He Cares Children Go Birdwatching!

We came out with this promo ad on Facebook and Google+ to get volunteers to teach something they know.

Fortunately, Maia and Jops of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, responded to the call.  They conducted a birdwatching for beginners session.

Here area some pictures with captions from Maila who facilitated the event.

They had a short introductory talk about birdwatching and the proper behavior when birding..  The children learning to use their bins properly

Spotting one of the favorite birds that afternoon: a Collared Kingfisher!

 Falling in line while waiting for their turn at the scope =)

Jun asking the very excited kids to fall in line

We also got to see a number of Brown Shrikes, which most kids described as "astig" =)

Very quickly, they started spotting birds by themselves.

Stickers coming up!!! 

Group photo by Jun Osano =)

Click here for more information on He Cares Foundation

Spread Some Smiles Day

It's Spread Some Smiles day this Saturday (April 13 afternoon only)! 

We're doing something special (a surprise) with the kids. 

If you want to join us, pls send me an e-mail for the day's activity. 

If you have a car, pls volunteer, e-mail tina at papemelroti dot com Thanks!!!

15 Benefits of Spending Time with the Children

We've been "voluntutoring" for over 4 years now and in short, it's been wonderful.  

We've noticed that:

• the children are more lively
• the children are more confident relating with adults
• the children are able to express themselves better
• many of the children are striving for higher grades now compared to before
• the children dream big(ger) now more than ever before (one of them wanted to just pass Grade 3 because that was where his mom stopped schooling!)
• the children are more artistic and creative (many of the children whom we tutor won in a contest and their art is featured in a 2013 calendar)
• the children dress better and generally look better than when we started
• people have been so tremendously generous with this service and most of the time, they just donate toys / money / school materials / clothes without even being asked!
• God provides.  We noticed that many times, when the tutor volunteers are few, the children will have some kind of makeup class in school so only a few come!!!  So we don't get too many children per tutor.  Thank you Lord!  We also got to go to many neat places in these 4 years without much fundraising at all (Manila Ocean Park, Planetarium, Science Center, National Museum, Intramuros, Museo Pambata etc) and many of these establishments gave us free passes or discounts, wow right?

at Manila Planetarium

BUT...!!!  Not only do the children get benefits, also us volunteers have a lot of benefits!!!

Here are some benefits we've seen through the years.

1. The children make us laugh with their unexpected antics.
2. When you work with children, you get younger (in heart and in looks!).
3. We get to meet new people (the children, other volunteers, families of kids).
4. We develop a heart of compassion for the children and their families, as well as the public educational system.
5. We get to flex our patience muscles and make them bigger ;)
6. We get to go see fun places!
7. We get better at relating with children.
8. We get to share what we know and have a sense of fulfillment from that.
9. We get to try something new.
10. We get challenged to handle more than one child (not for beginners, don't worry!)
11. If you're single, the chance to be with children.  If you want to have a child one day, this is the perfect practice activity!
12. If you're a parent, this is a way to learn and grow in your skills.
13. Some volunteers bring their children to help tutor.  Their children learn the values of sharing, teaching, kindness, caring for others, and generosity.
14. Some students get to finish their social action class requirements with us.
15. We go home from the sessions with an incredible, inexplicable feeling of JOY!

I'm sure there are more benefits I've left out but suffice to say that indeed each volunteer is a blessing and is blessed.

This Saturday March 23, 2013 we will have the chance to touch the life of someone in need once again.  With 50+ children in 1 class, it is a rare thing for them to have

one to one attention.  Their homes lack space and light so it's quite difficult to study

in such an environment.  Their parents are away working hard to make a living.

The streets are more inviting to play in.

Just 2 hours to encourage them that learning can be enjoyable (or that it is

possible to understand) is more than enough. Seeing people who care is enough.

Please join us on:

March 23, 2013 (Saturday)

1-3 pm

3rd floor, Brgy. Bungad

*near Baler St. and West Ave. QC 

If you cannot be there but want to help, we need:

+ scratch paper

+ lesson plans / activity sheets (grades 1 to 2nd yr high)

This Saturday is coming and we hope that:

1. We will have enough tutors for the 28 children enrolled in the program.

2. That that children will be able to learn and excel in school.

3. That the tutors will enjoy their session with the children and take home wonderful memories.

Here are the latest 2013 schedules for future sessions.

March 23
April 13 & 27 (field trip outings)
May 11 & 25
May 18 (medical mission)
June 8 & 22
July 13 & 27
August 10 & 24
September 14  & 28
October 12 & 26
November 9 & 23
December 7 (christmas party)

This Saturday:

We are calling for more volunteers!  Everyone is invited. 

You don't have to be a tutor.  You just need to have a

heart of compassion for these young ones.

What will we teach?  Primarily English and Math.  If you

are able to teach other subjects that is great but we don't

require professional tutors.  What we need are people

who are encouraging and positive for the children to

emulate.

How?  Come and the children will ask you about their

homework or you can tell them a story or do some simple

arithmetic with them. 

Please consider coming.  When we lack tutors, we cannot give

the attention they badly need since we have to tutor 2 or 3 or

4 students at a time.  We aim to have one child to one tutor.

If you have more questions please feel free to reply to me.

Please confirm if you are coming so we can assign you a child

to Shannon at shannon_capati@yahoo.com.

Blessings!

Christina Alejandro

Volunteer Coordinator

P.S.  If you cannot come this Saturday, please come next time!

*Please feel free to pass this e-mail invite to anyone who may be interested to join us!

Christmas Joy

The kids we tutor won the manger scene contest yey!
Look at their beautiful costumes! So creative! Notice the little donkey!

The covered courts in Project 6 was jampacked!

Volunteers packed a thousand giveaway bags for the families! (1000 literally)

This is the household girls with their dance number to the tune of "I Love You Goodbye" then of course it wouldnt be complete without a Gangnam Style dance afterwards.

The event was even graced with celebrities! Here is Mikael Daez, the show "Sana Ikaw na Nga's" Carlos Miguel character coming in.

All in all it is a joy to see all the children with their friends, families and neighbors enjoying themselves. The foundation truly brings so much joy during this season!

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A Christmas Miracle

It was quite an unforgettable adventure looking for Shara but one Saturday we found her.

Thank you for your prayers and support otherwise we would never have found her.  She is now safe and sound!

Map to Tutoring Location

Greetings Volunteer!

We usually have our sessions at the 3rd floor of the Barangay Bungad Hall.

Barangay Captain Ricardo Corpuz has graciously allowed us to hold our tutoring sessions there.  Bless his heart!  

Sometimes though we need to move from the 3rd floor to the first floor if there are any events that need to be conducted at the 3rd floor but for the most part we will hold it there (unless otherwise announced).

Directions By Car:

From EDSA, turn into West Ave.

Turn into Baler St. (landmark Shell gas station)

Then RIGHT into the 2nd street - Resthaven St.

Afterwards, turn RIGHT again into a parking lot - the Barangay Hall is at the end of that small street.

Directions for Commuting:

Take an MRT ride to Trinoma, North Edsa

Get off and take a tricycle at EDSA cor. Bulacan St. (this is a small street next to West Ave.,  near SM footbridge, landmark is a bakery) - Take note, this is NOT the footbridge in Paramount.

Take the tricycle to Barangay Bungad Hall

Directions for Commuting from Espana:

From Espana Road, take Project 6 or Pag-asa Jeep.

Get off at West Ave. Cor. Baler (landmark Shell gas station).
Behind the gas station, take a tricycle to Barangay Bungad Hall.

See you all!  

Party Time!