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Scholarship 2019/20

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Online Journal > Darlene Hannah Micah Ruzzel Ryan

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Get Involved Pledge Your Birthday Start a Fundraiser Donate Your Old Car Simply Shop Online Volunteer Help Spread The Word Be an Awesome Boss! Donate Now

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About Us Blog Stories Founder's Story Partners FAQ > FAQ: The Library Project FAQ: Scholarship FAQ: General Annual Return Contact Us

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Mennie Ruth: Sharing Stories with Sambat Trust Scholars 2/11/2014 A group of graduates from the School of Library and Information Studies of the University of the Philippines (UP-SLIS), the oldest library school in the Philippines, kindly volunteered to organize a storytelling session with Sambat Trust scholars. Mennie Ruth, one of the storytellers , shares her day. *** Christmas was just a few days away when we headed to Tanauan, Batangas, for a storytelling gathering with the scholars of Sambat Trust in Sambat Elementary School. Heading there early Saturday morning was truly a breath of fresh air, especially from the havoc we were all experiencing in the Metro at the height of the holiday season. The warmth of the morning sun brought a great sense of comfort as the gush of cold air from the mountains seethed through the jeepney windows. I didn’t have any expectations for the day, other than wanting to be in the company of children and have fun sharing stories with them. Mennie Ruth (far left, peach shirt) and fellow storytellers take a photo with Sambat Trust scholars. After passing by the legendary Mt. Makiling and through a few more towns, we finally came to Sambat. From the bayan proper, we still had to take a tricycle going to Sambat Elementary School and walk through a small alley between houses to get to the entrance of the school. We were welcomed by Ms. Wilma of Sambat Trust and some of the young scholars. As we were led inside the school complex, I looked around and immediately saw a complete contrast to the school where I work. The whole place was rather unassuming with some of the buildings and classrooms slightly weathered down. The silence that enveloped the school grounds was broken by the sound of hammers pounding on metals and heavy machines from a construction site. Although there is a newly built school hall at the center, another building was being constructed to serve as additional classrooms. Our group didn’t have a place to stay since the multi-purpose hall was closed, and the covered court was still wet from last night’s rain. We decided to settle under the school’s flagpole, which also became an advantage since we expected the gathering to be small and intimate. As we settled, we were introduced to each of the scholars by getting their names, year levels, and their favorite subject in school. While most of them were already in high school, we were more impressed on what their favorite subjects were; most of them were fond of math and science- which were amazing to hear. A few minutes passed when the rest of the storytellers finally arrived. JR teaches Gee Ahne the art of origami. It was time to break the ice and get to know each other through the Evolution game, where everyone competed with each other through “bato-bato-pik”. The game was quickly followed by a paper-folding activity where everyone learned how to make paper cranes. They say that, in Japan, there is a belief that anyone can make their wish come true if they make a thousand paper cranes. Everyone was engrossed making their paper cranes. It was such a pleasant sight to see each one, storytellers and children alike, teaching and helping each other the proper way of folding; some finished fast while others were feeling a little frustrated because the wings of their paper cranes wouldn’t flap. The youngest of all the scholars, JR, was a revelation since he was the one to teach the right way of folding to those around him, including Gee Ahne, one of the storytellers. When everyone had made their paper cranes, the storytellers each gave their message and wish for the scholars. It was such a heart-warming moment as each storyteller wished the scholars courage and determination to pursue and not lose sight of their dreams, and not lose hope especially when things get rough for them. The next activity was “the boat is sinking” game that then determined how the scholars and storytellers would be grouped and breakaway for the storytelling session that would immediately follow. I was grouped with Jolly Ann and Mikee, who were both high school students. Having them was like a providence since I am more accustomed to interacting with high school students, and the books I was able to bring were more suitable to their age. As I read to them the two books of Shel Silverstein, “The Missing Piece” and “The Missing Piece Meets The Big O”, I couldn’t help but be enthralled on how Jolly Ann and Mikee opened up and identified actual moments in their lives, which they could relate to whatever was happening to the main characters of the two books. I felt like their elder sister as they let their guards down and shared their stories to me in the same way that I shared some of my personal endeavors to them, relating to the process of self-discovery, acceptance, and building relationships. The gathering ended with a plenary storytelling given by Ms. Zarah. All the scholars went home with a book as their souvenir, along with the lessons they learned from their kuyas and ates, and their paper cranes to serve as a reminder of their dreams in life. The storytellers also went home feeling inspired and humbled by the stories and lessons that they were also able to learn from the Sambat scholars. Indeed, we could say that storytelling is all about empathy. More importantly, it is about giving hope and room for personal discovery. Any school librarian or literacy advocate would agree, when we say, that storytelling is an act of service that speaks the language of the heart. Storytelling allows us to feel and grasp life; to give love without any condition and feel tremendously loved in return. We also learn to humble ourselves by looking through the eyes of children so eager to listen, as they are taken to near and far off places while they relate to each protagonist and antagonist of the story. Michael Jude Tumamac：How I Spent My Summer Vacation 7/1/2013 Classes started almost a month ago here in the Philippines. For sure, teachers asked their students to write or share in class how they spent their summer vacation. Expected answers to this question would be hitting the beach, visiting relatives in the province, reading books for leisure, watching TV programs and movies, and even sleeping. I could also describe my summer with those activities, and it would have been typical if I hadn’t committed my summer vacation to Sambat Trust. Three-Hour Trips Committing my vacation to Sambat Trust meant I needed to take three-hour trips to Tanauan City from Quezon City almost every other day for a month, starting from the third week of April until the second week of May. This also meant that six hours of my day were already lost on trips alone. The to-and-fro trip was actually twice the time I spent each day in Tanauan City. The frequent trips, however, did not discourage me because it was the only chance to see the six faces waiting for my arrival at Ms. Wilma de Rojas’ garage every 1 o’clock in the afternoon. My sessions with the six Sambat Trust scholars, who were incoming Grade 6 and 7, usually started with a review of the past meeting and a little sharing of things they did in the previous day. Our first session deviated from this routine as I first gauged their reading abilities after learning a few things about them. We then read picture books for the first two weeks and a novel for the last weeks. To enrich their reading skills, I let them do activities such as creating character profiles, making timelines, comparing characters, sketching scenes, etc. Reading the novel Tall Story posed challenges for all of us. It took us seven sessions to finish it. One challenge was unlocking cultural nuances presented in the novel. Another was understanding some words. Despite these, we enjoyed following Bernado and Amandolina Hipolito’s journey, whether in San Mateo or in London. They also had fun doing the post-reading activities, especially the one where they needed to make paper models of the characters based on the book’s description. We usually ended our reading sessions with the distribution of books they should read before the next meeting. Except for a few times that I gave them homework activities to process the book they would read, I let them read the take-home books for leisure. A portion of the following session would then be allotted for sharing their reading experiences. The last time they shared their reading experiences was on May 15, also our last day. Birthday for Books My commitment to Sambat Trust, however, did not end with the reading sessions. I also signed up for Birthday for Books 2013 , a campaign through JustGiving.com that aims to raise funds for the cause of Sambat Trust. Participating in this campaign means asking your family and friends to donate to Sambat Trust instead of having them send you gifts and cards. So, on May 24, my 23rd birthday, I asked my co-teachers at the Raya School (a progressive elementary school in Quezon City) to donate to Sambat Trust. I am thankful to our school director Ani Almario for relaying the campaign to my co-teachers. She also facilitated in passing around a box where they could put their monetary contributions. Most of my co-teachers, however, opted to give books that the foundation could use in filling up the libraries of the beneficiary schools in Tanauan City. The books included Filipino and foreign titles, fiction and nonfiction – all for children. One month on, I’m still collecting book donations from them. Others even expressed their intention of participating in future activities of Sambat Trust. Some also said they would love to take a look at the beneficiaries. It has been a month since I last visited Tanauan City. For sure, my summer students are now busy studying, acing their reading classes. I have to go back, not just to see once again their faces and to deliver the funds and books my co-teachers donated, but also to continue my commitment to Sambat Trust’s cause. I am truly blessed being involved in Sambat Trust. My experiences with them have enriched my growth as a person for others. All Donations Made on 26th June Will Be Matched 50% 6/23/2013 The School Fund is having a Match Day for our scholarship recipients! Please help us take advantage of available funds by making a donation on June 26 after 12pm ET/ 5pm GMT. All donations made on June 26 will be matched at 50% , so for every $10 you give, our students will receive $15 toward their scholarships. To multiply your impact on Match Day: Visit www.theschoolfund.org Click through our students’ profiles, and select a student to give to. Click “Fund this Student” and follow instructions. Mark Takes a Step Closer to His Dream 2/25/2013 Five years ago, Mark Anthony Renales’ dream of becoming a high school science teacher was out of reach. His family’s financial condition was the primary hindrance to achieving this dream. Fortunately, he was awarded by Sambat Trust as one of its scholars when he was in Grade 6, and until now he is enjoying the benefits the trust endowed him. Mark Anthony was recently awarded a full tuition scholarship and 50% discount on miscellaneous fees by the First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities (FAITH). He is admitted in a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, major in Science. Sambat Trust is subsidizing for the remaining fees and providing his schooling needs, such as uniforms and school supplies. He got the scholarship by finishing FAITH’s entrance examination with high ratings. When asked if he has hesitations to attend FAITH, Mark said that going to FAITH would assure him of quality education and a bright future. Indeed, FAITH’s facilities alone are very commendable besides the quality instruction it gives the students. It allows their students, for instance, to use their computer laboratory for school work, such as research on the Internet, creating and even printing documents. FAITH is also one of the leading and generous schools in the province of Batangas. Last year, it partnered with Sambat Trust in training public school teachers in utilizing computers in teaching and administrative tasks. FAITH is also known to cater to a lot of deserving scholars in the province and was in fact awarded by the Department of Education in Tanauan City for this work. Together with FAITH, Sambat Trust was also recognized by DepEd for their efforts in helping Tanauan residents. Another scholar, Jenica D. Unico, is already studying in FAITH with a bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Scholar Jonna J. Pecho, on the other hand, has also qualified for a scholarship in FAITH but she decided to take tertiary education in another good school, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in the nearby town of Santo Tomas. For now, Mark only has to worry about the last set of examinations he is taking in senior high school, as well as his investigatory project on carabao extract and eggshells as fertilizers. His graduation is set on March 18, 2013. “Because of these blessings,” Mark says, “I am motivated to do my best in everything I do and to grab every opportunity that comes.”

2/11/2014

7/1/2013

6/23/2013

Visit www.theschoolfund.org

Click through our students’ profiles, and select a student to give to.

Click “Fund this Student” and follow instructions.

2/25/2013

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