Orientation on Community Outreach/Exposure Activity with the students from San Beda College and their Foster Families: Last February 7, 2015 (Saturday) General Orientation for the Community Outreach/ Exposure Activity conducted. It was attended by 34 Junior students from San Beda College who took different courses like BS Psychology, BS Entrepreneurship and BS Human Biology. Ten (10) representatives from the chosen beneficiaries of ALSA-Buhay program also attended. The activity started around 10 in the morning. It was held in Payatas ALS center and facilitated by Payatas staffs.

The said activity was done in coordination with Professor Eric Sanchez and Sr. Frances R. Mangabat, SDS. The objectives of the activity are to provide participants the awareness, exposure and involvement in the lifestyle of the marginalized sectors of our society; to enable the participants to witness and/or experience the living conditions in depressed communities; to enable participants experience working with and being conscious of the under privileged forces of the society; to give the participants the opportunities to reflect through theological sessions on what they can possibly undertake or contribute in responding to social issues and problem and; to inculcate in them a deeper understanding of education as an important tool in social transformation.

The orientation started with a spontaneous prayer led by Mr. Edwin Guevarra, followed by the opening remarks given by our beloved Sr. Frances R. Mangabat, SDS. After the welcoming remarks, Ms. Joceline conducted the Getting to know activity in order to know the short details of the participants and their expectations towards the exposure and outreach activity. Then, Sr. Frances started the orientation proper. She discussed the brief history and the programs offered by Puso sa Puso Edukasyon Inc. Professor Eric Sanchez informed us about the duration of the said activity. Then, Mr. Jeremie Cruz, discussed the possible tasks that the interns will do; Peer facilitator who will teach Basic Literacy Learners who don’t know yet how to write, to read and to count,Volunteer Teachers who will go with the German girls and teach basics to the kids ages 4-6 years old in the area. Field worker, who will do house to house interview in order to know the number of children and Out of school youth in the vicinity of ALS Center. After that, Mr. Edwin Guevarra introduced the chosen Foster Family and he also discussed their major role, and that is to accept those interns as if their own children in their home, and to assist them in conducting house to house interview. Ms. Carolyn Maches also discussed the do’s and dont’s when coming in the community. After that, Ms. Joceline shared some points on the previous students who undergone exposure activity last February 2014. After that, the students filled out the schedule paper wherein the day/time/task are specified. After the orientation proper, we informed them about the Child Protection Policy since we catered children. We even asked them to signed the Safeguarding policy in line with the CPP. Then, Mr. Edwin Guevarra closed the activity with a short prayer. Then the interns went and visit the home of their foster family. The students were very excited in the exposure and outreach activity as they really wants to help and learn with the people in marginalized sector. We are looking forward on the positive results of the said activity.