A Festival of preparation!

Gandang gabi sa inyong lahat,

Thank you to all the ones who came this week.

Here are some updates: In the office, the team, facilitators and some friends, have chosen the arts and crafts workshops, tested them and made one or two samples.

Another part of our week has been to continue being in contact with persons coming or wishing to share a workshop, who learned about the Festival of Learning through Facebook, Couchsurfing, Hands On Manila, or different personal contacts of ATD friends.

So far, to make a summary, among the persons we know will come and share a workshop, there are:

-A long time ATD friend who will come one day in Hilum 7-9years old and three days in Tulay with the youth.

-Grace with storytelling and puppet making (?) in North Cemetery

-Two police officers, one day in Hilum, 10-12yo

-Museo Pambata, one day in Hilum and Tulay, 7-9yo

-Ryan, a biologist teacher who will show experiments

-Joanne, who will show and have children 3-6yo experience grooming (washing hand, poney tail...)

-Theater/dance group for three days in NC, 7-9, 10-12, 12-15, 15+ yo

Still has to be confirmed but interested, some doctor students, a chemist, a storyteller, a nurse, a person who loves to make jewelry with paper mache, a dentist, an artist (which ‘sort’ we don’t know yet...:)

There are also different persons who wish to simply come and help facilitate what we will be doing.

Next week we will buy some material (donations welcome), put them in bags, label them a bit like this: “Hilum April 07, 3-6yo” – “Hilum April 07, 7-9yo” – “Hilum April 07, 10-12yo”.

If I count well, for Hilum and Tulay, the two first communities, it means we will prepare at least 18 bags.......

Wishing to help? Great time with bags all over the place!

We will also finalize some contacts, exchanges.

See you and hear from you soon.

One week of brainstorming!

Hi everyone,

The end of the first week of preparation for the Festival of Learning is near. Brainstorming ongoing for 6 days na.

We have started having some ideas of activities, have two police staff who will share about their job, we are hoping to have a dentist, some drum players, storytellers....but we are still LOOKING EAGERLY for any person wishing to experience a sharing with the children and their families in any field (music, dance, theater, games,...).What about a nurse to have the children listen to lungs and heart, or take the blood pressure? etc...

Festival of Learning 2011 Schedule

The theme for 2011 is "Paglaki ko, gusto ko maging...." (When I grow up, I want to be...).

Here is the schedule


GENERAL PREPARATION:
(sharing ideas for the workshops, creating prototypes, demonstrating the workshops to facilitators)

Meetings to be held at the ATD office, 1225 Labores Street, Pandacan, Manila

March 15 - 20 (Tues - Sund), 2 - 5 p.m.
March 22 - 27 (Tues - Sund), 2 - 5 p.m.
March 29 - April 3 (Tue - Sund), 2 -5 p.m.


VISITING THE COMMUNITIES

1) Hilum Community, Pandacan,, Manila

April 6 (Wed), 2 - 5 p.m.: Preparation of materials and kits at the office
April 7 - 9 (Thurs - Sat), 8.30am - 12noon: Visiting Hilum

2) Tulay at Quirino Avenue, Manila

April 14 (Thurs), 2 - 5 p.m.: Preparation of materials and kits at the office
April 15 - 17 (Fri - Sun), 1.30 - 5pm: Visiting Tulay


3) North Cemetery, Manila

April 28 (Thurs), 2 - 5 p.m.: Preparation of materials and kits at the office
April 29 - May 1 p.m. (Fri - Sun), 1 - 5 p.m.: Visiting North Cemetery


GENERAL EVALUATION

May 7 (Sat), 2 - 6 p.m. at the ATD office

You can choose any date to attend in the preparation and visit to the communities but kindly confirm your participation by calling these numbers: 563.9312 and +639089426819 or email atdmnl@pldtdsl.net. Look for Anne-Sylvie Laurent.

We also welcome donations of any amount. You can deposit at any PNB branch under this account:
Account Name: ATD Fourth World Philippines
Account No.: 10-678-420001-7

Thank you and we hope to see you!

Blog Roadshow with Youth

Part of ATD Philippines' activity is to create youth programs especially for the out-of-school youths.

We visited the youths living under the Bridge Qurino Avenue to see if they were interested in a blogging workshop.

Setting up a laptop, a portable screen, USB broadband and through the generosity of a friendly neighbor to plug our equipment, we were able to show the youths the word wide web (www)!


Artist and ATD friend Robert Alejandro conducted the very informal but fun discussion with the help of ATD volunteers Zabeth Lavrand & Guy Malfait, ATD friend Sana Sta. Ana and facilitator Cathy Doce.

Here are photos of blogging roadshow!

Maligayang Pasko at Masaganang Bagong Taon!

Thank you to all our friends who supported Creative HeARTs!

Through your generous donations and purchases, the ATD families had a Merry Christmas.

Peace, Love and Joy came via the Christmas ateliers. The families made beautiful Christmas ornaments to adorn their houses. Here are some pictures of the Christmas ateliers/workshops with the ATD families conducted by an ATD friend, Carmen Perez.

35 clay pots were made into Santa or Pere Noel

25 paper plates had pasted ninyogami style angels
15 wooden beads glued to a chopstick became angels with fashioned beaded wings
14 felt angels, glittered and topped with knitted yarn for halo

The children also has a FUN excursion at Fun Ranch!

Wishing every one a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2011!

Creative HeARTs 2010

From your friends at ATD Fourth World Philippines...
Merry Christmas!

These pretty parols are made by ATD families who live in poverty.
This is Creative HeARTs (our yearly Christmas project).

From the sales of this project, we will have activities that will make our Christmas special. Our families will have a livelihood from their parols and watch a Christmas concert.

Parols cost from P 100 to P 250 only. We also have lanterns and tea lamps made from recycled plastic bottles, paper, and leaves ( P 100 - P 300). To place an order, call us at 563.9312 or email us at atdmnl@pldtdsl.net.

Thank you and we hope you can share your Creative HeARTs!

View the different parols, lanterns, and tea lamps in our Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=163934810294988&ref=mf

October 17, International Day for Eradication of Poverty

Dear friends,

Every year on October 17th, the international community observes the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
This day is a key opportunity to think of the struggle against extreme poverty that takes place every day and of the role that everyone has to play in this fight. People living in extreme poverty have an equal right to endeavor alongside all citizens to create a better world where rights are respected for all.

People’s messages written on October 17:

"We are perhaps not directly to blame for the exclusion of millions of human beings, but we can become the agents of their inclusion.”
“We need to unite with those living in extreme poverty, and work together.”

In the world, different events will be held and will gather people from different cultures, faiths backgrounds who refuse to think poverty as a fatality.
In Manila, we invite you to join us at the commemoration led by NAPC, National Anti-Poverty Commission together with ATD Fourth World Philippines.

October 17, 2010
8:00 AM, Rizal Park
Around the Commemorative Stone in honor of the poor
(near the auditorium and the chess plaza)


Sincerely, ATD Fourth World Permanent Volunteers,

Anne-Sylvie Laurent Sarah Ortega Elisabeth Lavrand


 In case you would not be able to join the ceremony at Rizal Park, Manila, here are some examples of October 17 celebrations, which give you inspiration for observance of the Day and for your own commitment. Teachers in some schools focus the lessons on the issue of poverty. Children send their poems and paintings to contribute to October 17. Homeless people gather in a train station in memory of their friends who have died. There are also silent walks organized with stops at historical landmarks that bear memory of the poor.

 Visit the October 17 website: www.refuserlamisere.org, for news of celebrations all over the world.

“Wherever men and women are condemned to live in extreme poverty, human rights are violated. To come together to ensure that these rights be respected is our solemn duty."
Fr. Joseph Wresinski