October 28, 2008

Robert Fulghum, renowned author of the best-selling book All I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten was once quoted as saying “Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.” This is perhaps the best reminder parents should take to heart in raising their children.

On October 23, several ALI volunteers went to Pembo Elementary School in Makati to run a seminar that aims to underscore the importance of setting a good support system within the family in order to enhance positive development of children in their formative years.

The program, known as the Galing Mo Kid Parenting Workshop, is a Hands On Manila (HOM) initiative which was launched in August 2007. It is an off-shoot of a regular HOM program called “Galing Mo Kid” which is a mentoring series for deserving elementary students who come from Makati’s Public Schools. Consequently, a parenting workshop that attempts to guide their parents on how to further aid the students not only in their studies but also in their emotional well-being became necessary. HOM offered this program to ALI as a VoluntarALI activity.

Parents from Nueve de Pebrero, Pembo and Plain View Elementary Schools attended the seminar. It was not difficult to convince them that the activity would truly be beneficial to them and their children. They listened attentively to the speakers and participated in the discussions. They all exuded pride for their children who went through rigorous testing and panel interviews by HOM before they were offered the mentoring opportunity. Some parents became emotional and shed a few tears while sharing their experiences and sacrifices for their children. Over-all, they were thankful for the additional information --- parenting tips and time management skills ---that they will be able to utilize in guiding their children at home.

Throughout the seminar, the participants were made to understand how valuable their actions are in their children’s lives. Whether they like it or not, they are their children’s models. To have discipline, diligence and love in their own lives will somehow rub-off on their children and influence their growth.

Five ALI volunteers shared their time and own experiences with the Galing Mo Kid parents. They are Mac Itaralde, Suzette Naval, Arlene Hatcha, Esther Lugue and Zarah Gulapa.