Volunteering tasks

It's been over a week now but I'm still processing the day I spent with 60 pupils from Planas Elementary School, Guihulngan. Guihulngan is a city 120 kms North from Dumaguete. It has population of about 100 000 people.Although beeing  a city since 2011 kids came from small village where agriculture is major source of income. Only a few of these kids had been to a bigger city so many things in Dumaguete were new to them.  Guihulngan is also one of the areas which suffered severe damage February 6th 2012 when it struck by 6.9 magnitude earthquake.

Event, Lakbay Aral (Travel study) took place 30th July in Dumaguete. I met the 60 pupils 7am at the airport where they had just arrived from their hometown. The poor kids had been travelling many hours before coming to Dumaguete. Yet, they were excited about the new things they saw and got to experience.

At the airport

The message on the board reminded me of the days I worked for EOPH :D

Girls played with women cops

And boys with army

Lunch at the beach. My lunch was plain rice so I focused on the desserts; avocado ice cream and fried banana. Yammy!

Last Tuesday I was honored to visit Bright Lights Community Learning Center in Bonbonon, Siaton. After an hour bus ride and frightening habal-habal (motorbike) ride, I was there. To me, it was like being in the middle of nowhere now that I am used to traffic and vivid life in Dumaguete. Unfortunately my photographer had a day off, again, so no pics from Bonbonon. I attended their staff meeting and stayed almost all day there. Bright lights left me with a good impression on what they do. Besides visiting the center I was lucky to be able to talk to an Australian Business volunteer and two German volunteers working in Bright Lights.

Thursday was an important day as we screened the applications we've received from our social worker candidates. I am very excited because this means that I will be volunteering more for Werde.

Friday, what a fulfilling session with the boys at the cathedral. I have some great talents in the group and I think we are hinay hinay (slowly) getting there. Now the hard part is to decide what to do when you see these kids out on the streets at night. Last night didn't make an exception to the rule of seeing these boys so probably tonight I will avoid downtown area, just to get a good night sleep.