Project Lakbay Aral: Mind Museum Tour Courtesy of Children's Hour

Thank you, Children's Hour, for letting fifty (50) underprivileged kids from the VIDES Philippines Volunteers Foundation, Inc take the fun and interactive way of science learning and discovery at the Mind Museum!

We are also grateful to the Mind Museum for extending the sponsorship grant to the kids of VIDES Philippines and Project Lakbay Aral.

We also give our heartfelt thanks to our the donors who provided the food (breakfast, lunch, and snacks), books, school supplies, health kits, and transportation requirements of the kids. The services rendered by our volunteers are also very much appreciated!

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Project Lakbay Aral Returns to the Mind Museum

We are all set for Project Lakbay Aral's Mind Museum Tour this Wednesday, 18 November 2015! We are taking 50 underprivileged kids to the world-class interactive science museum in Taguig!

We'd like to thank our generous sponsors and partners, Children's Hour and The Mind Museum, for choosing VIDES Philippines and Project Lakbay Aral to be among the selected recipients of a sponsorship grant.

Our thanks and appreciation also go to our benefactors who have supported us since 2012! A truckload of thanks for sponsoring the school supplies, nutrition packs, hygiene kits, transportation, and breakfast for the kids and volunteers. We couldn't thank you enough!

Hugs to everyone!

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Project Lakbay Aral Goes to Museo Pambata

A total of 47* indigent kids/students from Delpan, Tondo, Manila enjoyed their field trip to the Museo Pambata last November 29, 2014 .  The young ones excitedly traveled back in time to learn about Philippine history, traditions, and culture. 

They had a grand time journeying inside the human body through a tunnel maze and gained a deeper understanding of how our bodies work. They were also oriented on the importance of maintaining a balanced and healthy diet.

The children also learned about the pressing issues concerning the environment, especially climate change, and likewise got acquainted with the creatures of the sea and the rainforest. They also got a refresher on their lessons on their rights as children and were given an opportunity to see how the other parts of the world look like through a visit to the global village.

The kids were also encouraged to visualize themselves doing a particular career through role playing. They also took a trip down history and got inspired by the heroism of the brave Filipino freedom fighters.

After the tour, a special program and bonding session with the outreach activity donors and volunteers was held. The kids were treated to delicious snacks and were given loot bags containing school supplies, hygiene products, and goodies.

 

    

Much, much thanks to our donors, sponsors, and volunteers! Your generosity is simply amazing! 

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*The intended number of kid-beneficiaries is fifty (50). Unfortunately, for one reason or another, 3 kids were not able to join the study tour. Funds allotted for their entrance fees were used to sponsor the entrance fees of two Delpan community leaders and two VIDES social workers/volunteers. :)

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Project Lakbay Aral: Las Farolas Tour

On it's second year, Project Lakbay Aral brought a busload of underprivileged students to Las Farolas, a freshwater aquarium facility located in Frontera Verde, Ugong, Pasig City. 

Last December 1, 2013, sixty-two* students went on a guided tour of the 2-storey living museum which features 117 giant aquariums and 34 giant biotopes. They certainly enjoyed their face-to-face encounter with rare and exotic freshwater species from different parts of the world.

After exploring the facility, the students were asked to share their insights and write their personal commitment to help ensure the protection and conservation of our freshwater ecosystem and our environment.

After the tour, everyone trooped to a nearby fast food restaurant for lunch and some bonding time.

Much, much thanks to the Las Farolas management and our very generous sponsors and volunteers! You are amazing! We can't thank you enough for supporting this worthwhile project!

Until our next Lakbay Aral activity! (Which is scheduled very soon!)

*The tour was organized to benefit 70 underprivileged students. Unfortunately, eight students were not able to join the tour.

Please visit Project Lakbay Aral FB Page for more photos.

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Project Lakbay Aral Turns 1

November of last year saw the successful launching of Project Lakbay Aral, an initiative which aims to give underprivileged students and out-of-school youth the opportunity to take the fun and interactive voyage of discovery through visits to museums and other places of historical and cultural significance. 

For our maiden trip last November 11, 2012, we sent 51 students and 2 volunteer teachers to the Mind Museum. Because of donations and sponsorships received, another batch, composed of 52 students and four volunteer teachers, also had the chance to explore the world-class science museum a week after. 

Batch 1

Batch 2

Batch 2

Through Project Lakbay Aral, a group of students was able to attend the Symposium on Valor and Heroism organized by the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office last March 13, 2013 at the AFP Commissioned Officers Club in Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Our youth were only too happy and honored to have met our nation’s living heroes who have sparked within them the flame of patriotism and inspired them to be better Filipinos. After the symposium, the students also had the chance to visit the AFP Museum where they learned about the history of our military institution and the heroism of our nation's defenders. 

Alternative Learning System (ALS) students pose with Korean War veterans

ALS students at the AFP Museum

This November, in celebration of the first year of Project Lakbay Aral, another group of indigent students will be given the opportunity to experience a fun, interactive way of learning. So, where are we taking the kids this time? Our destination is Las Farolas, a world-class oceanarium which promotes conservation, preservation and sustainability of aquatic creatures. Our aim for this trip is to develop within the youth a better understanding and appreciation of the environment and its creatures, and inspire them to be young advocates for the preservation and conservation thereof.

If you are interested in supporting the project, don't hesitate to drop me a message. Please also visit our Facebook Page.  

Update:   
Announcement: Although Typhoon Yolanda is expected to be out of the country's AOR by Sunday, we have decided not to push through with the Nov 10 Lakbay Aral activity at Las Farolas. The safety and convenience of our kid participants is our foremost priority. We've rescheduled the tour to Sunday, December 1.


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Project Lakbay Aral Goes to the AFP Museum

After attending the Symposium on Valor on Heroism held at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Commissioned Officers Club (AFPCOC) last March 13, 2013, VIDES ALS students and volunteers explored the museum of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The AFP Museum was established in 1996 "to showcase the country’s rich military heritage spanning more than 500 years of bravery and heroism, to make known the vision, ideals and glory of Filipino Soldiers and to highlight the heroic contributions of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to Nation Building." 

Learning about the glorious history and heritage of our country's military was made entertaining and engaging thanks to the superb guide, Mr. Rey Macarista, whom the kids fondly called Kuya Kim.  

 

The trip to the AFP Museum gave the students and volunteers the opportunity to get a glimpse of our military traditions and more significantly, learn about the lesser known battles fiercely fought and won by our Filipino soldiers. 

Everyone went home happy and inspired, armed with knowledge about the history of our military institution and the heroism of our nation's defenders. 


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