Better World thanks God for 7 years of being able to educate, enlighten and empower others through communication and media projects. In celebration of its seventh anniversary, Better World held back to back activities: a visit to Angeles City Special Education Center and the recognition day of the first batch of Birtud values education graduates.
First off, a trip to Angeles City, Pampanga, to visit the students of Angeles City Special Education Center. It was a fun-filled day of games, snacks, and, of course, storytelling with Better World’s Kuwentong Dinig audiobooks. The Kuwentong Dinig books are value-oriented children’s stories produced in formats accessible to visually impaired children.
Better World presented Angeles SPED Center with one full set of Kuwentong Dinig books in Braille, large print and audio CD’s.The students’ enjoyed the day’s program and the teachers expressed their appreciation for the much-needed educational materials that would benefit more than a hundred students with various disabilities enrolled in the school.
=============================================================================================
Two days later, Better World continued its anniversary week with the recognition ceremony of the first batch of Birtud graduates.
Birtud is a series of values education modules created by Better World Media Initiatives. Each lesson uses visual aids, games and other activities to make each session effective and enjoyable.
The pilot class to use the Birtud modules for teens was conducted in partnership with the Holy Trinity Parish Education Program in Fairview, Quezon City. The participants were all out-of-school youths, now studying under the Alternative Learning System of DepEd.
Longtime Better World volunteer Ellen Coronado Yturriaga served as their values education teacher. “For me, it was an answered prayer, to be given the chance to teach these kids”.
Better World members were on-hand assisting as needed, and witnessed how the teens opened up and shared their feelings, how much they enjoyed the sessions, and how eager they were to learn the lessons.
The graduation ceremony was filled with laughter and tears. After opening prayers, the students showed off their final projects: short dramatizations of situations where they could
practice the values they learned. In between, they told their teachers the values and lessons they remembered most.
The students then came up with a batch name. The proud and happy members of Class Kalasag then received their certificates of completion and their batch tshirt, with, of course, the requisite photo ops.
After Teacher Ellen addressed the class, we were ready to adjourn to a late snack. But the students themselves wanted to say something to their teachers and classmates. Through tears, they said their thanks and farewells.
“Kay Teacher Ellen, gusto kong magpasalamat. Ang dami kong natutunan tungkol sa buhay”, said one boy.
May those lessons stay with them throughout their lives.
Filed under: Uncategorized
