63 Kinder und Jugendliche in der Schulausbildung

Qualitative Fortschritte in den Aktivitäten
im step-by-step-Stipendienprogramm:
Quartalsbericht 2/2007

This report covers the second quarter of the year 2007, specifically the months of April, May and June. In Junie, the school year 2007-2008 started in the Philippines and for this school year, step-by-step in Germany assists the formal education of a total of 63 scholars from Cordova specifically from the village of Camolinas and from the village of Kamagayan in Cebu City. Of the total number of 63 scholars, 51 come from Cordova and 12 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. Last school year 2006-2007 which ended in March, we have a total of seven (7) who graduated in the elementary level and will now be qualified to take secondary or high school education. We only had one (1) 4th year high school sponsored student last school year and he graduated last March. His name is Abbie Paclepan and he is from Kamagayan. He is now studying at the University of San Carlos taking up Bachelor of Science in Accountancy. He is one of the sponsored students of the College Scholarship Program of JPIC.

Project Administration

Basically, the focus of project administration this quarter is on scouting for possible trainings for Ramonito (Scholarship Officer) and sending him to relevant ones, school supplies purchasing as well as its distribution, screening of scholars for the 2007-2008 school year, review and documentation of JPIC's Scholarship/Sponsorship Program Guidelines, and orientation of the Education Committee as well as the
on the Scholarship Policies and Guidelines.

Staff Training

Last April, Ramonito del Campo took up one Education subject entitled "Creative Arts, Music and Drama for Young Children" in St. Theresa's College, a consortium partner of the University of San Carlos. We also made him join a 2-day seminar for teachers and parents about updates in teaching language, mathematics, computer lessons and how to develop children's study habits organized by the Cebu International School.

Staff Assessment

In May, we conducted an assessment of Ramonito's job performance. We recommended him to have a regular status on the bases that he was able to implement the activities planned and he was deeply committed to help the children and the parents even extending his services beyond the normal working hours and using his personal resources for the activities with them.

Field trip to Mactan Shrine ...

... in April of this year.

Ramonito's creative art class ...

... during summer!

Parents' Orientation

Also in May, we gave an orientation to the parents on the Screening Process for the Scholarship Program. There are no changes made on the requirements this year, however, the parents need to be reoriented about it so that they will be reminded and aware of their responsibility to their children.

Screening of Scholars

During the end of May, we conducted the Screening of scholars or sponsored children together with the Education Committee and the Officers of the Parents Association in Cordova and in Kamagayan. This is done for both the current scholars and those who are new entrants to the program.
The screening of scholars for the new school year is also done in other assisted communities of JPIC. This is a policy of JPIC in its scholarship program so that parents will really take part in the education of their children and so that they will participate in community activities.

Purchasing and Distribution of School Supplies

JPIC's Scholarship Program staff had done planning in terms of purchasing of school supplies, how much do we allocate this school year considering the increasing prices, identification of suppliers and the manner of distribution.

Edcom and Parents' Orientation on JPIC Scholarship Guidelines

An orientation about the JPIC's Scholarship/Sponsorship Policies and Guidelines was organized by the JPIC's Education Program of which the Cordova and Kamagayan Scholarship is a part of. Ramonito was one of the facilitators of the activity. There were 2 representatives to the activity, 1 from Cordova and 1 from Kamagayan. All Education Committee or Edcom chairpersons coming from all JPIC partner communities attended the orientation.

Afterwards, a Parent's Orientation about the Policies and Guidelines was done at the community level. The Edcom helped organized the activity and helped in explaining to the parents the policies as well as the revised forms that they have to accomplish.

Project Activities

(1) Field Trip

The scholars/sponsored children were exposed to some historical places in Lapu-Lapu City & Cebu City last April. There were 49 children who joined, 44 from Cordova and 5 from Kamagayan. There were also parents from Cordova including the Education Committee chairperson who joined and helped take care of the children. In Lapu-Lapu City, they went to Mactan Shrine, this is a park where the "Battle of Mactan" took place during which our first Filipino hero, Lapu-Lapu, fought the Spanish invaders led by Ferdinand Magellan. Another historical spot in Lapu-Lapu City that was part of the tour and which they really have to pass through is the two Mactan-Mandaue Bridges making possible the connection of two cities thus improving the economy of Mactan island of which Cordova is a part of.

In Cebu City, the children were brought to Magellan's Cross, the Cross that the Spaniards had planted when they first landed in the Philippines on March 16, 1521, making Cebu the oldest city of the country. The other places visited for sight seeing purposes are, the Taoist Temple and the Family Park. The Taoist Temple is a place of worship of the Chinese people who are residing in Cebu and it is also developed as a tourist destination because of its location that is overlooking the city of Cebu. The Family Park is a government park developed as a place where families can gather because of its huge capacity with children's playground, fishpond and swimming pool. However, people who want to use the facility have to pay a small amount for the maintenance of the park.

(2) Computer Lessons

April to May is summer in the Philippines, there are no classes during this time. Instead of tutorials, Ramonito introduced computer lessons to the children in Cordova. He introduced to them the parts of the computer using his laptop and each one was made to touch and do some operations. He divided the group into 10 each daily session. Time devoted to this activity is about 2 weeks.

(3) Arts Workshop

Ramonito has conducted arts workshop for the children. He taught them practical lessons in making baskets, boxes, flowers, etc. using art papers. This is an application to what he learned from his subject in Creative Arts. There were 10-21 children who attended the session. The activity is done both in Cordova and Kamagayan.

(4) General Cleaning

In Cordova, Ramonito has initiated a general cleaning activity in the community center with children as the participants. He discussed to the scholars the importance of having clean surroundings. They also cleaned up the community Chapel which they will be using for their summer faith celebration of "Flores de Mayo".

(5) Summer Faith Celebration "Flores de Mayo"

Ramonito introduced the children in Cordova to the Filipino faith celebration done during summer, "Flores de Mayo", where children offer flowers everyday in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and have values development sessions before the offering. This activity is a very important part of our cultural and spiritual heritage. An average of 25 children attend the daily activity in the month of May. The activity started on May 6 and was culminated last May 31 with the presence of Fr. Tony, JPIC Executive Director, officiating the faith celebration attended by the children and the parents through a Holy Mass.

(6) Song Practice/Music Lessons

As part of the Flores de Mayo, children were taught songs that are traditionally sung during the celebration. Ramonito also taught them songs that will be sung during the Holy Mass that will be celebrated on the culmination day. The song practice or music lessons was done immediately before the Flores de Mayo.

(7) House Visitation

The Scholarship Officer, Ramonito, has visited the children's families during the month of May. He makes it a point to visit at least 2 to 3 houses in a day. The children felt important because of this. To date, he has already visited all the families.

(8) Summer camp

The summer camp is sort of a summer class that offers lessons in reading, writing and arithmetic that runs for about a week or two. This was done for a period of 8 days in Cordova last May. This was open to all children whether scholars or not. There were 25 children who joined the activity. Children have enjoyed the exercises given and this enhanced their reading, writing and counting skills.

Project Concerns and Action taken

Concern: Traders together with their families during the whole summer have used the storage room in the community center in Cordova as their temporary shelter. This was the area that was renovated for use as storage for the tables and chairs and also as study room of the children.
Action taken: We asked the community association President about the arrangement that they had with the traders. He said they did not ask permission and have opened the door lock by themselves. He also said that this is usual practice for the traders when their business in Cebu is not yet done they temporarily stay in the community center.
We decided not to use the place anymore as a study room but only as a storage for the tables and chairs. The house of the Edcom was identified as alternative study place. She gave her approval of this plan. However, we know this is not the perfect place for it.

Concern: After reviewing the reference materials we have in the office, we found out that it needs to be updated.
Action taken: Scout for reference materials appropriate for children's needs.

Concern: School visit activity and teacher orientation was not done due to time limitations.
Action taken: This will be done during the next quarter.

Planned Activities for Next Quarter

The following are the planned activities for the next quarter, July-September 2007:
1. Schedule tutorial sessions.
2. Children's field trip.
3. Visit the schools where children are studying and hold orientation to the school principal as well as teachers regarding the Scholarship Program of JPIC.
4. Scouting and purchase of reference materials.

Prepared by: Mimi M. Egot, Education Program Coordinator in consultation with Ramonito del Campo, Scholarship Officer.