Posts by Shekinah Benitez
Lives changing through the Alternative Learning System: Marinel Bation
“I realized that circumstances are not hindrances for me to pursue my dreams, because I believe that when there is life, there is still hope.” Marinel, a 19-year-old Alternative Learning System (ALS) Learner said. Marinel Bation is one of the ALS Learners of Farmington, Tampilisan Community Learning Center. For Marinel, the ALS program is a…
Read MoreAdZU SUGPAT visits community learning centers
Last September, the team of AdZU-SUGPAT conducted its first and second round of monitoring visits in the Community Learning Centers (CLC) of Zamboanga del Norte to check on the progress on the Power for Youth Worksheets. “This monitoring will allow us to track the progress of the project by getting information on-ground first hand,” explained…
Read MoreYouth talks forum focus on youth civic engagement
Aiming to involve and mobilize the youth towards meaningful civic engagement, SUGPAT Youth Talks #5 was organized last September 28. More than 70 young people from all over Zamboanga City gathered for SUGPAT Youth Talks #5 “Sana All: Mobilizing the Youth Towards Meaningful Civic Engagement” at the Multipurpose Hall, Fr. Faustino Saavedra Building, Ateneo de…
Read MoreSUGPAT celebrates fourth founding anniversary
“In everything we do, we do it with all our hearts, sweat and tears. All of these are for the dream of every out-of-school youth, of every youth in Zamboanga City” SUGPAT Program Director Kiko Miranda said in his opening message during the gathering organized by SUGPAT. The month of September marks the founding anniversary…
Read More180 contextualized worksheets turned over to ALS Implementers
One hundred eighty (180) contextualized worksheets were officially turned over to the Alternative Learning System (ALS) Implementers last July 5, 2019, at Westend Court Hotel, Dipolog City. The turnover ceremony was witnessed by a crowd of more than 90. Among them were the Provincial Vice Governor of Zamboanga del Norte, Senen Angeles, Director of DepEd…
Read MoreAn out-of-school youth’s journey of Discovery
Joshua Labra was only 16 years old when he decided to quit school and work instead to support his four younger sisters in their education. Living off only with the income from his mother who worked part-time as a laundry woman and his stepfather who worked as a jeepney driver, Joshua knew, being the eldest,…
Read MoreA gang leader turned peacemaker
He looked at the sky, trying to count the times he has been involved in a trouble: “It has been more than one hundred times,” he said. Bensar Tan was only 13 years old, on his first few months as a high school student, when he was recruited in a gang. As a sign of…
Read MoreALS mobile teachers undergo training for Life Skills Modules for Zambo del Norte out-of-school youth
More than a hundred Alternative Learning System (ALS) Implementers gathered for a 6-day training at Top Plaza Hotel, Dipolog City on May 19 to 24, 2019. The training entitled “Power for Youth: A Training of ALS Implementers on the Delivery of Life Skills Modules” was participated by 120 ALS Implementers coming from different areas in…
Read MoreFourth cycle of expanded SUGPAT Program launched
To better address the adolescent programming in the city, SUGPAT officially launched its program last March 12 at Madrid Hall, Palacio del Sur, Zamboanga City. Now on its fourth cycle, the SUGPAT Program of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University’s Center for Culture and the Arts, fully funded and supported by UNICEF and ING was formally…
Read MoreOut-of-school youths and barangay leaders complete SUGPAT Programs
After almost a year of journeying together, the 70 fellows of the SUGPAT Barangay Leadership Program (BLP) and 28 fellows of the SUGPAT Alternative School for Peacebuilding and the Arts (ALSPA) finally completes programs of SUGPAT. The joint completion of the ALSPA and BLP Fellows were witnessed by partners from UNICEF, the city government, faculty…
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