(Impressions from a Peace Corps Volunteer)
Twenty mobile teachers from Mindanao braved typhoon ‘Labuyo’ to meet their 20 colleagues from the Bicol Region in the recently concluded Literacy Summit held in The Oriental Hotel, Legazpi City last August 12-18, 2013.
The Literacy Summit in Bicol was the first major activity of Padayon Mindanao, a three-year project funded by USAID and implemented by Peace Corps in selected areas in Mindanao as part of U.S. continuing efforts in peace-building in the Philippines. It is aimed at improving youth literacy and life skills by means of alternative learning system that uses non-formal and formal sources of knowledge and skills.
Peace Corps volunteers Rebecca Keys, Daniel Schmidt, Justin Cagaoan and Russel Halliday with their Filipino counterparts led sessions on Remedial Reading, Critical Reading & Civics/History, Effective Writing & Mathematics, and English Listening & Speaking & Environmental Education.
Participants with Sara Wood, Director of Programming & Training of US Peace Corps Philippines
Teaching Techniques using Integrated Language Arts
Both plenary and break-out sessions during the event promoted innovations in teaching strategies and learning assessments as applied in Alternative Learning System core modules of the Department of Education (DepED). Our Volunteer with their Filipino counterpart demonstrated creative teaching techniques, collaborative work model and integration of subject areas towards improving youth literacy and life skills of vulnerable youth in the Alternative Learning System sector in the country.
Learning from ALS good practice
Participants and facilitators visited two learning sites: Iriga Community Learning Center where they shared their experiences, processes, and success stories in the Accreditation and Equivalency Test for out-of-school youth; and, Anislag Community Learning Center in Daraga Albay where they showcased the tripartite partnership of DepED, local government units (LGUs) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in implementing Alternative Learning and Vocational Education among out-of-school youth in nearby communities.
One mobile teacher from Mindanao said, “I love listening to the different regions who shared their best practices. It inspires us to work more for the success of an education program in our community”.
PCV Daniel Schmidt during ICT tutorial with mobile teachers
Visualizing Regional Action Plans
Volunteers participated in a mural making activity where mobile teachers created visuals depicting hope for peace, educating learners for global competitiveness, and the challenges confronting education sector in communities. One mobile teacher said, “I am almost ready to go back to my locality and share with them what I learned here”.
Learning and finding solidarity in cross-cultural night
During the culture night, representatives from each region shared their cultural tradition through dances, songs and costumes. They also discussed the historical and cultural contexts of their presentations. The group also join in a ‘unity dance’ to conclude the evening. It was amazing to see how everyone bonded after the 5-day Literacy Summit – celebration of diverse cultures culminating a week of knowing and working together.
Padayon Mindanao’s Literacy Summit continues in Bacolod City
Mobile teachers from Zamboanga de Norte in their traditional dresses
On September 1-7, 2013, around twenty more mobile teachers from Mindanao participated with mobile teachers from the Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental provinces.
