraction for young foreigners seeking a “China experience” to add to their resumes!

At our strategy meeting last week with K and M, we decided to concentrate on training Chinese students to be leaders. Most Chinese students come from one-child families and lack the social skills necessary for team work and leadership. Furthermore, the Chinese school system emphasizes rote learning rather than creative thinking. As personal study is emphasized over project work, most graduates do not know how to work with others or how to lead others.

Before K went to China he was a branch director in one of Singapore’s largest real-estate firms. While his wife M was a manager in one of Singapore’s largest travel firms. They bring with them a wealth of managerial and leadership skills. In the past few years they have successfully mentored many young live who have since shined in their careers, pursuits and lives.

Goducate plans to start a more structured and effective leadership training program in 2010 to train Chinese to be leaders who will be able to impact the lives of thousands of other Chinese.

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Computers – the key to the world in the hand of Asians

Computers are so much a part of our lives that we can hardly imagine living without one. But for the vast majority of Asians owning a computer is only a dream. This is a tragedy because the ability to “handle” a computer is the key to the world and a means to get a job – even an entry level job such as a sales-girl, receptionist. Even poor Asians know this but they just do not have the means to learn to use a computer or even touch one.

Computer class for Telugu migrant workers in Singapore
Computer class for Telugu migrant workers in Singapore

Goducate aims to help poor Asians learn computer skills. We have already started Goducate computer learning centers in Indonesia and Singapore (for migrant workers). At first, we employed computer teachers to teach the subject. This pilot project was successful but we could not expand our work to other centers because of the shortage of trained computer teachers. When we faced this dilemma, a Goducate volunteer offered to develop a computer-based learning system for us. He had worked in a similar center in UK for migrants and used his expertise and experience to develop a system that is suitable for Indonesia (which can quite easily be modified for other Asian countries). With this computer-based learning system students of all different ability levels can be trained – and learn at their own speed. Only one facilitator will be required to help out when the students encounter problems.

Computer class at the Goducate Learning Center in Batam Indonesia
Computer class at the Goducate Learning Center in Batam Indonesia

It is a joy just to watch simple folks “unlock” the potential of the computer and enter a whole new world. All it takes is for people to collect the unwanted computers of affluent countries and install the right learning software (which we have developed) in them and we have a Goducate computer center! Presently, we have developed/put together software to teach English and computer skills. In the near future, we hope to develop/put together other learning programs – the skies the limit when the computer “door” is unlocked.

Goducate hopes to help poor Asians help themselves by opening a whole wide world to them. These dear people do not need to watch the world go by but can join the world! Let’s help put the future in their hands!