PhilSeven Foundation rolls out mobile school project in Malolos

The Gulong Ng Karunungan child beneficiaries

The proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” inspired the latest youth advocacy of PhilSeven Foundation Inc. (PFI), the corporate social advocacy arm of Philippine Seven Corp. (PSC), the exclusive local licensor of the 7-Eleven convenience store chain brand — as it brings valuable opportunities closer to street children via the Gulong Ng Karunungan (GNK) Mobile School Project.

In partnership with the City Government of Malolos, Bulacan, PhilSeven Foundation successfully launched the GNK project recently at the Malolos Sports and Convention Center. The formal signing of Deed of Donation for the turnover of two Mobile School Multicabs was led by Malolos City Mayor Atty. Christian Natividad and PSC president and CEO Jose Victor Paterno. They were joined by city councilors and department heads, together with PFI vice chairman Liwayway T. Fernandez, Francis Medina of the PFI Board of Trustees, PFI ManCom chairperson Violeta B. Apolinario, RSW-PFI Agency head Israelita S. Ferrer-Lequin and PSC employees.

While espousing a fun, alternative learning model, PFI’s Mobile School, through the GNK and Mobile Day Care Project, enjoins stakeholders and partners in the community to help disadvantaged children — specifically out-of-school youth and street children of a PFI-identified city-beneficiary — by providing them safe and accessible learning venues.

A survey conducted in 2002 by Manila: De La Salle University, Social Development Research Center found that one of the factors that determine the visibility of children on the street is their being away from school. Their circumstances make it difficult to integrate them into the formal education system, according to the study.

If not properly addressed, the proliferation of street children will continue and while both government and NGOs have done much work in this regard, street children have nonetheless become a regular sight, especially in urban areas such as Metro Manila.

By bringing GNK services to barangays and streets, youth street dwellers are directly provided with a basic education through Dep-Ed ALS and/ or ECCD; values formation and promotion of good hygiene; health and nutrition services through medical checkups and supplementary feeding, responsible parenting sessions and learning.

Working closely with the Malolos CSWD and DepEd local division, PFI’s GNK Mobile School cabs will be used for the “Supervised Neighborhood Play” program that targets Day Care children (3-4 years old) of market and ambulant street vendors in Barangay Caingin and Barangay San Vicente. To date, 60 indigent beneficiaries are enrolled in the one-year program.

Apart from the GNK Multicabs, PFI further bolstered its efforts by donating learning materials, school supplies, bags, and uniforms.

“We are very elated by this chance to serve the youngest members of Malolos,” said Lequin. “Through this long-standing advocacy, we hope to inspire multi-sector participation and of course develop more partnerships to create the needed transformation in our society.”

Since 2007, PFI has accomplished various CSR community projects in different parts of the country, like playground construction, mobile school donation, classroom donation, feeding programs, medical missions, and disaster/relief operations.