The Goducate work in setting up and running the literacy centers in Sabah could not have progressed very much without the help of willing volunteers who come regularly to teach and train our team of nearly fifty teachers.
These teachers are mainly mothers of the kids in the various kampungs, who used to work as washer-women, roadside food sellers and at other menial jobs to make a living, until Goducate helped the kampungs to set up the literacy centers, so that their kids could receive an education. Although most mothers have high school education, none had any teaching experience.
The volunteers we met last week came from the Philippines, and stayed for a few weeks to a month to conduct training for the mothers. Training is done daily on the job – observing the lessons, and teaching the children alongside the mothers in the schoolhouses, as well as conduct intensive, two-day training sessions in rented premises away from the kampungs.
The lady on the left (in green, above photo) is Lemar, an expert in ALS (Alternative Learning System) form of education in the Philippines. There are now several ALS centers in the Philippines to give underprivileged kids who were formerly drug addicts, gangsters or school dropouts a second chance at education. This particular form of education is applied in Sabah.
Bing (in blue, above photo) is a bead-making expert, and she arrived in Sabah with her luggage full of beads, pearls and other ornaments. Her goal – to teach the mothers a simple livelihood skill – bead-making, and those who become good at it can make pretty necklaces, earrings, bracelets etc to supplement their income.
Goducate needs many volunteers with useful skills to go to Sabah to help these villagers help themselves. Will you be a volunteer?