By RACHEL C. BARAWID
The children of Puntod National High School, one of those affected by typhoon Sendong in Cagayan de Oro city, are filled with joy after receiving schools kits from Happy Soles and other organizations.
MANILA, Philippines — Ten year-old Jericho lives on the hills of Dansolihon in Cagayan de Oro, and every Sunday morning, he would excitedly wait by the hanging bridge for his “teachers” to arrive.
An out-of-school youth, Jericho works hard in the farm with his parents for the entire week. Sunday is the only time he could rest and play. But on this day, he would rather learn from his teachers, who are actually a group of college students who have been trooping to this remote area in CDO weekly for almost a year now to teach reading, writing and basic arithmetic.
Called Happy Soles, this group of volunteer teachers has now even stepped up their advocacy by helping victims of Typhoon Sendong get back on their feet through a partnership with various NGOs and civic-oriented groups.
FROM SLIPPERS TO EDUCATION
From giving away slippers to streetchildren, Happy Soles has evolved into a school project wherein Ateneo de Cagayan nursing student Marie Alexis Roa Baldia and her friends were tasked to give tutorials.
"The children we saw playing outside the daycare center told us that their teacher had been sick for two months so they would not hold classes until she returned. We decided to pinch-hit for her by giving tutorials. We also sold cookies, candies, and other pastries to raise money and buy school supplies for the 80 children,’’ recalls Alexis.
After seven months, the teacher returned but Happy Soles did not leave the place. Apart from the Sunday tutorials and picnics with the kids, the group now raises funds to meet the daycare center's need for more teaching materials.
Last month, Happy Soles members also provided relief goods and food to communities affected by Sendong, even when they themselves were also affected. Happy Soles joined the "Sending Sendong Kids Back2School Project" which provides school kits to over 21,000 affected children in CDO and Iligan City. It is being organized by the Tzu Chi Foundation, Philippine Funds for Little Kids, Project Pearls, Rotary Zamboanga, Rotary of Forbes Park, and Sagip Iligan in coordination with the Department of Education.
Spearheaded by Dr. Anton H. Lim of Tzu Chi Foundation, the project is one way of helping the children gradually return to their regular lives after the traumatic experience caused by the devastating typhoon.
SMALL REWARDS, IMMEASURABLE HAPPINESS
Alexis, the fourth in a brood of six, learned how to be independent when her parents separated. She and her siblings grew up under the care of her grandparents while her mother worked in Canada as an OFW. The absence of her parents did not hinder her from fulfilling her dreams. Instead, it motivated her all the more to excel and be a person for others.
"Being a student did not limit my capabilities. In fact, it gave me a lot of advantages, especially in initiating projects that contribute to social change. Young people have so many gifts, talents, skills and intelligence. We have so much to give and there is so much we can do. All these are with purpose and that is to share them to those who are in need. We are all potential leaders and we are here to initiate change. If not us, then who will?" she says.
For Alexis, what makes them go on are the little accomplishments they see in the kids, the inspiring lessons they learn from them, and the immeasurable happiness they derive from helping people.
"When we started the tutorials, we asked the kids what they wanted to be in the future. A lot of them wanted to be farmers and jeepney drivers. After several days, the kids already had more ambition in mind. Some wanted to be a doctor, a pilot, an engineer, a teacher and a nurse. Not that their initial ambitions were wrong, but what we want is for them to dream big and to not be limited to what they see while growing up. Happy Soles rewards us with immeasurable happiness from self discovery to fulfillment in seeing the children learn and develop," says the 20-year-old youth leader.
While they strive to help the kids develop their full potential, the members of Happy Soles, on the other hand, are empowered, motivated and further inspired to continue making a difference in their own ways.
"What is different about Happy Soles is that it came out of a shared inspiration, drawn from the realities we face each day. We see children begging for food or working at such a young age. Seeing them should be enough to inspire you to take action, to be involved, and to do something. In Happy Soles, we are trying to do something to help them. It may be small changes now but we are determined to make it big.
I think that’s one thing that makes others hesitant to help. Sometimes we are too concerned of whether it might not create an impact, or it’s too small an effort to influence others. But we have to believe that our movements are bound for greater things if we only put our heart, passion and commitment into it," stresses Alexis.
