Lunch Talk: A Discussion on Citizenship

I had fun during lunch today. I sat with some Sixth Graders and they told me that their last class was Social Studies. We had a lively discussion on citizenship. I was told that one can become a Filipino citizen either by birth or by naturalization. We had several combinations of parents and different examples of ways one can become a Filipino.

Then I asked, "If you had a chance to be born again, what citizenship would you like to have?" Angela said, "Filipino, of course." Karl said he wanted to try out something new and be Canadian. Karen said she wanted to be Korean. I guess this is because of the Korean shows she sees on TV. Then Clifford said, "I want to be Chinese." I asked him why. He said, "I like noodles!" :)

Photo Credit: http://www.matsuk12.us/tms/lib/tms/lunch.gif

Today - August 17, 2009

As I write this I am in a hotel room in Honduras (on-du'-rras). I am writing to remember that today, I had the privilege to orient the Academic Director of Food for Hungry Minds School Honduras, Fernando. He had so many good questions. Thankfully, I had some answers.

More than five years ago, I would not have thought of being in a country in Central America telling someone my Hungry Minds stories. I just concentrated on doing what I loved and what I needed/wanted to do. Look at where these have brought me now. I had a good trip down memory lane reliving all the good times and the hard lessons. As I told those stories, I was just so proud of children, parents, teachers, staff, donors, and volunteers who have been with me once, twice, or throughout the whole endeavor. I am so honored to be in this journey and to be surrounded by people who have been of so much help.

I know that in the future there will be more stories written, more pictures taken, and more lives transformed because of Food for Hungry Minds. I just don't want to forget today.

And I write back...

Ayi's mother was in school today, so I was able to send her my response.

July 2, 2009

Dear Ayi,

It was such a treat to receive your letter. :) Thank you very much!!! I admire your courage in facing these challenges in life. I can only imagine how difficult it is to start out in a new school. Yet, you have done such a great job so far! I hope you keep up the enthusiasm and zest for learning. Remember that even if there are many obstacles, we are behind you and cheering you on. I know you will go a long way with the kind of attitude that you have. You make me so proud to be part of your life.

All the best,

Teacher Candy

A Letter from Ayi

One of the best things that could spell utter joy to a teacher is when a student comes back and tells how much difference you have made in her life. Today I am blessed with such joy because of a letter from one of the scholars of Food for Hungry Minds in its High School Program. Ayi graduated Elementary in Food for Hungry Minds School - Makati last March. She is in now in first year high school in Philippine Normal University Laboratory High School. Here's her letter.

Dear Teacher Candice,

How are you? I hope you're doing good. I am happy now with my new school. During my first day, I felt miserable. It was horrible and was such a disaster because it was so different from my old school. All the things I saw were new - new classmates, new teachers, new environment, and new faces, but I was determined to make friends and at the same time excel in my studies. On my second day, I could already breathe well because I already made new friends. My first quiz in Math was great because I was the only one who got a perfect score. In our first quiz in Science, I got 14 out of 15. I also joined the Math Club.

I realized that I have a big advantage in my subjects because our lessons here were tackled in Food for Hungry Minds School. I also realized that we had everything in Hungry Minds - crayons, markers, and dictionaries. I promise you that I will not waste this opportunity that you have given me. This is my stepping stone for success. I would also like to thank Teacher Amie and Teacher Olive who have been my inspiration in my studies. They taught me that I may not have money, but I have knowledge.

Thank you and God bless you!

Ayi

FHMS Class of 2009

1st Year, PNU Lab High School

Photo Credits:

Smiley Buttons - http://designflute.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/radioactive-happiness-face.gif

Happiness Quote - http://themadgrad.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/happiness-jpg.jpeg

Hopes and Dreams

The 4th graders voiced out what they wanted in life in a session on Hopes and Dreams that I had with them. Some of them told me they don't know how to speak in English. I assured them they would learn. Here's what some of them wrote:

• I wish that my old classmates and friends are safe.
• I want to be an "accounter" in a bank someday.
• I want to have new friends in school.
• I wish we could have a new house because our old one burned down.
• I hope I can finish College so I can send my brothers and sisters to school.
• I wish that Food for Hungry Minds can teach more children about good manners.

Most of the children asked for help in saying what they wanted to say, but this last one, surprisingly, was written without any help.

"I want to be a principal like Teacher Candice so I can lead all the children and the teachers."

This definitely made my day! Yippeee! :)

Photo credit: http://www.reneedecator.com/blog/uploaded_images/rdecator_dream-737276.jpg

Priceless!

We have just started with formal classes in school. Since I love teaching and I want to get to know the new children better, I have been teaching Grade 4 English for the past two days. As I met the children, most of them seemed as if they were sizing me up. Was I to be trusted? Would they dare speak in front of the Principal?

After telling them about who I was and letting them know that I, too, am human, most children warmed up. I noticed someone in the back, though. He was one of the tiniest boys. He didn't want to make eye contact. He wasn't responding. I was cracking jokes and making everyone smile, everyone except him. I asked him to sit up front since I knew we weren't making too much progress. I made it a point to look at him when I discussed what we were to do.

Later, as I asked the children to write, he was the first to have his work checked. He was also the first to finish the whole task. I gave him extra strokes for his hard work. He beamed at me! He even helped his classmates put up their work on the board. His confidence level was up. He even had the courage to compliment me on the work I did.

How priceless it is to have made that connection!

Photo credit: http://www.millstone.k12.nj.us/teachers/camposl/teecher.gif

As We Begin

When I was a little girl, I was always excited to start a new school year. I loved it that I had new shoes, new notebooks, and new uniforms. I was also very proud of the fact that either my Mom or Dad would take me to school. It was more than 20 years ago when I was in Grade School, yet these memories are so vivid to me.

Tonight, the night before we begin school in Food for Hungry Minds - Makati, I feel like a school girl once again. Just a few minutes ago, I got my uniform from the cabinet, arranged the things I needed in my bag, and even prepared the shoes and socks I will wear. I feel giddy thinking about beginning school tomorrow not because of new shoes, or new clothes, or being brought to school by my parents the next day. My excitement stems from the anticipation of what is to come as we embark on a new chapter in Hungry Minds history.

This year, there will be 61 new 4th graders in FHMS Makati and Malolos. We will also welcome back our 5th and 6th graders, now taller and more confident than they were last year. The teachers prepared well for this school year. We had in-house training in Math and reviewed SIOP teaching strategies. We also had meetings tweaking our curriculum in light of the lessons we learned from using this last year.

As we start another academic year, I know that things will not be easy. They have never been. Yet, I welcome this challenge just as I welcome all our new students and families in FHMS Makati and Malolos. Together, we will write this story of how lives are enriched and transformed in Hungry Minds.

Photo Credit: http://www.gilgenart.com/gallery/transformation-s.jpg

Raffy's Math

A Fifth Grade English class taught by Teacher Annie talked about the global economic crisis. When asked what the children can do to help make things better, Raffy (not his real name) introduced a new way of doing Math. Here's what he said:

Add Consuming

Subtract Wasting

Multiply Saving

Divide Consuming

Let's make the world a better place to live in. Let's do Raffy's Math!

Photo credit - www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org

The FHMS Team

The school year is almost at its end. We are all busy preparing for graduation and donor hour. To plan for these events and to fill our tanks, the faculty and staff of both Food for Hungry Minds schools had a plenary meeting. Everyone was present for the first time the whole year.

We reflected on what was most significant to us. One teacher said that hearing the children speak in English was very heartwarming to her. Another one said that celebrating her birthday in Hungry Minds and receiving a cake for the first time really touched her. Another teacher said that going to Enchanted Kingdom and having a child hold her hand and trust her really left a mark.

I am grateful for this year's faculty and staff. Though we lacked one teacher for most of the year and will be hiring one soon, the team made it and did great! I know that the heart of Hungry Minds is in its people, and what a heart that is because of this team!

Beth and Teacher Lia: A Story of Hope

Since she started in Hungry Minds, Beth (not her real name) has always been at the top of her class. In fifth grade, she started taking lessons for sixth grade Math. She consistently ranked number 1 every quarter since Grade 4 until now that she is in Grade 6. However, Teacher Lia (not her real name) noticed that lately Beth's projects were being turned in late. Her scores in Science were also unusually low.

When Teacher Lia asked about this, Beth said that she was tired. Life was just too difficult. Her family has had no electricity for six months. Her father is unemployed and her mother works in her aunt's store from 5:00 in the morning to 8:00 in the evening. Beth studies using a gas lamp every night, but lately she just felt tired and hopeless. She was also ashamed that in the area where she lives and in Grade 6, her family was the only one with no electricity at home.

Teacher Lia assured Beth that she is not alone. Teacher grew up in the province and in their barangay their family was the only one without electricity, too. Until she was in high school, she used a gas lamp to study every night. She was the eldest sister, so she had to take care of her younger siblings. She worked in the fields to help her family earn money. Yet, Teacher Lia graduated Class Valedictorian in Elementary. She also managed to finish College under a scholarship. She now lives comfortably with her husband and children who attend private schools.

Indeed, Beth is not alone. There are many families with children who suffer from shame and sadness because of poverty. Yet, Teacher Lia showed Beth that despite her family's hardship, there is still reason to hope. Maybe this is why I saw both of them smiling this morning.

A Poem on the Wall

As part of cultivating a culture of innovation and creativity in Food for Hungry Minds, teachers were asked to come up with something different this year. They could choose to do any project as long as it is in line with their work.

Teacher Kristal, one of the FHMS Malolos teachers, decided to put a Freedom Wall. This is was a venue for the children to express their thoughts. There would be an article posted every week and the children could write respond to the article.

Here is a poem written on Teacher Kristal's Innovation Project, The Freedom Wall. The author is Ica (not her real name), a sixth grader whose father suffered from a stroke when she was so much younger. Her mother sells food in their store at home. Living in a one-room house with only some chairs for furniture, I am touched by the way she could have such a strong sense of self inspite of their difficulties.

I am

I am cheerful and generous
I wonder what the world should be
I hear chirping birds
I see glowing stars every night
I want to spy on the world
I am cheerful and generous

I pretend to be one with the swaying trees
I feel happiness inside of me
I touch a crying heart
I worry about how flowers glow
I miss the happy moments that passed
I am cheerful and generous

I understand how a child should grow
I say, "Let's stand together in unity"
I dream of a peaceful world
Yet I hear its sorrow
I hope a time will come that we will be as one
I am cheerful and generous.

Five Years and Counting

I finally got down to writing a blog. Maybe it is timely since today I celebrate my fifth anniversary as a member of Food for Hungry Minds. It has been such a journey. We started out with 28 children in our school in Makati. There were three teachers, myself included, and a social worker on staff.

Today, five years later, Food for Hungry Minds serves 155 Elementary students in two schools, Makati and Malolos, Bulacan. There are 43 students being supported in different high schools, private and public. There are also 15 employees on staff. There is even an on-going expansion program in Honduras in Central America. How the organization has grown!

I could say that I have grown, too. I met people who became my mentors, colleagues who became friends, and students who have changed my view of the world. What a gift it is to be part of Food for Hungry Minds!