JAPANESE ROTARIANS TOUCHED BY CLUB'S PROJECTS
The visiting Rotarians from sister club, RC of Isesaki, Japan had a grand tour of some of the club’s suggested International Service projects last March 26, 2010. The first on the line was the Early Childhood Development Center project, in the Boys Town in Marikina. PP Louie Pangulayan, who envisioned and drew the plans for the project explained the objectives of the project as the Japanese were toured to the visibly inadequate facilities for the abandoned children.
The children’s (aged 2 to 7) greeting of “Ohayo Gozaimasu!” broke the serious looking Japanese into smiles and they nodded with acceptance. A short program was held at the study center with the turn-over of the two (2) computers from RC Isesaki, as well as the pillows, children’s books, bottles of alcohol, cotton and diapers from the IWC of SFDM to the DSWD administrators. Six (6) kids performed a dance number but unfortunately were not able to finish it because of the broken DVD player. The audience however gave a loud and appreciative applause.
The children, the Japanese were told, came from unknown parents who abandoned them, or parents who are in jail, and some are foundlings. The study center is the club’s project of transforming it into an Early Childhood Development Center, with adequate educational materials and tools and well trained volunteers, for the development of the children’s mental, emotional and psychological condition as they grow into school age. The Boys Town in Marikina is run by the City Government of Manila and the DSWD, but unfortunately, these institutions have no adequate support for children below 7 years old. Thus, the club’s project of filling up this gap to prepare the children for formal schooling when they reach the age of 7 is just appropriate.
From the Center, the Japanese were brought to the Foundlings’ Home and the visitors were visibly shocked with the deplorable condition of the facilities in the care for the children. The wooden beds indicate the packed room as sleeping quarters for all 50 children. There is no TV and the kitchen and bathrooms are clearly insufficient to meet decently the needs of the growing children.
Takahiro Yoshida and spouse Liza, later informed President Mar Reyes, that they felt very embarrassed that they donated only two (2) computers to the DSWD administrators, and that they were so touched by the abandoned children because they remembered their early childhood in Japan after the war, where many of them became orphans.
Even Nicole Graf, the Swiss GSE team leader, was so moved the day earlier when they visited the Foundlings’ Boys’ Home, that shortly after the visit, she called her husband in Switzerland, to tell him they are so blessed with what they have at home, and she related what she saw in Marikina. They decided to donate $1000 for the Early Childhood Development Center project.
The Japanese Rotarians also were moved by the conditions in Sinagtala Elementary School, especially the children undergoing TB treatment. They became very interested in finding ways to improve the school’s facilities, after viewing the three (3) computers they donated, and the club’s proposed project of demolishing the present toilets and replacing it with a three (3)-storey structure to house the toilets in the ground floor with a washing area, and extra rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors for other purposes considering the limited space of Sinagtala.
The visiting Rotarians are also interested in E. Rod’s Caravan project, the Substance Abuse Management program, as well as the need to improve the school’s girls’ toilet. The boys’ toilet has already been renovated and improved by RCSFDM.
Taka Yoshida told President Mar Reyes that District Governor Tetsuo Ushikubo called a day after their arrival in Japan, asking Taka to attend RC Isesaki’s club meeting scheduled on April 18, 2010 to discuss the projects of SFDM they will decide to fund.
That is welcome news to the RCSFDM!
