Activities on the third week of Summer Learning Experience 2016 (July 4 - July 10)

July 4, 2016

We went to visit and interviewed grassroots women in Brgy. Tungkop Minghanilla, and learned through them how their livelihood products (coaster-weaving using laminated sacks) are hand-craftedly being made. We also tried making one ourselves and documented therest of the procedures from the cutting to the weaving part of the laminated sack strips. It it one of the most consistent livelihood projects that women do, that not only contributes to their personal financial gain, but also to the recognition and development of their women’s organization as well. 

The activity made me appreciate the nature of work the labor sector has. A simple NGO like the WRCV indeed is a bridge for the grassroots women, for them to have a livelihood of their own. The exposure of the grassroots women through this field visits we do helped them speak their minds and the cries of their hearts with regards to their specific situations as of the moment. Are they okay? Or are they suffering from injustices? Now, more people will learn to become more sensitive with regards to their social situation and might actually care to help, which is the most proper thing to do.

July 5, 2016

This day was given to us by the staff to actually canvass and purchase the materials that we would need for our arts and crafts activity. We bought the materials from People's School and Office supplies in Carbon so we could only spend less, instead of purchasing the materials from the mall.

July 6, 2016

I was absent during this day of our final staff meeting, which I had also asked permission to Maam Sarah beforehand. By the end of the day, I called Andrea to ask her about any updates with regards to our schedule and departure for our upcoming arts and crafts event in Kawit Medellin, Cebu. I’ve delivered her at evening the other materials that we needed for our big event.

July 7, 2016

We the interns, seized the day to enjoy the city life before going to the province, have had some final preparations and enough rest for our departure for the big activity prepared especially for the youth in Kawit, Medellin Cebu.

July 8, 2016

At almost 2:30 PM, together with maam Julie and nanay Mitz, we arrived at the North terminal for our departure for Daanbantayan. In the evening, final preparations were made for tomorrow's activity.

July 9, 2016

We were able to let the kids introduce their selves formally, and through a Psych activity to which they will easily remember the names of their fellow youth. This also boosts confidence within the group for being comfortable with the people around you is a vital aspect for the success of the arts and crafts activity itself. The main event of arts and crafts with 3 activities was also conducted.

It was very rare for me to guide and teach kids in a rural area about arts. The kids being shy added load for us to actually make them speak and respond. That’s why; we let them introduce their selves through a game using the first letters of their name to describe their selves. We have had several rounds for each to memorize these adjectives which indeed, made us memorize each other’s names more easily.

The interns also taught the youth with yarn balloon making and lotus flower origami making. I personally think that the kids have had interest to these kinds of art since it’s somehow new to them, and they have had the liberty to choose the colors they want and the groupmates they want to work with. It’s an important factor to allow them to choose for themselves since it makes them practice their freedom of choice, teamwork and sense of leadership and confidence as they finish their own projects. Our main project, which was the coaster-making through laminated sacks were also conducted, wherein some of the kids have already known how to, while some others have only started learning.  There was also an election of officers for the MAYA (Mayjo Youth Association) before the day ended. 

I’ve learned how humble living is in the rural than in the urban zone. I grew up in the city, living in a high-tech world while these kids live and worked at very young age, playing in the sand and asking me how life in the city was. I humbly told them that I have a life just like them. I wasn’t exposed to a lot of luxury, but a childhood filled with appreciation with playing outside, and living simply and contented with the blessings we receive from our God.

It’s a truly inspirational story that we all should know. A story from a mouth of a kid that overcame the strongest storm in the history of the Philippines. A brave little soldier- a kid with a heart filled with hopes that one day, there is a brighter tomorrow for them.

They learned from us three activities that they could use in the future for their livelihood. They might not understand this as of now (some of them were very young). But we, the interns, do hope that we may be able to help them fulfill their dreams even in the smallest things we could do for them, such as teaching them and enlightening them in the short and brief activities we had during our first day with them.

July 10, 2016 

On the last day of the big activity, bookkeeping and recording lessons by Maam Sarah was taught that not only educated the youth, but also the women leaders of NAKASAMA organization and the interns as well. It was one interactive lecture since there was a group activity before the lesson proper that everyone participated into. Maam Noemi then followed a lecture about livelihood with which after, another round of coaster-making by the youth was also conducted. There was also a short and brief assessment of what the youth had learned and what else they could suggest for their youth organization and the next activities in the future.

I have a little idea on how bookkeeping is being done through basic and general knowledge. However, it taught me how important recording finances are, especially if you are a member or an officer in an organization. Basically, you have to be responsible with handling and spending the money, and recording is an important evidence to keep track on the organization’s activities and spending.I trust the youth that age does not affect their capability to keep their records and finances in tack. I believe they indeed learned something from the short and brief lecture. Before the day ended, an oath taking for the new set of officers of the Mayjo Youth Association was conducted.

It’s a very satisfying feeling that by the end of our 2-days of training, we have made friendships and received heartfelt gratitude from them. They shared personal life stories about survival, traumatizing events that did not put them down. I salute the youth for being so brave in spite of the challenges they already are facing at a very young age. I and happy that they all could be leaders of their own and active and appreciative of everything that they learn.

The community and the youth might actually make use of the arts and crafts they have learned to innovate and put up livelihood projects that they could use to help them earn. They were all goal-oriented and have had put much emphasis on buying rice for their family. I have this feeling that they did not disappoint the world for being such naïve kids; instead, they surprised it for their eagerness and perseverance to fight poverty and inability.