56 Kinder und Jugendliche in der Schulausbildung

Quartalsbericht 2/2006 über die Aktivitäten
im Rahmen des step-by-step-Stipendienprogramms
in Cebu-City, Philippinen

This report covers the second quarter of the year 2006 specifically the months of April, May, and June. To recall, justiceF's step-by-step program in Germany currently assists the formal education of a total of 56 scholars from Cordova specifically from the village of Camolinas and from the village of Kamagayan in Cebu City. Out of the total number of 56 scholars, 46 come from Cordova and 10 from Kamagayan. The scholars or sponsored children are all enrolled in public schools and are in various grade or year levels, ranging from kindergarten, elementary, and high school.

Project Administration

For the month of April 2006, we worked out the preparatory activities that needed to be done for the summer activities of the children in Kamagayan and Cordova. We wrote a letter to the University of San Carlos - College of Fine Arts and Architecture requesting them for facilitators to the arts workshop. After which, we had a coordination meeting with them. We agreed with them that this will be a pilot area for the workshop, we hope to hold this activity in our other partner communities. Chester, the Scholarship Officer made sure that the logistics and the target venue is available in time for the activity. He conducted meetings with the parents and the children in Cordova and Kamagayan to prepare them for their respective activities. He also facilitated the canvass and purchasing of materials needed for the workshops.

On the month of May, we had series of meetings for the preparation of the purchasing and distribution of school supplies, uniforms, bags, and shoes needed for the school opening in June. Canvassing for the best price and quality of the supplies needed was done in cooperation with the Scholarship Officer assigned in other JPIC partner communities. We also set up a plan on how to distribute the materials and/or school supplies in an orderly manner.

Project Activities

From April to June, there are three (3) major activities conducted for the Scholarship Program in Cordova and Kamagayan, these are: conduct of summer arts workshop, summer music lessons, and screening of current scholars and new applicants for the Scholarship Program.

(1) Conduct of Summer Activities for the Sponsored Children

April and May is summertime in the Philippines and school vacation falls within these months until the first or second week of June. Last summer, specifically during the second week of April and until the first week of June, activities were undertaken to develop the children's creativity. The children in Kamagayan had Arts Workshop, while the children in Cordova had Music Lessons for their summer activity.

Summer Arts Workshop in Kamagayan:
The sponsored children in Kamagayan numbering eight (8) joined in the Summer Arts Workshop that we had conducted from the 2nd week of April until the last Week of May for three days in a week for about two hours in a day. Six (6) of them have attended the whole duration of the workshop with two (2) have attended the sessions for four weeks only as these children were also involved in a church choir that sings during “Flores de Mayo”, a religious activity here in the Philippines conducted everyday during the whole month of May to offer prayers and flowers to the Blessed Mother Mary and this is mostly participated by children. The workshop was facilitated by graduating Fine Arts student-volunteers from the College of Architecture and Fine Arts of the University of San Carlos. The children were taught the basics of drawing and coloring. Chester, the Scholarship Officer, was the one who made sure that the needs of the children and facilitators were provided for during the activity.

Summer Music Lessons in Cordova :
Some 25 children in Cordova joined in the Music Lessons summer activity undertaken every Saturday. The sessions started on the 1st Saturday of May and had continued until the 1st Saturday of July. A volunteer facilitator conducted the music lessons. The children were taught how to read notes and also singing of songs for the Holy Mass. Eventually, we foresee this group to become a choir who will sing should there be a Holy Mass in the area. Chester accompanied the facilitator during the sessions and assisted during the music lessons.

(2) Assessment of Sponsored Children and their Parents

JPIC's Scholarship Program provides for an annual assessment of sponsored children or scholars and their parents. The term we use for this activity is Screening of Scholars. The screening is conducted by the Education Committee and the Officers of the Association. This is for those who are currently sponsored and those who want to apply for sponsorship for the next school year. This activity is aimed at making the parents more involved in the studies of their children and to increase their interest in participating in the activities of the association. An assessment form was formulated to help the Education Committee and the Officers in their task of assessing the scholars and the parents. The Scholarship Officer conducted an orientation on the process of reviewing the scholars and their parents. The activity was done last May in time for the opening of classes scheduled on the first week of June.

Project concerns and action taken

Some friends and/or brothers/sisters of our sponsored children in Kamagayan who were not under the scholarship program accompanied them during the arts workshop that was held in the Chapel and they were asking if they can join. Since the materials we have purchased were only enough for the number of sponsored children who joined the activity. If there are children who are absent in a session, then the facilitators will let the friends and/or brothers/sisters of our sponsored children join that particular session. Hopefully for future workshops, we will purchase additional materials for non-sponsored children.

Art workshop: The Children Participants and their drawings.

Drawing session

The children, workshop facilitators and JPIC staff during the Culminating Activity last May 26, 2006

Arts Workshop Indoor Session

Arts Workshop Indoor Session

Arts Workshop Outdoor Session

Arts Workshop Outdoor Session

Music lessons in Cordova: The children.

The children and the facilitator.

We had a problem in terms of where to keep the guitars that will be used during the guitar workshop. It might also be a source of conflict among parents because not all children could be provided with their own guitar. The project will also be very costly should we buy more than ten pieces as the guitar costs around P600.00 - P800.00 each. - The summer activity in Cordova was consequently changed to music lessons instead of the planned guitar workshop.

Planned Activities for Next Quarter

The following are the planned activities for the next quarter, July-September 2006:
1. Major activity on the first week of June will be purchasing of school supplies, uniform, shoes and school bags for the school opening.
2. Distribution of the school supplies and others before the school opening or at least a week after school opens.
3. Conduct of orientation of the parents regarding the policies of the Scholarship Program.
4. Visit the schools where children are studying and hold orientation to the school principal as well as teachers regarding the Scholarship Program of JPIC.
5. Schedule tutorial sessions for the children.

Prepared by: Mimi M. Egot, Education Program Coordinator in consultation with Chester Miparanum, Scholarship Officer.