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Stories, Sharings, Articles

• Tumibay si Yolly - one family is being positively affected by the microfunding program of He Cares
• Balik Kalusugan update - some news about the "back to health" program of He Cares
• Melanie's Passing the Torch - the touching sharing of the first He Cares college graduate
• Her Version of Psalm 23 - a story of how a young girl overcomes her stage fright
• Life Lessons: Passing on the Positives - a tutor shares how they teach the kids some basic values
• Brgy. Laging Handa Get's Ready to Help - a local community teams up with He Cares for the kids
• UP Students Support a Scholar - college students with a mission to change a life
• A New Home for the Kids - a barangay that cares opens up its hall to the tutoring program
      

Tumibay si Yolly

Yolly's family "Tumibay" means "strengthened in native Tagalog.  This is exactly what has transpired with her participation in the Microfunding Program of He Cares.

Yolly was one of many mothers who worked with the Jewelry Livelihood Project of He Cares. For 6 years, she went to the Center from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m.  At the end of the day, she was just so thankful that she earned enough to sustain the daily needs of her family.

She has two daughters aged 9 and 14.  Her husband, Edwin, supports the family with his earnings as a tricycle driver.

In 2007, she was invited to be part of the Microfunding Program.  She loaned the minimum amount of P2,000 to start her small business. She sold snack foods and delicacies which she cooked.  Her neighbors encouraged her to include viands as well. She heeded their request and expanded her small business to became a canteen.  She now earns between P600 and P700 daily!

Yolly attributes this to prayers and God's faithfulness.  She never forgets to start her day with a prayer and end it with thanksgiving. She advises those who want to start their own businesses to seek God's guidance first and foremost.  Also, a lot of hard work and dedication come into play in order for one's business to grow.  Lastly, she reminds prospective entrepreneurs to be good stewards of your blessings .

Microfunding is one of the major strategies of the foundation to help families get back on their feet. If you have a livelihood skill you want to share with the He Cares kids and families, please contact us! 

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Balik-Kalusugan Update "Back to Health"

Once again, He Cares organized feeding programs on 4 consecutive weeks.  Feeding does not only mean that we serve the children a full meal, but it is also the very valuable time for us to heal their hearts  and help form the right values in their minds. In God's love, once again the underprivileged were embraced, and wore smiles on their faces.

Are you a health worker?  Do you have extra medicine or even first aid kit you'd want to donate?  Let us know if you would like to schedule a medical or dental mission day with our foundation!

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Fun in the Sun with the Scholars! (April to June 2008)

Last May 15, over 200 kids and their families together with kuya Joe Dean and staff of He Cares had a big splash at CJ resort in Montalban.  It was the first time that the Montalban villagers and He Cares had a summer trip together.

Of course the Quezon City scholars were not left behind!  Last June 2, 150 scholars and staff of He Cares went to Balara Clubhouse for a day of fun.  A delicious lunch of pancit, fried chicken and hotdog sandwich was enjoyed by all.  Thanks to all our sponsors for the chips and drinks they donated.

The Foreign Invasion at He Cares!

We were blessed to have three volunteers in the persons of 19-year-old Aiesec trainee from India Amrita Jayakumar and French couple Daniel and Magali.

Aiesec is an international student organization which sends students on traineeships to other countries.

The following two days, we also were visited by 2 Chinese Aiesec volunteers as well.

They were able to meet the He Cares children and experience authentic Filipino food, fellowship and culture while contributing to the foundation while they were here!

Thank you to you our friends for visiting and may you forever keep the children of He Cares in your hearts!

Melanie’s Passing the Torch

Education is a basic right.  However, for a third world country like the Philippines, it is a privilege.  They would rather send their children selling sampaguita, newspaper, or even plastic bags to assist the grumbling stomachs of their family.  This is how Melanie Listana started.  Melay, as her friends call her, rekindles her childhood selling plastic at the wet market to sustain her education.

“It is hard.  I remember going through the hardship of growing-up, dreaming of a better life for my family.  My mother would always remind me that education will be the key to change our lifestyle”.

Before, finishing a tertiary degree was a long shot. Now it came to pass.  She now holds the distinction of being the first scholar from He Cares Foundation to receive a collegiate diploma.

Her journey to the foundation started sometime six (6) years ago.  It was a simple invitation from a neighbor to attend a so called “party” which she declined thrice. “The party they were talking about was a prayer meeting. I had this bizarre idea that only the old and weary attend assemblies like that”.  However, the call to change was more powerful.  She eventually attended the center’s gathering. “I was surprised!” she added,  “I never knew that there was a formation for the youth. I am in! In addition, Bro. Joe Dean is really an inspiration”.

From thereon, pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place: “I was given a scholarship all the way from high school till college at the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP).  In return, I work at the (He Cares) foundation during Saturdays ministering to the youth by doing administrative work like checking their attendance, hosting mini-programs, or simply washing the dishes.

Even with assistance, attaining the diploma was hard then.  The allowance during that time was just Php 300 ($60.00) a week. There were a lot of days when the budget becomes scarce.  Her father and mother helped out by borrowing money or begging in the streets.  “If not for the faith that I learned from the meetings and from my mother, I’d quit!”

After four years of sacrifice, her desired degree was achieved.  In fact, she is now employed as a Junior Project Architect/CAD Operator at EEI.

“I will never be able to attain my goals if I never attended that “party” at He Cares.  God simply tells me, He loves me dearly”.  She adds, “Now that I am a professional, I will still come back to serve.  This time, aside from being the simple woman taking the attendance and doing the dishes, I will have my own scholars to assist.”
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Her Version of Psalm 23

It’s hard to make her sing in front of a small crowd. 

What more do you expect from a large crowd of 700?  Nudge her and she won’t budge.

But that moment, that very moment, Joemelyn sang her own rendition of Magnaye’s The Good Shepherd.  We were astounded. She can sing!

How did it happen?

She’s shy. She claims that she is.  Her mentors did not agree with the idea that she’s “talentless.”  Through Judith’s push and Jem’s plucking on the guitar, she let out a talent we never knew.

We were wronged, again.

I guess every one needs a life coach like Judith and Jem who will believe in us even when the world disagrees…

… and a genuine desire to do more than what the we think can.
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Life Lessons: Passing on the Positives

Chini was in charge of today's life lesson.  None of us knew what she had up her sleeve.  That's one of the fun things about our sessions - even us adults learn a lot!

She started off with the game "Pass the message".  Each time would have a different message and would whisper it all the way to the end of the relay game.  Even some mothers of the kids joined us.

Predictably the content of each message changed dramatically.  One message had me in it "Magaling si Ate Tina sa paglarawan ng hayop, halaman at mga lugar at tinutulungan niya kami sa mga aralin namin sa paaralan" (something to that effect).  It became "Magaling si Ate Chini sa paglalarawan ng hayop at mga halaman galing sa puso".  I felt a lot of interpretation came into it, meaning to say they appreciated Chini's skills a lot and felt it came from her heart??? :)

She processed the activity as the effect of gossip as well and segued to how powerful speech is, negative or positive.  She gaves of how it would feel when we are insulted, and then when we are praised. 

I'm happy about the homework she assigned to everyone, to say one positive thing to someone and write it down on a piece of paper, one for each day of the week, to be submitted in our next tutoring session.  She really put a lot of thought into it.

The lesson was immediately put into action during our tutoring proper.  I handled 4 kids again today, even when Mary handled Edra, Ciara became my student along with Lyka, Mico and Jay-R.  All bright kids I noticed as I only had to teach them a technique once and they would get it right away.

I noticed they would fault-find any chance they get and pull each other down.  The life lesson gave me a chance to remind them and give them "replacement" words or responses to the situations that compelled them to react in their usual way.

Today I reviewed multiplication with them.  I drew a fat zero as a proud man who always wanted to be in the limelight and the number one as a thin man hiding.  Isn't it that zero always ends up the answer when multiplied with another number and the number one is just the opposite?  The kids caught on pretty quick and I'm hoping the visual picture will help them distinguish between the two "rules" of thumb in multiplication.

Again I felt the tug of little hands calling for my attention all at the same time and frankly it's quite delightful to be called "tita" or "teacher" on their own when we just tell them to call us "ate".  One child accidentally called me "ma" (mama) and the others noticed and laughed at the slip.  It's really just pure joy to be able to see them learn from their mistakes rather than put themselves down because of it.

Spelling was also fun.  I noticed two scraggly boys at the side who weren't part of the program who were interested and gave them the pen to write their answers on the whiteboard. They could've been playing but instead started spelling the words I'd shout out to the group. 

The kids we'd see regularly are more confident and even cleaner.  They come out freshly bathed, combed and well-dressed as if the lessons were a treat to come to.  It's wonderful to see them waiting for us and their numbers increasing with each session.

Two young ladies from Aiesec China visited the area to help the 100 or so children waiting for sponsors.  They took pictures and asked questions for their profiling. 

Shara was one of the those who needed a scholar.  Her dad sneaked a peek at our sessions and seemed proud of his daughter getting all correct answers in our mini quizzes.  It's my hope that all of these children take hold of the bright future just waiting for them and never think of quitting or feeling hopeless in life. 

In the place they call home, may they be little lights in their homes, school and neighborhood and be able to pass on the positives.  Just as an unkind word or deed will naturally bring about another unkindness somewhere, somehow, then an act of good will undoubtedly burst forth as well.

For those who wish to join the tutoring sessions, you may come to He Cares Foundation every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, 1-3 PM.  Look for Judith or Joe Dean.
 

Brgy. Laging Handa Get's Ready to Help

With the growing number of squatter areas congregating around the Brgy. Laging Handa area and surrounding barangays, a team led by Bgy. Captain Ralph Diaz met up with Bro. Joe Dean of He Cares.

They expressed concern over the increasing occurrence of streetkids loitering and being jailed every night.  St. Paul parish staff also participated in the discussion.

Bro. Joe Dean shared the mission of the foundation to care for these children and it was a good time for them to find out what would be the best approach to help the kids.

Everyone took concern for their welfare and it is hoped that a feeding program will soon ensue, providing the kids a haven and refuge in a barangay ready and able to help their situation.

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We want to give Bgy. Bungad Captain Ricky Corpuz a big big thank you for allowing us to use their assembly room for our sessions starting last August 2, 2008. 

Due to barangay resident Chini, we were able to appeal for the 3rd floor open area but as it is being renovated at the moment, they let us use the room where they hold meetings.  It was airconditioned so the kids took a moment to cool their tummies after the tutoring sessions!

We taught the kids how to STUDY (S-schedule a good time to study, T-teach the lesson to others, this will gauge if you learned it already, U-understand the topics, D-during alert, rested times in conducive to studying places, and Y-yes attitude).  We truly hope this helps them as exams are coming up soon.

We had 13 kids attend the sessions yesterday and 5 tutors: Mary, Kismet, Mina, Tina, Malou, Chini and Joey.   Thank God Joey still knew his algebra!!!   Thank you West Ave. tutors!
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