The San Bartolome High School in Quezon City, Philippines serves some of the poorest children in this country. Over 7,500 students attend this school. With so many students they have to attend in two shifts. Only 50% of the 7th graders can read at this school. Many of the children are homeless. They do not have adequate water or bathroom facilities for the students. With so many challenges, it was inspiring to meet the children who were so happy and trying their very best to succeed at school. We also had the privilege of meeting many of the dedicated teachers who are working so hard to make a difference to inspire and empower the next generation to greatness.
Mentors International, with the help of our SEED interns from Utah State University, teaches business and entrepreneurship classes to these students. Many of these students do not have the funds or the knowledge to continue their education after high school and these business classes help provide them with the opportunity to create and start their own successful enterprises after high school. Each semester the students compete in a business plan competition and many are creating new and viable enterprises. With all of the challenges these students face, they are optimistic about the future.
These students have the opportunity to work with Mentors International after they graduate or age out of the school system. They can apply to receive the financial solutions we offer through our micro-loan program.
In November took an expedition group to the Philippines and as part of their experience, they had the opportunity to serve the teachers and students that attend this school. First, we helped install a new water filtration system so that the children and teachers have access to clean water for drinking and washing their hands with. The second part of our service project was helping to tile the floor of their medical clinic. This small room with one small fan is to give the children a place to rest when they are not feeling well. We helped install a nice, clean, sanitary, tiled floor.
Ma’am Zaida Padullo, Principal of this school was very grateful for our service, but she is very grateful for the on-going support of Mentors International. This is what she said
“Today was a humbling experience with no less than the CEO of Mentors International, his staff and other benefactors came and literally rolled up their sleeves to do humanitarian service to San Bartolome High School. Far from the comfort of their 5-star hotel accommodations, these businessmen and women from America shoveled dirt, mixed cement, did tile work for the school clinic, donated water tanks, heavy-duty purifiers and even installed water pipes. If this is not love for humanity, I don’t know anything greater than this..
Thank you for the beautiful lessons you taught me on humility, compassion and unconditional love.
Their gestures reminded me of my favorite lines from Sam Levenson which I profusely borrow in my positive discipline advocacy and read like these:
“For attractive lips speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his fingers through it on each day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge you’ll never walk alone.
The tender loving care of human beings will never become obsolete.
People even more than things have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed and redeemed and redeemed.
Never throw out anybody.
Remember if you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find it at the end of your arm.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself the other for helping others. “
BIG shout out to the SEED Interns from Utah State University for helping to organize this service project.
The best reward was when the students performed a cultural celebration of dance and song for our group to thank us for our service.
Click the side arrows to scroll through some of the pictures of this day.
