By Jill Cortes | Executive Director
Finding Our Rainbow Connection
Dear Heroes for the Next Generation
The song "The Rainbow Connection" kept playing in our minds as we did this report. We thank Jim Henson of Sesame Street, and especially Kermit the Frog, for helping us weave our story.
"Why are there so many songs about rainbows, and what's on the other side. Rainbows are visions, not only illusions, rainbows have nothing to hide"
Rainbows are a symbol of Hope. A promise that all will be well. And this is what our beneficiaries keep in their pockets as they go to school every day. That hope of making it to the Finish Line and having that chance to have better days without worrying about food on the table, a roof over their heads, and a safe and comfortable life.
"What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing, and what do you think we might see.."
"Food for Tomorrow"
We were able to achieve our plan to start finding sustainable solutions to bridge the gap between education and poverty through the launch of our project "Food for Tomorrow." The concept was to put food in the minds of people so they could put food on the table.
The idea was to have short talks that would be followed by related workshops. The talk about urban gardening was followed by a demonstration on how to plant vegetables using recycled plastic containers and composting using kitchen waste. A talk about hygiene was followed by how to make dishwashing liquid. The talk about livelihood was followed by a demonstration on homemade rice cakes/"puto" that would put a healthy snack on the table and could become a business.
Our target was the parents of our beneficiaries. Most of them do not have stable jobs. They are either contractual construction workers, street sweepers, household help, or street vendors. Everyone earning below the minimum wage with no job security.
We wanted to go beyond educational assistance so the children could go to school every day, to empowering the parents as well. The work to set up and implement the project was made possible by the spirit of volunteerism. Even the mothers of beneficiaries volunteered to do the workshops. The officers and members of the Elks, Boy Scouts of America (Pampanga), Veterans of Foreign Wars, and other PAGA donors pitched in.
Urban Farming in Concrete Spaces:
Backyard farming for families that do not have any land to plant on, using recyclable materials for pots, even in concrete spaces, is possible. It can become a sustainable way to help address hunger, reduce waste, and improve health. For families that do not have much to buy food, having the chance to harvest fresh, organic vegetables provides security for food on the table every day.
Rice Cake or "Puto" Making
A volunteer teaches everyone how to make rice cakes "puto." A healthy snack for the kids and a good product for livelihood. A starter kit including a steamer was given to the families.
Hygiene
Dishwashing Liquid
Dishwashing liquid can double up as hand soap. Today a small sachet of dishwashing liquid is quite expensive. Learning to make this gives a chance to ensure dishes, utensils and cooking materials are cleaned well. To add value to this, learning to produce this is an eco-friendly zero waste initiative. No more sachets just reusable bottles. In addition to making enough dishwashing liquid, for their family use, beneficiaries may also sell this. All the beneficiaries were given starter kits after the session.
Knowledge sharing
Hygiene, waste management, climate change by the next generation Scouts of America
"Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers"
A community of volunteers was born
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Boy Scouts of America (Pampanga), Elks Club, Amerasian Association of Pampanga, and mothers all contributed to making the "Food for Tomorrow" a meaningful project,, not only because it helped open doors to sustainable solutions, but also because it fostered a sense of fellowship with the beneficiaries and their parents.
"..All of us under its spell, we know that it's probably magic
Because of kindness overflowing from caring partners like you. We proudly present 3 of your scholars who graduated with flying colors. Thank you for helping them find their rainbow connection.
BS Human Resources BS Information Technology BS Tourism Management
(Please view pdf report)
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