More Home Cafe Coverage

Home Cafe got featured in Heart 2 Heart!
For the full article click on the link:
http://heart-2-heart-online.com/2010/04/10/home-cafe-for-mano-amiga/

English Month Campaign

Mano Amiga Academy recently concluded a month-long campaign designed to help the students learn and appreciate English both in and out of the classroom. During English month, the teachers increased the use of English in the songs, stories, lessons, and in classroom instruction and motivation. School principal Ramon Austria, also offered classes in basic conversational English to interested parents.

The students had the chance to show the great improvement in their ability to comprehend and use the language in the recently held culminating activity. The Kinder students opened the program by reciting the poem “Three Little Kittens,” with matching kitten ears and painted faces.

Afterwards, chosen class representatives were interviewed. Some of the questions asked were “Who is your favorite cartoon character?” and “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Answers ranging from Spongebob to Dora, to nurse and pilot were given. Additional points were awarded to the students who answered in complete sentences. The audience, mostly composed of Mano Amiga parents, cheered them on. Mano Amiga chaplain Father Daniel Polzer, LC served as the guest judge, together with the homeroom teachers.


As they were deciding on on who the top 5 best speakers are, the Prep kids closed the event with their own take of “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly”- a humorous poem performed enthusiastically by the children. Their performance featured a big tarpaulin of an old lady’s face in the background that kids would enter whenever they got “swallowed!”

Arzel Sumalinog, Carlos Saguran, Emerlyn Cecilio, Sheryl Gerarcas and Andrey Miranday were selected as best English speakers for Kinder; Zycareine Benigay, Lovely Villar, Daisy Mae Nieva, Jenicel Gustilo and Jika Villaflor were chosen for Prep.

But in the end, with outstanding performances from both classes during the month-long campaign and the culminating activity, there is no question that all of them emerged as winners.

Everest Home Cafe

Last March 25, the Everest Academy students showed off their superb culinary and hospitality skills to help raise funds for Mano Amiga Academy. The cafeteria was transformed into a one-day cafe complete with panini and pasta stations, as well as a juice and dessert bar. The Everest parents watched in amazement as their children took turns volunteering as pastry chefs, cuisine chefs, baristas, servers, and cashiers. To help prepare for their roles, the students attended a training workshop prior to the event.

"We wanted a fundraising event that would also impart important life long skills to the students," Everest parent and event organizer Amelia Alba said. "After seeing the children's enthusiasm and commitment, we feel that the Everest Home Cafe achieved that."

At the end of the day, the Home Cafe raised enough money to send 1 child to Mano Amiga Academy next year.

MA Volunteer Spotlight: MINA HERRERA

Mina Herrera heads the Mano Amiga Community Development team, a group of volunteers who help in implementing different programs and establishing partnerships aimed at providing integral formation to the children, parents, and the whole community.


What was your first impression of Mano Amiga when you joined in 2008?
I saw a community of people who were committed to and passionate about providing quality education and spiritual formation for underprivileged children. I really wanted to be a part of this community and to do my share.

Why accept a job that, humanly-speaking, involves so many challenges and sacrifices?
I just thought it was the right thing to do. Given the sorry state of our educational system in the Philippines, I decided that volunteering for Mano Amiga would be a great way to take action and to be part of the solution.

What, in your experience, is the key in working in a Mano Amiga school?
Enthusiasm so that we can dream big. Teamwork and cooperation so that we can come up with great ideas and help each other find ways to transform our dreams into reality. Faith so that we never lose sight of our goals and so that we don't get discouraged when we encounter obstacles. Patience and perseverance so that we can see projects through and continue working toward our goals. Creativity, resourcefulness and flexibility so that we can make the best use of our available resources, figure out ways to successfully carry out our projects, and adjust to whatever surprises, challenges and opportunities for service come our way. A sense of humor and gratitude so that we can appreciate all the opportunities and blessings that come our way because of our volunteering with Mano Amiga.

Could you mention a concrete example of transformation that has happened in the time that you have been working in the school?
When we started holding enrichment activities for the Mano Amiga students on weekends, we saw that many of the other children from the community also wanted the chance to read books and to learn. When they asked if we could hold activities for them too, we decided to take on this new challenge even if it wasn't in our immediate plans. We now have a group of community kids (as we fondly call them) who regularly attend our activities for them.

How can people participate in this project of transformation?
For community development, we are looking for people who can volunteer for the activities with our Mano Amiga students and community kids. Currently held on two Saturdays each month, the sessions include games, arts and craft projects and story- based activities. We would also appreciate help with our programs for the parents of our Mano Amiga students. These programs include parenting and nutrition seminars, livelihood, financial management and entrepreneurship workshops and spiritual formation classes. And donations of books, educational materials and school supplies for the community library would be most welcome!

Feliz Cumpleanos Monica!

Regular volunteer Monica Recto decided to celebrate her birthday differently this year. Instead of a lavish party, Monica invited her friends to Mano Amiga Academy where they spent the morning playing with the students. Monica also asked her friends and relatives to donate to Mano Amiga in lieu of a gift.
A big THANK YOU to Monica for celebrating this special ay with us!