Human Interest Stories
How an out-of-school youth rediscovered his love for learning
Staying in school was difficult for 17-year-old Rajiskan, “Nawalan na talaga ako ng gana sa pag-aaral (I just lost all interest in going to school).” For three years, Rajiskhan Hadjula from Barangay Mariki, Zamboanga City was out-of-school. During those three long years, he considered himself as “tambay” (from the word standby, meaning being idle). When…
Read MoreLearner to teacher: An ALS teacher’s journey
For Virgo, the Alternative Learning System (ALS) is not only the home of her profession; it has also been the tool for her to reach her dreams. Among nine siblings, Virgo Lumanao was the only child to step into high school, a milestone for their family. Although because of their family’s hardships and scarce resources,…
Read MoreLives changing through the Alternative Learning System: Myla Alid
“When you have a dream, you must not be shy to pursue it and make it happen,” Myla said. Myla Alid is a 19-year-old Alternative Learning System (ALS) Learner from Siocon District, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. Myla was an out-of-school youth for six years before she learned about the ALS Program. When she heard about…
Read MoreLives 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 MoreInclusion, peacebuilding, and creativity for out-of-school youth of Zamboanga City
Arian Maui Estrellado (21 years old): “I never felt that I was discriminated. I felt at home. Everyone welcomed me regardless of my being a transgender.” “We cannot accept you in this school unless you cut your hair short.” These words traumatized the then 17-year old Maui when she tried, for the second time, to…
Read MoreA hero to his siblings, a hopeful dreamer to the world
In this season of graduation, it would be normal to see waves of people in black togas throwing their caps in the air. This speaks of a celebration of reaching a new milestone. Out-of-school learner Franuel Follosco, 24, has found satisfaction in simply being a mere spectator to this time of festivity—for three times now. …
Read MoreHow a teen mom carries the weight of the world, but carries on for the dream
For 22-year-old Diane Besino Alberto, life never went around the way she had expected it to. Diane had to stop schooling at the age of 16 because of financial problems within the family. She had to constantly transfer households between her separated mother and father, with the former get into a new marriage, and the…
Read MoreA young Sama-Bajau’s search for hope, meaning, and belongingness amid diversity and difficulties as an out-of-school youth
When his father died at the age of 9, Omar Sharif “Qoy” Mohammad felt as if the world had ended. He lost the very source of his strength, and most importantly, he lost confidence in himself. After that, everything else around him started to fall apart: he quit school intermittently, went into vices, and detached…
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…
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