Learning is Cool with First Gen Tour

Storytelling 24 March 2012

A letter I sent last September 9, 2009 to the CSR Core Team. The activity was Saturday Academy for Pangarap Shelter Boys:

Hi All,

I would just like to say what fun it was last Saturday. Frankly speaking, I was reluctant at tutoring, not considering the time I taught 4th graders (tutor class) from Ateneo prior to employment at First Gen. I was nervous when Donna (of HOM) started the introductions, the Do's and Don'ts of volunteering at the Shelter. And it didn't end when I started talking to my tutee, Rowel. I even asked him how they usually start it! After a while, when I asked him what lessons he knew, whether he had taken up Division and Multiplication, and he started answering my tests, I gathered, it was not far from teaching Ateneans after all. For one thing, these kids were more open to learning. They were kids committed to acquire knowledge. And although they were more learned on the streets, they still needed the lessons taught at school. The lessons that could eventually help them out of the current distress.

I was more honored afterwards. At how I may have helped in the life of a child. A sixteen-year-old that may have been lucky enought to find home in a Shelter. At some point I kept thinking how lucky I was that my parents haven't forsaken me when I was young. How lucky I was that my mother kept pestering me to study well in school.

Maybe from that experience, he gained more knowledge from me. But definitely, I gained more from it. How lucky were we to volunteer. :)

Thanks guys!

This year, we made another round of kids smile. Well, at least I hope so. The first volunteering activity was an Educational Tour with kids from Virlanie Foundation.

We went to Manila Ocean Park for half a day filled with excitement and fun.

Groupshot

The activities for the day were as follows:
Explore Oceanarium and watch Jellies the Dancing Fairies

Trick Art Museum

Seriland

Sea Lion Show

Lunch.

We were each assigned a kid. However, my alaga was not allowed to go out because of a consequence/penalty after being late (This was a hearsay, but several kids told me). So, I just herded the first batch of Kids and Ates/Kuyas towards the different parts of Ocean Park.

Some kids, they were pretty clingy. And I had to ask one of them not to get too close to me since I had a cough for more than 3 weeks then. I don't like anyone getting any malaise.

But it was fun seeing how the volunteers were such Ates and Kuyas to their respective alagas.

Trick Musuem FAIL shots

Finally a good shot!

Had lunch and danced afterwards with Jollibee.

Till next activity, volunteers!