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Last January 2 2005, we finally managed to get a
hold of an interview with the founder and executive
director of the renowned project for human-living
development, Gawad Kalinga.
According
to Mr. Meloto, a personal desire for spiritual
completion led him to seek answers to questions
which his Ateneo education and exposure could not
answer. He asked himself how projects like CSP
(Christian Service Program taken as a sophomore
student) and Tulong-Dunong (an economics/ religion
course taken in senior year) help people when all
they promote to students is pity that is further fed
by the students’ drive to get high grades. When
Mr. Meloto visited Bagong Silang, a depressed area
he said to himself that pity is no solution to
change the lives of these people. He believes that
pity and alms from people not as financially
burdened convince the poor that they are
“lower”, second-class citizens and worse,
dependent to charity and dole outs. When he saw the
impoverished and the homeless, he did not feel pity
but have poverty-stricken people. He concluded that
the answer to this dilemma is the love for one’s
neighbor. When he finally found the answer to his
questions, he founded Gawad Kalinga. When he
realized that when people from all walks of life
diverge and aim for one goal they can make a change
and this is what Gawad Kalinga is all about. It is a
project that targets the home and aims to give the
families of these impoverished people a change of
environment. With his love for this project and
vision to empower the poor and convince them that
everybody is their equal, he has been leading a
multitude of people, willing to change the
Philippines.
He
decided that a homebuilding project was apt
especially because the Philippines is a dwelling to
homeless Filipinos who make up most of the
country’s population. Similarly, “Tatag” is
focused to the men in today’s society. He pointed
out that the economy and the country’s poor
employment are not to blame for the prevalence of
poverty – what is, is the indifference of fellow
Filipinos, specifically those in economic and/or
political power who ignore the needs of the poor and
refuse to share their excessive resources.
Furthermore, Mr. Meloto did not stop to making men
busy from building houses. He too was aware that
matters are extended to that of the children. He was
able to see how much the environment of the little
children, especially little boys, affects the people
they become when they grow up. The Sibol program of
Couples for Christ’s Gawad Kalinga is committed in
assisting the GK beneficiaries, particularly, their
little sons and daughters. In line with their
purpose of rehabilitating families, Sibol focuses
kids of ages three to seven and teaches them the
planned curriculum which is Bible-based. Last
Monday, January 3, we visited one Sibol school in
the Blue Eagle Village located in Payatas 13 and got
some idea on how they facilitate the class and what
Sibol is all about.
Since
the Sibol program in the site we visited for the
first paper, Talanay, is not fully established yet,
we added the Blue Eagle Village on our planned trip
for this second paper. We went to the Sibol School,
just a simple classroom complete with learning
materials and toys to amuse the kids. Shoes and
slippers should be left outside because they value
cleanliness in the room. The tiles are in bright
colors and even the wooden chairs and tables are in
playful colors like red, blue, and yellow. They have
a blackboard and a whiteboard for teaching purposes
and they are also complete with books stacked on the
shelves in an organized way. And of course, we
won’t fail to mention the two turtles in an
aquarium which is also place on the shelf.
We
were welcomed by the two teachers, Anna and Jenny,
to the room even if they have just finished their
general cleaning. We were surprised because there
were no children in the room but they explained that
the classes are only held during Tuesdays to
Saturdays. They arranged it this way because
visitors who usually come on Saturdays request to
see the Sibol class so the students had to visit
also during Saturdays. To avoid the hassle of coming
to school six times a week, they moved the class
date. The Sibol School which was adapted from the
“School of the Morning Star” accommodates twenty
four students where there used to be eighty in the
“SMS.” This was so because they lack the budget
to accommodate all kids and also, because they only
allow kids from the Gawad Kalinga villages.
Talking about the budget, they get their materials from donors and
sponsors. The books on their shelves, the clocks,
and all the learning materials were from donors who
either brought the materials or gave out money. A
big television set that is used for film viewing was
also donated by a Couples for Christ member. The
parents are asked to pay at least fifty pesos per
month but some parents could not pay so their
resources come from the donors and the GK budget.
The teachers are also paid for their services but
they also come from the GK village. They also
provide food for the kids which are also donated by
sponsors like Wyeth, Jollibee, Maggi, and the like
but in some unfortunate days when sponsors do not
give food, the mothers of the Sibol kids are the
ones who cook for their breakfast or merienda.
One
day in the Sibol is equivalent to two classes, a
morning and an afternoon class. The Project Manager
provides the curriculum which is Bible-based and is
the one who the teachers approach to if they need
help. One class starts with the free play since the
kids go to class sleepy and lazy. They can do
anything here, read a book, draw and color a
picture, play with toys and friends, or just chat
with them. Then, they proceed to the introduction of
the class. They check attendance and explain what
they are going to do for the day. They have the main
lesson which is Bible-based like “God gave me a
family,” “God created man and woman,” and the
like. They then advance to mind-stimulating
activities and in this part; they record all
achievements of the kid and the things they have to
give more attention. Then they have a sleeping time
after everything and bids farewell after.
The
Sibol school is just like a private nursery or
kinder school complete with learning materials,
perfect learning environment, knowledgeable
teachers, activities and lessons for them to broaden
their minds and get ready for elementary. As one of
our group mates said, “It’s just like my
niece’s nursery school; the only difference is
Sibol School doesn’t have an air-con.”
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