Classroom on the Go: Creating a wonderful experience for kids
One Wednesday morning, 78 Grade 3 pupils from Cabilao Elementary School waited excitedly for a bright blue truck which traveled three hours from Iloilo City to visit their typhoon damaged school.
The truck aptly called “Classroom on the Go” was one of Globe Telecom’s mobile stores outfitted to accommodate various art and learning materials to help the children with their school lessons. By providing school supplies and engagements, Globe hopes to encourage the students to stay in school and participate more in class.
“It was a very fulfilling experience since we got the chance to impart something to the kids even if it was just a short period of time. It was a struggle making 78 kids to listen but it was all worth it especially when we saw their happy faces. We hope that we were able to make a difference in their lives,” said Grace Feraer of Globe ISG Solutions Delivery, one of the skill-based volunteers tapped by Globe for the project.
Even a new management trainee of Globe, Jonan Regalario, already found time to be a volunteer. “This is a concrete example of how we can take part in nation-building. It shows that we are not only people who work in the office but who also do something impactful to the lives of others.“
Initially, Globe employee volunteers from Manila, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Capiz visited three schools in Panay group of islands, namely Cabilao Elementary School in Carles, Iloilo; Camburanan Elementary School in Tapaz, Capiz; and Hacienda Conchita Elementary School in San Dionisio, Iloilo to create wonderful experiences for students in Typhoon Yolanda-affected schools by helping them get their academics back on track.
The schools were chosen with the help of the Department of Education. The three schools were badly hit by Typhoon Yolanda and many of the classrooms were totally damaged, thus, school supplies got wet or lost. Two of the schools hold classes in shifts, making teachers worry about how students can keep up with the lessons especially now that the school year is winding down.
Chris Manguera, a management associate from Globe Human Resources Group who aspires to be a teacher, was a good fit for Classroom on the Go which encourages participation from employee volunteers with strong background in education and working with youth. For Cabilao, the volunteers assisted with the National Assessment Test review sessions while art workshops were held in Camburanan and Hacienda Conchita in line with the schools’ curriculum.
Classroom on the Go is part of the education component of Rebuild, one of the pillars of Globe Telecom’s Project Wonderful which aims to assist in nation-building and to help Filipinos live better lives.