We are the agents of change

Sept. 25 — I woke up early in the morning to prepare for a charity event with Diane, Czarina, Nikette, Krista and the ever generous Mr. Anthony Charlemagne Yu, president and director of Megaworld Central Properties, Inc. I thought it was going to be one of the normal charity events we would participate in but it turned out to be a life-changing experience for the five of us and also the students we visited.

We were told that we were going to read stories to a group of streetchildren. Sir Charlie even mentioned that we should not be shocked with the situation of the children we were going to visit. The Educational Research and Development Assistance Technical and Vocational Secondary School (ERDA TECH) is located in Pandacan, Manila. This school was established to educate streetchildren and school dropouts and arm them with skills and knowledge to help them overcome poverty. I was stunned not because of the expected situation of the students but because the school looked like a private school and all the students were very neat and well-dressed. I would never think that they are streetchildren if I did not know their background. I even told the girls that the children were luckier than me because they can go to a school with good equipment and facilities.

When we started interacting with them, we got to know more about them and their touching stories of struggle. Some of them lived under bridges because they have no permanent homes. But what caught my attention was the story where sisters would take turns going to school because they only had two uniforms and a pair of school shoes. I saw the determination of these children to go to school and get a good education. They do not mind any problem or hardship that may come their way. They may lack many resources in life but they still consider themselves lucky because they are given the chance to go to a good school. Some of them even admitted that they do not eat three meals a day. They would also take turns eating. Some of them would just stay inside the library if it was not their time to eat.

I somehow saw myself in those children. I also had a lot of struggles when I was an elementary and high school student. I had two uniforms and one pair of worn out shoes. I would go to school almost empty-handed because my mother would just give me a few centavos for my snacks. I envied my classmates who were well-off because they had new uniforms and beautiful school shoes. But all these things did not stop me from dreaming big. I wanted to make my Mama Ester proud because I know she made a lot of sacrifices just to send us to school. All my efforts paid off when I graduated from college. I did not disappoint my mother and I know I made her proud.

The ardor of these children to go to school was probably ten times stronger than mine. They already have a lot of worries even at an early age but they are not discouraged from going to school and learning new things. Education is very important for them. If all Filipinos will value education like these children, all of us will become better citizens in our society. We can do better things and we can have the opportunity to change lives.

I salute the Educational Research and Development Assistance (ERDA) Foundation with its founder Fr. Pierre Tritz, SJ for all their efforts to help the Filipino children. This foundation is a concrete example that there are people who serve as instruments to produce better people. The education they provide to the children is priceless. They not only educate young people but they also help them to rise from poverty. They never let an opportunity to help other people pass. We can also be instruments like them in our own little way. We just need to have the heart and the compassion for our brothers and sisters who want to alleviate themselves from poverty.

If you want to learn more about ERDA Foundation and how you can help more children to go to school, you can visit their website at www.erdafoundation.org. Let us fulfill our mission to create change in our society by starting with the youth.