Street Education

the mobile school

Hmm..what is street education anyway? Why is there a need for street education? 

Street education for me (basing on my few months on the street) is a non formal education which cater children who reach schooling age but never been to school, children who do not have access to education systems, out of school youths (OSY) or dropped out children. Through this non formal street education, in our case, street children are the one's who benefit from this program since we are located in a very big city. Most (street children) of them do not go to school so we bring the school out to the street.

 I think street education  program is an effective  tool in nurturing the children's self confidence and to help them overcome heavy loads of problems they encounter on their daily lives. Perhaps, this might be an answer to this one of the social problems of the country-to mitigate abuses, trafficking, exploitation in the country-if not totally eradicating it.

 Most often than not, street children are vulnerable to all forms of abuses, victims of drugs, trafficking and exploitation. They have low self esteem and are slow cognitively. Since almost all of them experience any form of abuse in their life, it makes their life miserable hence they are emotionally stress and puts their esteem to the lowest. They really need support beyond which traditional classroom and schools could offer. The reason why different lessons/topics are being discussed to them per session depending on the need of the children to boost their self confidence and help them overcome their burdens.

siblings learning together

 Our street education program catered two major depressed areas of Manila.

Education, Health and Psycho social interventions are the three main components of the program.

 Talking about EDUCATION on the street.....

Topics usually given to them are related to their rights, skills to protect themselves from exploitation and flexible yet enjoyable lessons with respect to the realities that street children are currently facing. 

Physical activities like sports and recreational games

are included in the lessons especially to those who did not go to school to develop their motor skills. The children are grouped according to their needs and capabilities. Those who know the basic skills like alphabets and numbers are separated from the ones who can read and write sentences are also grouped together. 

Solvent users and OSY (Our of School Youth) children

are also grouped together and are given special topics which will help them cope with their lives on street. It is important to inculcate and to create a positive attitude towards education. To do this, different approaches and techniques must be used like using attractive tools/materials or enjoyable activities or even children's experiences to catch their interest.

Following examples are some of the learning activities enjoyed by the street children during our sessions.

1. Games and sports
2. Storytelling
3. Writing
4. Reading
5. Speaking/ recitation/singing of nursery rhymes or mother goose songs by the smaller children
6. Counting
7. Role playing or short presentation
8. One on one tutorial

Our education program is open to every children. They are free to come and enjoy the activities. Regular beneficiaries who attend our activities on a regular basis is easier to monitor their behaviours. However, as facilitators, we cannot say no to a child who come only once or children who come occasionally. Most of these children whom we call occasional beneficiaries/clients are working to feed their selves and supporting their families. Some live in a farther area and only drop by when they see us. 

Unfortunately, there are some instances wherein these children who come occasionally are very reluctant to attend because of the presence of the regular beneficiaries. Encouragement and acceptance need to be strengthened again and again.

Our schedule is as follows:
Mondays and Thursdays we are in Area 1 while Tuesdays and Fridays in Area 2.
Wednesday morning is our off day. Wednesday afternoon is intended for paper works and team meetings.
Every Saturdays-is an alternate schedule for the Areas.
Sunday is also our off day.

Our daily routine runs this way:
Every morning is preparation for lessons and other activities. In the afternoon, we bring out the school to the street using the mobile school (a board with different educative panels) donated by the Mobile school. We leave the office at 12:30 and reach the area around 1:30 to 2:00 depending on the flow of the traffic. We fetch the children from their "home" (area where they live) and bring them to where we conduct our activities. They will form a circle (bilog) to pray first before having their regular exercises. Then, they wash their hands before we start our structured lesson.

Matletics Activity

UNCRC lesson

Boil

Boil

Boil/Pigsa

Boil is a disease which has been experienced by the people in the olden times. According to the bible, “If there is in the skin of one's body a boil and it heals, and in the place of the boil there comes a white swelling or a reddish-white spot, then it shall be shown to the priest. And the priest shall look, and if it appears deeper than the skin and its hair has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a case of leprous disease that has broken out in the boil. But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in it and it is not deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest shall shut him up seven days. And if it spreads in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a disease. ...Leviticus 13:18-23. 

Anyway, scientifically speaking this is a skin infection that starts in a hair follicle or oil gland. At first, the skin turns red in the area of the infection, and a tender lump develops. After 4-7 days, the lump starts turning white as pus collects under the skin. The most common places for boils to appear are on the head, legs, face, neck, armpits, shoulders, and buttocks. 

Causes of Boils: Most boils are caused by a germ (staphylococcal bacteria). This germ enters the body through tiny nicks or cuts in the skin or can travel down the hair to the follicle.

Symptoms of Boils: A boil starts as a hard, red, painful lump usually less than an inch in size. Over the next few days, the lump becomes softer, larger, and more painful. Soon a pocket of pus forms on the top of the boil. These are the signs of a severe infection:

1. The skin around the boil becomes infected. It turns red, painful, warm, and swollen. 
2. More boils may appear around the original one.
3. A fever develops.
4. Lymph nodes become swollen.