EMPOWERED LIVES

Transformation was happening right before our very eyes.   Tired and weary spirits were being refreshed.  Cups that were running empty were being filled. Long standing questions on teaching difficulties were being answered.  New understanding, new methodologies and new paradigms were being learned. One by one, the day care workers’ needs were being met.  Like a gift, love was passed around the room freely and generously.  Christ was there in that room with us, no doubt.

“Empowerment.“  This is the one word summary of the experience of  37 Day Care Workers last April 13 when they participated at a seminar sponsored by the North Sector’s Project Hearts and Hands.  The Day Care workers come from 42 Day Care centers located in different areas of Cainta.  The seminar, entitled “Effective Teaching Made Easy: On Teaching Methodologies” empowered the Day Care workers with a new awareness of their own teaching styles/ personality type, different modality strengths of children (visual, auditory and kinesthetic) and new effective techniques to use in teaching.  Towards the end, they watched an inspirational film clip on John Foppe, a known motivational speaker born without arms. 

37 day care workers attend "Effective Teaching Made Easy" seminar

One of the participants, after receiving all the input of the day approached one of the organizers to say, “Nanlalamig na ako sa aking serbisyo.  Pero sa seminar na ito,  nabuhayan akong muli.”  Doesn’t that statement fit so well with the message of Easter wherein our Lord, through His resurrection, breathes in new life and new hope to our fearful, tired and anxious hearts?

In Cainta, children ages 3 to 5 years old attend these Day Care Centers, paying a mere fifty pesos a month to cover all expenses in their pre-school education.  Because there are Day Care Centers such as these, parents of low income communities can have a safe place to leave their children while they go out seeking livelihood for their families.  Last December, the North Sector through Project Heart and Hands tried to augment this P50/per child/ per month budget by donating school materials, cleaning materials and audio visual equipment.  Their donations went on to benefit more than 3,000 preschool children who came back to school in January 2010.

"Sa seminar na ito, nabuhayan akong muli."

The work of a Day Care worker is truly like a missionary service to the community.  Each worker is paid an allowance of P4,000/ month by the municipal government.  They work a full day teaching one, two, sometimes three batches of pre-schoolers.  When the P50 contributions of the children are not enough to cover the expenses, they often have to dip into their own pockets.  But despite the sacrifices,  many of them have been at this for so many years now.  For example, two of the participants yesterday were a mother and daughter tandem who have both embraced teaching pre-schoolers as their lifelong mission and service in life.  Another teacher worked as a real estate agent for 17 years while sending her five children to college.  Now, as her youngest child graduates from college, she is “retiring” to teach pre-schoolers, who according to her bring so much more joy and satisfaction.  “Iba nga ang pera sa Real Estate.  Pero dito sa pre-school, iba ang saya at satisfaction na mararamdaman mo”, she says. “How can someone who has so little, choose to still give more?,” I ask myself.

The seminar yesterday was given by our very own Vanessa Villarosa-Salvana.  Vanessa, from NDC, is a much sought after speaker by educators nationwide for her corporate training expertise in understanding children’s different learning styles to enhance teaching effectiveness.  Vanessa came out such a hit with the participants that each one wanted to have their photograph taken with Vanessa at the end of the seminar.  “Ang ganda ganda ni Ma’am Vanessa,” one participant said. “Ang galing pa!”, another added.  “At hindi boring!”, all the participants agreed.  Vanessa’s eyes shone brightly as she patiently shared her knowledge with the day care workers.  It was evident that she was not just sharing from her mind.  Her whole being resounded with life as she spoke.  A heart that loves Christ shone through. 

In Ezekiel 37: 5-6, it says,

“This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.  I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’ “ 

And this is exactly what happened yesterday at the seminar.  The Lord has breathed new life not only into the hearts of the participants but the organizers as well.  What a joy to witness the Lord’s work first hand!  What a privilege to see hearts being renewed, refreshed and transformed before my very eyes.

To our brothers and sisters in the North Sector, let us press on in our efforts to reach out because yes, we are being used by the Lord to make a difference.  Praise be to God, the Father of us all!

- Sharee Roque, North District A