"Education in the Philippines is in need of drastic and immediate change."
Education in the Philippines is in need of drastic and immediate change. To compound the problem, the recent Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng destroyed numerous schools and displaced more than 300,000 children, and we wanted to help.
The opportunity came in the form of a partnership with the Dynamic Teen Company (DTC), a local NGO headed up by Efren Penaflorida, a “CNN Hero” nominee, and a client at Bates 141. DTC’s mission is to instill a love for learning in underprivileged youth via the “pushcart” (or “kariton”) classrooms. In order for the movement to be more easily recognized and followed, Bates 141 helped DTC to re-brand its “kariton classroom” project as Tulakabataan (meaning “push youth”). This is a volunteer program that empowers youth to provide better opportunities to underprivileged children through education, via kariton classrooms. The program is also open to corporates who can participate by sponsoring pushcarts and volunteering.
The first project we developed for Tulakabataan was a fundraising concert for the Typhoon victims. The hottest bands in the Philippines played to a crowd of more than 250, and the concert raised Php77000 cash and other donations. Apart from fund raising, the event also generated coverage in mass media, and immense word of mouth in social media. Bates 141 is proud to be part of this ChangeRally and we plan to take this project nationwide.