STEPS teachers seminar

From January 25 to 29 we held a four day seminar to extend our STEPS program to other parts of the country. This has become our emphasis this year, to help the education in the poorer sectors of the Philippines to progress. Five teachers/volunteers attended the seminar. Lorna, Coney and Anna are from Bukidnon in Mindanao, Cory is from Cebu, and Arnel from Tacloban, Leyte. 

Front (from left to right): Cory, Lorna, Coney and Anna; Back (from left to right): Mila, Jasmine, Eveline, Manny and Pablo

One of the Seminar attendees, Lorna, teaches, among others, 97 children of a hill tribe in Bukidnon whose members can neither read nor write. "There are many tribes in the mountains of Bukidnon in Mindanao," she said, "and these new teaching methods will be a big help." These people continue to live as they did hundreds of years ago, feeding on wild fruits and roots. "These people don't know personal hygiene, and one can hardly stand the smell when teaching the children," she explained. Many tribes have their own languages. As Lorna does not speak the language of that tribe, she needs a translator. "Since there is gold in these mountains, there are rebel groups. I always have a warrior at my side, who has sworn to protect me. "
In addition to classroom teaching, Lorna instructs in topics of nutrition and hygiene :)

Arnel from Tacloban, Leyte, is a survivor of Supertaifun Hayian (Yolanda) from the 8th of November 2013. With a trembling voice he told us how he and his uncle went to look for food after the typhoon. He had tears in his eyes when he talked about how they had to climb over dead bodies on their search. When they had finally found a bag of rice after searching for a long time, they had to hide from looters while heading back home to their destroyed house. "People were willing to kill for a meal," he said. 

Arnel was able to attend the seminar for 3 days only, but with what he learned he now wants to teach children in Tacloban. 

On the picture you see Arnel, standing, during a workshop.