Off to a Great Start!

The first quarter of School year 2012- 2013 gave us a good idea of the different programs and activities in store for the Mano Amiga students and families. Here's a glimpse of what's been happening in Mano Amiga Academy the past three months:

We are very grateful to welcome new partners in Community Development and After school programs. GE and One Core jointly organized a family day for the Mano Amiga families. The students played team games, underwent a medical check up, and attended an age-appropriate workshop on how to deal with stress. Their parents participated in seminars on tobacco cessation, cooking healthy food while on a budget and other programs tailored to their everyday needs. Deutsche Knowledge Services also chose Mano Amiga for their volunteering activity. Employees devoted their Saturday morning to teach the students how to make their own school bags for school.   

Sports Programs continue to be an integral part of the Mano Amiga's core services. In addition to the program by Futbol Funatics to children ages 8-9, Dream Big Pilipinas has also partnered with the school to offer football clinics to children ages 6-7. To qualify for the program, the children must regularly attend school and values formation seminars. "We value our Sports program because apart from helping give the children a healthy well-being and instilling virtues like discipline and teamwork, they also serve as motivational tools for the students to stay in school and work hard on their studies," Development Director Lynn Pinugu said.

Mano Amiga believes that its mission is not only to form students intellectually, but to also form them to be good citizens and society leaders who will use their talents and resources to give back to the community. As part of its Apostolic Formation program, Mano Amiga staff and students will be doing different outreach programs. Its first activity will be in the Philippine Heart center where staff and students will entertain patients in the pediatric ward with interactive storytelling, talent shows and other games. 

As the Mano Amiga community continues to grow, we are humbled by the trust that the the families and partners have in us.

Despite mild damages caused by the recent storm to the school and some of the families' homes, everyone continues to be in high spirits, deeply grateful for all the blessings Mano Amiga has received, most specially the outpouring support from our network of donors, friends and volunteers.

From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU for the successful start of School Year 2012-2013

"Real joy comes not from ease or riches or from the praise of men, but from doing something worthwhile."- Wilfred Grenfell