BAJAU CHILDREN FOCUS
Creative Works &
Expression:
Programs which use art and agreeable creative methods to passively educate
& empower Bajau children.
2010
Notable Projects
·
Kids Creating Change Workshop
·
Bajau Youth Education Camp
·
Children’s Rights Festival (UN
Convention on the Rights of the Child)
·
Stairway Foundation iCare Youth for
Change Immersion Camp
·
READLANI Children’s Month Talent
Showcase
Summary
This category of
projects uses art and crafts, team building, and performance based activities
as a way to educate and help our Bajau children creatively express themselves.
Bajau children and culture for that matter is not keen to formal, structured
environments. This being the case, GLIM focuses on creating a comfortable
learning atmosphere which caters to the learning disposition of our youth.
Providing kids with an opportunity to express themselves freely through myriad
of creative works programs makes it easier for the children to absorb and
comprehend complex issues. These issues include, but are not limited to: the
2015 Eight UN Millennium Goals, social and ethnic discrimination, and valuing education
as an investment for the future. In order to better provide for our Bajau
children, GLIM must better understand the needs and wants of this segment. These
powerful exercises help build confidence, inspire and open up our children in
ways that allow us forge stronger relationships with and learn from our youth
base in the community.
2011 Outlook
These types of
programs, albeit short-termed, have yielded the most output for our children. Creating
such stimulating and friendly environments allow Bajau youth to gain
self-esteem, acquire a desire to learn and unlock their limitless potential. The
programs are low-cost and with minimal overhead for GLIM. Expect more of the
same programs in the upcoming year.
Formal Youth Education: Long-term programs which are led by a
certified teacher and with an accredited institution.
2010 Notable Projects
· Early Childhood
Curriculum for Out-of-School Bajau Youths
· Registering and
supporting Bajau students – Feeding program, school supplies, id cards, etc.
· Department of
Education Alternative Learning System – Adult Literacy
Summary
A regular, structured educational curriculum
for the Bajau children is our hope and end goal. A consistent, formal approach
to schooling will make way for sustainable growth and forward movement for the
educational needs of our children. We started the 2010 school year off with 13
students enrolled in the public school system. 6 students remain active in
their regular school pursuits. This 46% level of attrition sheds light to the
greater issue Bajau children face: socio-economic distress. Many of our youth
work to support their family in a number of income generating practices (street
vendors, street performers, begging, etc.). Their peak, day-time work schedules
conflict with the typical 7:30am – 4:30pm school time frame. This harsh reality
makes it extremely difficult to actualize and steady the growth potential of
our children. GLIM lobbied to bring in
an accredited teacher from the University of Regina Carmeli, who leads an early
childhood curriculum Monday thru Friday, 8am – 11am. As well as supporting the material
needs of our regular students, GLIM is being resourceful and flexible in finding
new ways to put forth standard, effective educational programs to reach and
educate our Bajau children.
2011
Outlook
GLIM really needs to improve in this area.
Our primary aim is a high percentage of school-aged youth enrolled in the
public school system; Bajau parents supporting and protecting this process.
GLIM’s limited resources and no secure outside help make it difficult to meet
the basic needs and bottom line of this group. The reality is, the economic
faculty of Bajau prevents a necessary prioritization of education as a means to
progress. GLIM does not see the struggles in this sub-section easing up any
time soon.
BAJAU COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOCUS
Community Development: Programs which are
designed to commit some service to the maintenance of the community grounds,
lead land based skills building initiatives for the Adults and discover
potential income generating cottage industries for the Women.
2010 Notable Projects
· 2010 Bulacan State
University 2nd Semester NSTP Livelihood Program (Gardening,
Micro-business practices/techniques, Education Puppetry, Waste Segregation,
Mural Painting)
· Kansai University
(Japan) Exchange Student 8-week Solid Waste Management Project
· UN Food For Work Three-Month
Program (Gardening, Solid Waste Management, Adult Literacy)
· Series of Livelihood
Projects (Piggy-bank Investing, Rug Making, Jewelry Making)
Summary
Although
a majority of our focus rests on supporting Bajau children, GLIM recognizes
that the difficulties faced by Bajau families rests on their ability to gain
access to basic needs; shelter, clothing, food, education. All 274 Bajau
residents in our community under the old Sulipan Bridge are migrants from
Coastal Western Mindanao. Being a ways from home and without any material
support from the private/public sector, GLIM has implemented certain programs
to ensure the livelihood of this Bajau group. Providing our clients with a land
based skill set and knowledge base is essential for the development and growth
of this destitute lot. Through these programs, Bajau residents have been
instilled with an education to value self-dependence, skills and mechanisms to
protect their environment, awareness and practices to not become victims of
debt/loans, and activities designed to paint education as a means to escape
poverty. Without the most basic needs of the family being covered, GLIM can not
expect the children or youth to be prioritized as they should.
2011 Outlook
Community based
programs help concentrate on the root of the many Bajau problems: Livelihood. The
average family and our community under the old Sulipan Bridge, the basic units
of society entrusted with the care, protection and growth of children, are
struggling mightily. Without basic need incentives (food, medicine, clothing,
etc) for our programs, GLIM foresee an upward climb in trying to increase the
active participation in 2011. When the incentive is present (Food for Work) we
notice a drastic change in the interest of our clients. Strengthening
operational capacity can help deliver and augment essential motivational power.
Also a shift towards a smaller, more focused, model Bajau community is
inevitable. 274 individuals are just too much for a 3-man team to handle and
train effectively.
GLIM & Bajau Advocacy: Programs designed to extend
the scope and reach of the GLIM mission/vision and to inform and educate the
greater Filipino citizenry on Bajau culture/history and WHY they exist in their
current societal position.
2010
Notable Projects
·
Free Hugs Campaign & “I Bajau” T-Shirts
Summary
Outside
of the 3 primary workers of GLIM, the operational capacity is propped up by the
goodwill and dedication of a small cast of vested and concerned citizens; both
Filipinos and Internationals. However, these one time donations are far from
enough. GLIM is still is in its infancy stage of operation and is without any
steady, measureable assistance in both physical and monetary terms. Compounding
this issue, the greater Filipino demographic does not understand the context
behind Bajau widespread poverty. Negative connotations of Bajau (lazy, beggars,
2nd tier people, not Filipinos, etc.) that this group harbors, make
the task to advocate for Bajau rights all the more the difficult. Launching the
new website (www.bajauglim.webs.com)
helped provide a digital and social medium for GLIM to market the Bajau story
and make accessible its programs and initiatives to potential forms of outside
support. Educational campaigns such as the Free Hugs Campaign help strengthen
our ability to inform people on Bajau, passively promote GLIM and acquire
outside assistance to best position ourselves heading into the New Year.
2011
Outlook
Although
less direct, increased awareness and sensitivity towards Bajau and their rights
is a significant focus for GLIM going forward into 2011. In order to strengthen
our capacity to serve Bajau, GLIM must make a more concerted effort to promote
Bajau issues and establish new, sustainable partnerships to improve operational
standing.
EXTENSION COMMUNITY SERVICES
Community Outreach: Programs which help provide greater
community residents with better access to educational and vocational opportunities.
2010 Notable Projects
· Department of
Education Alternative Learning System – Batch 2 & National Exam
· College of Industrial
Technology at Bulacan State University “Aral-Kabuhayan” Program
Summary
GLIM’s
extension services to the out-of-school youth (OSY) in Apalit, Pampanga
function as a need to address a problem that has been neglected in our backyard.
GLIM currently exists as the lone registered NGO in the entire municipality of
Apalit. This allows us to tap into a few of our existing partnerships and offer
similar minded programs to benefit our OSY population here in our home
Barangays of Sulipan and Capalangan. The Alternative Learning System (ALS)
provides OSYs with an alternative to the formal school curriculum. The
Department of Education has commissioned GLIM as service providers for the ALS
curriculum which offer an informal fast track for OSYs to obtain a high-school
diploma. “Aral-Kabuhayan” is a joint program with Bulacan State University that
provides a 7-month, free vocational training for OSYs in computer literacy and
automotive work. Although we are spread so thin, GLIM felt the need to organize
and spearhead these initiatives to help train, educate and open new doors for
our OSY brothers and sisters.
2011
Outlook
Extension
services is the lightest and least focused arm of the GLIM Ministry. Our
primary population is the Bajau Indigenous group. However, the extension
programs offer a low input, high output for GLIM, as the majority of the leg
work and implementation rests in the hands of the partner institution. As an
ALS provider for 3 separate groups (Brgy Sulipan, Brgy Capalangan, Bajau
Community), GLIM will continue to oversee the maintenance of this program for
OSYs in 2011. We hope to carry on similar projects for OSYs, provided that we
have the means and time to do so in an effective manner.
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