First Book Donation Project, a Success

On January 9, 2012, we went to Inarado Elementary School to deliver our book donations. We also conducted our reading session and quiz bee with the school's grades V and VI students. We all had a great time there.

Our team was warmly welcomed by both the teachers and the students. I never thought that we will be treated like VIPs there. They even served us snacks and lunch, freshly cooked by them. We were deeply honored by how they received us.

First on our activity list is the reading session. I had it with both grades V and VI students in one class. Despite the discrepancy in their IQ levels, the students were so active that you cannot delineate which group belongs to the fifth or sixth level. We distributed a two-paged reading material to them, made them flip through the pages to see some words they do not understand, allowed them to read it silently and discussed the contents with them.

We served the students with a simple snack after the first activity. We brought bread and mixed powdered juice for them. In the meantime, we made ourselves ready for the program proper.

During the program, I introduced our group to them and conveyed our mission, vision, goals and objectives. I stressed two popular sayings namely, "Ang taong hindi marunong lumingon sa kanyang pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa kanyang paroroonan" and "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." I told them to study well and pursue what they dream about for themselves and country as a whole.

Mr. Harry Mayor, the school principal, expressed appreciation of the books that we donated and stressed the importance of reading to the students. He wished that we pursue our vision and goals and be an inspiration to others as we do our projects.

May I use this medium to say thank you to those who helped me in this project. Our book donation project was a success because of you. Thank you for your book and other donations. Thank you also to the group of volunteers who were with me during the activity, Jefrey Satuito, Julieanne Bonaobra, Rachel Ann Nosares Llagas, Caleb Cabañez, Rommel Cariño and Jennelyn Catangui.

We are encouraged to continue this program this year and the years to come. Let us continue our partnership and support our projects. Together, we can do this.