ICT Outreach @ Brent

GIN participants assist with ICT classes at Constructing Learning through Technology in Manila - 02/18/12

The Brent ICT Outreach Project (we seriously need to come up with a better name than that!) will begin this Friday, February 24 and will run every Friday from 3:30 to 4:30 until Easter break.

If you are interested in volunteering with this project and can commit to coming MOST Fridays, talk to Mrs. Wright ASAP or write a proposal in your CAS blog.

GOAL: 
The goal of the project is to improve the lives of disadvantaged youth in our community by providing access to and training in ICT.

WHO DOES THIS SERVE:
Adolescent boys living at the Irisan Department of Social Welfare residential home who have demonstrated an interested in learning more about ICT.

WHAT YOU WILL DO: 
Student volunteers will share their knowledge of a variety of ICT skills one-on-one with the ICT class participants in a way that is personalized to the interests and abilities of their students.

Oh, the possibilities!!!

Just had a chat with my friend Sam, the Peace Corps volunteer, who some of you may remember from the leadership training we did last year. She said that CFSPI is eager to have volunteers come again to work with their girls.

When: Saturdays or Sundays for an hour or two
Where: Suello Village (ask Anito or Mrs. Maner)
Who is served: girls are age 7-17 and are mostly victims of abuse
Who serves: YOU, go with a classmate if you don't want to go by yourself
Transportation: you must provide your own transportation

ICT/Computer Lessons 
There are several computers and you could implement an ICT class with a small group of interested girls. I can help you plan and prepare for this.

Piano and Guitar Lessons
CFSPI has a piano and a couple of guitars that you could use to teach the girls music lessons.

Dance and Drama
Teach a play/skit/dance to a group of girls to help them improve their self-confidence and have fun. This is also an option.

English Conversation
Practice speaking English is another type of activity that would be good for the girls at CFSPI. This could be as formalized or informal as you wanted.

Homework Help
Most of the girls at CFSPI go to school and could use some tutoring and extra help with their homework. You could commit to helping them once a week.

Have an impact on Millennium Development Goal #2 in our own backyard!

"Only the truly motivated students get a quality education...individual attention is almost impossible." 

This quote is from a teacher in an overcrowded public school in the Philippines. As students yourselves, you should understand that individual attention to your learning is essential for learning. With very small class sizes at Brent, it's easy to take individual attention from your teachers for granted.


MDG #2 is universal primary education by 2015. According to this blog post that explains the Philippines' progress in each of the different MDG's, the country is NOT on track to meet the second goal. Presently only 73% of Filipinos complete the sixth grade. This article details some of the obstacles to providing a quality education to all Filipino children - overcrowded classrooms being one of the most significant. 

Fortunately, you have the opportunity to give some individual attention to some students who are not so privileged to be able to attend a private school like Brent with small class sizes.

Mabini Elementary School and Rizal Elementary School both are in need of a few students who will commit to working with some of the struggling students at these schools one day per week after school. There will be an adult teacher supervisor but the work of tutoring and encouraging these students will be your responsibility.

This type of CAS activity may provide you the opportunity to work on the following learning outcomes:

1. Undertaken new challenges.
2. Planned and initiated activities.
5. Shown perseverance and commitment in their activities.
6. Engaged with issues of global importance.


Sources:
Mydans, Seth "The Philippines Face Classroom Shortages" The New York Times August 24, 2009.

Gonzales, Iris Cecilia "The Philippines on MDGs: Goals 1 and 2 Likely To Be Missed" Think About It: European Blogging Championship May 24, 2010.

Images from New York Times