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| Youth leaders of Barangay Bahi in Alburquerque town in Bohol push their mobile classroom to teach schoolkids this pandemic. Photo: Leo Udtohan |
How's your barangay’s Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) doing so far? Are they living up to your expectations of them? If not, they can probably learn a thing or two from the SK of Barangay Bahi in Alburquerque town.
The
SK officials of Barangay Bahi has successfully implemented "Project
Tulak Karunungan - eSKwela Program Mobile Kariton Klasrum" last July 18
with some 100 grade school pupils as their beneficiaries.
Last
week, your VRS had personally witnessed how SK Barangay Bahi chairman
Kien Alphe Garsuta and his councilors and a volunteer pushed their cart
filled with books, papers, and chairs while they roamed around in the
village.
Their destination was sitio Pantad at
least 1.5 km from village proper on a mission to teach children whose
studies has been interrupted by a pandemic through their "kariton
klasrum" (cart classroom).
As I accompanied
them, I personally witnessed their dedication as well as their
endurance. When they reached a hilly part of the road, they pushed the
cart with all their might or else the cart would push back against
them.
"We created this mobile classroom so we
can just go to them so would not leave the barangay. That's what we
thought 'pushing wisdom,' we 'push wisdom' to the children," said
Garsuta.
When the "mobile classroom" debuted last July 18, there were only 20 students. Now, they have already taught 100 schoolkids.
Garsuta,
23, said his team noticed that children got bored at home during the
quarantine with activities limited only to watching TV and using
cellphone.
"We want to continue what they have
learned in their schools, " said Garsuta, who was also the municipal
federated SK president.
Garsuta’s team looked
for a design. But it was their fellow SK Lourdes Ungab who designed the
pushcart and transformed it into a makeshift, mobile classroom.
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| The SK of Barangay Bahi in Alburquerque: Their routine includes pushing
the mobile cart on some up and down slopes that they pass along the way.
Photo: SK Bahi |
Garsuta
always believed in the capability of the youth to implement projects
that don’t have to be costly. He also wants to minimize the use of the
SK’s funds.
The cart costs them P8, 000
including labor, and another P10, 000 for educational materials such as
papers, books and pencils, chairs, pails and soaps.
The cart was perfect for the task which is small enough to roll in roads.
The
schedules would depend on their availability but they were able to
teach thrice a week with Sunday as the group's fixed day. They just
finished eight session last Sunday, August 2.
The class lasts for two hours would start at 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. held in a vacant lot.
It begins with a prayer and singing of the Philippine National Anthem, Bohol and Alburquerque hymns.
A story telling would follow, then a five-minute exercise.
Children
from kindergarten to Grade 4 were grouped by their levels with assigned
volunteers-teachers who would teach about reading, writing, counting,
and proper handwashing.
"We
teach children the tracing of letters, basic reading, basic writing,
identifying colors and shapes, as well as spelling, and then we teach
them proper hand washing because we are here in the pandemic. We taught
them how to sanitize and wash their hands," said Garsuta.
The community gladly welcomed the "mobile classroom".
One of them was the 25-year-old Antonette Pabio whose five-year-old Jayshine Dave attended the class.
"This
is a big help for our children especially now there are no classes, no
teachers because of COVID-19. It's okay for me to bring my son here
because he will also learn something," she said.
Pabio
said making children stop schooling in midstream breaks momentum of the
learning process and makes them lose interest and the motivation to
study to better themselves.
Hence, the mobile classroom refreshes what they learned from school.
Kimberly Channel Garsuta, 9, one of the students, said she was energized to study again.
She would be in Grade 4 this August 24 if classes will push through.
"I want to attend here because I learned a lot and then I'm happy I have a lot of friends here," she said.
After the sessions, the youth leaders have to clean the area and place the chairs and other materials in the cart.
Going back is also challenging due to a slopping ground.
But these youth leaders have no qualms since they have a meaningful and fulfilling day.
Garsuta
is a kind of a youth leader who can motivate his peers and lead by
example that will make the youth group stronger and more effective.
He also encourages other youth to also do their share in making a difference in the community.
Garsuta
said they have to learn to adapt and evolve just like the coronavirus
is doing, by improvising, innovating and pioneering without stopping
education.
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