GK@IBM Program Recognition Day
By RHONA CUARESMA Date Posted: June 4, 2007
On Wednesday, 30th May 2007 the Bagong Silang GK ANCOP Office was filled with excitement as students, parents and teachers, gathered to celebrate the Recognition Day of the GK@IBM Training Program in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City, Manila, Philippines.
‘Don’t touch it… it might explode’ is what a SIBOL student have said to his fellow classmate on the first day of their computer class. Today, that same student can proudly say that ‘I now know how to use a computer’.
After three months of computer classes and practical sessions, the students at Bagong Silang have proudly completed the GK@IBM Training Program.
Initiated by IBM employees from Sydney and upon presenting Gawad Kalinga (GK) to their Executive Directors, with the help of GK ANCOP Australia, 7 computers and a projector were donated by IBM Australia to the GK Village in Bagong Silang earlier this year.
Volunteer teachers were trained on how to implement the IBM On Demand Community Program last February 7 & 8, 2007 by five of the Australian GK Youth Great Adventure Tour 2007 participants namely Gregor Erdmann, Reggie Santos, Mark Pangilinan, Trina Esguerra and Rhona Cuaresma.
There were 16 SIBOL, 18 SAGIP and 14 SIGA students who were chosen to participate in the program. The 3 months program involves various topics and activities for different age groups such as learning how to use the computer and identifying its parts; understanding the alphabet, colours and parts of the body, conduct science experiment; researching on the Internet; creating a web page; etc.
The GK@IBM Program Recognition Day was truly a day to honour everyone involved. It began with an opening prayer led by a SIBOL student named Ana Mae Navarro. A SIGA student from the Australian GK Village, Aljoise Quintana, rendered the audience with a beautiful song entitled ‘Bagong Kabataan’, written & composed by Christopher Renomeron, a fellow SIGA member and one of the volunteer teachers that were trained.
The SAGIP students presented a dance number while the SIBOL class recited a ‘THANK YOU’ poem honouring IBM Australia for their kindness.
Certificate of Appreciation was given to each participant, followed by a number of inspirational remarks from their respective teachers.
The celebration concluded with a simple gathering and sharing of food at the GK ANCOP office multipurpose hall. An envelope filled with handmade ‘thank you’ cards were given by SAGIP students for IBM Australia as a token of gratitude for a wonderful opportunity that they have bestowed upon them.
Despite a few challenges that were encountered during the course, the GK@IBM program proved to be a triumphant success. Likewise, it would not have been successful without the commitment and dedication of all the students, parents and teachers involved.
In Sydney, Australia, a number of IBM employees have formed a group called IBM@GK to monitor the program and assist in evaluation to improve the course for the next batch of students. If you are interested to join and be a part of the group, please contact Corina Velasco on 0414778181 or email corina.velasco@au1.ibm.com for more information.
It is anticipated that the GK@IBM Program will continue to run with the new batch of students from different GK Villages in Bagong Silang soon.
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Volunteer teachers were trained on how to implement the IBM On Demand Community Program last February 7 & 8, 2007 by five of the Australian GK Youth Great Adventure Tour 2007 participants namely Gregor Erdmann, Reggie Santos, Mark Pangilinan, Trina Esguerra and Rhona Cuaresma.
The celebration concluded with a simple gathering and sharing of food at the GK ANCOP office multipurpose hall. An envelope filled with handmade ‘thank you’ cards were given by SAGIP students for IBM Australia as a token of gratitude for a wonderful opportunity that they have bestowed upon them.
