LEAD Christian School, Aplaya, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna

This school is a run by a husband and wife team, dedicated to the ideal that " Quality Education is for the masses and not just for the elite."

The demographic of Sta. Rosa City in Laguna consists of 14,000 people (as per the 2010 census conducted by the NSCB) and has steadily grown to accommodate the growth of the Technology Parks.

Santa Rosa was mainly known for the Coca-Cola and Toyota manufacturing plants in its industrial estates. More recently it has also become famous for being the site of Enchanted Kingdom, a local theme park, as well as several housing developments. Santa Rosa is also the exit travellers take along the South Luzon Expressway to go to Tagaytay and Taal Volcano. This city contains the 3rd largest complex in Laguna, Paseo de Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa became a city by virtue of Republic Act No. 9264, which was ratified by the citizens on July 10, 2004. (the description was taken and can be read as linked)

The main issue of this school is the funding.

Majority of the 80 students are from the more impoverished demographic, and the admissions are handled by the couple who had the dream of running the school for the poor in the first place. That is, their heart is for the education of all the kids. So much so, that some of these kids are actually being educated free of charge.

Now, there is no such thing as "free". You see, the cost is carried by Pastor Jessie and Pastor Annie.

The dilemma is that its operation and expansion is not equal the income. When that occurs, our only solution is to either increase the income, decrease the operation, stop the expansion or a combination of both.

My dream is to build a school to benefit those who are too poor to afford education, impact the kids by giving them the skills for the "real world" and not just in the Philippines. I also want to impact their parents by giving them the opportunity to re-train in trades that they can obtain gainful employment from. The main aim for this charity is to give the poor a chance to know Jesus by helping them improve the quality of their lives.

I unashamedly want to glorify His Name by getting the lower middle class and poor families Hope again.

So what do we need the money for?

Utilities
Communication (phone and internet)
Education Permit
Printing Fees
Stationery
Insurance
General Maintenance
Facilities for Rent
Teacher's Salary


All that aside, it is for the children.

All kids like colouring, it seems

How can one, in good conscience, refuse to educate a child who is willing and yearning to learn? A four year old who just wants to be a nurse, because she wants to help other people... a little boy whose father works for less than $10 a day, but he wants to be a teacher so he can give other kids a better future...can you refuse them?

Please forgive this post, as this will be a dynamic document. I will modify the contents and re-advertise.

I am sorry that I am not as animated with my post as before. My situations at work and charity has detrimentally changed.

I will post more later.

Reflections - The Last Day at Tacloban City

There is something about this town.

I feel so at home here. The people are friendly, the atmosphere is familiar and the mood is somehow graced with Hope.

I know that my heart is to help out the poor and needy, but maybe it is here in Tacloban that I am going to be called.

No mater what, though, the pilot test is going to continue with Sta.Rosa.

Potential orders of business are:

• Meeting with the project leaders pre-existing
• Pray and dedicate the project to the Lord
• Generate a think-tank to assist in the resource funding for the School and the Foundation
• Develop a marketable business plan for Australian and Philippine funding
• Set-up partners outside of the Think Tank for continuation

So there. Now that I got that off my chest, I need to let you all know that all is not well in Tacloban City, but it is also not the apocalyptic scenario most people would have initially thought.

As with most areas affected by natural disasters, the time it takes to recover is no joke.

Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans took up to 2007 - 2009 for the relief efforts, resettlement, and re-employment to get the city back on its feet.

It has been only the 8th Nov that the Typhoon hit. It is almost 4 months and there has been power restored to 40% of the population. Businesses are starting to thrive. Displaced squatters have taken residence like mushrooms around the areas where their houses previously were.

Officially? These aforementioned informal settlers were the hardest hit. 90% of the damage, death and displacement were to the squatters / informal settlers.

It makes me sick to my stomach that anyone HAS to live in these conditions

I have heard of firsthand testimonies and a few anecdotal ones about the death and destruction they have encountered.

One story goes how this retired Sea Captain (he once was the captain of a merchant marine ship. I helped him accept the Lord Jesus) was holding on to his wife. Both were wearing life jackets and both were waiting for the storm to hit, sheltered on the top level of their home. He remembers the night before (7th Nov) his neighbours (who were informal settlers) refusing to move to secure shelters as they were still carrying on as if this was just a regular storm.

The truly sad bit was when the storm surges hit, all of these hastily-built shanties could not stand the might of the winds.

One anecdotal statement given by a government official who was in charge of getting people to the shelters, "All the women and children were going to the shelters, but the men were staying behind to guard their personal belongings!" Meagre though it may be, these "things" were vestiges of the wealth they so long to have.

It broke my heart to hear personal accounts on how this one lady survived because the entire house collapsed around her and shielded her from the storm. She and her daughter managed to stay sheltered until the winds died down and they scampered off to a shelter, only to watch what was left of their home to collapse as soon as they turned back to have a look.

Her comment to me? "The Lord has protected me."

I have countless stories of hard workers, just wanting a good-old-fashioned "Fair Go" still on a temporary contract after 9 years of working for the local Government Council. He said that he doesn't even have his superannuation (his retirement fund) paid as part of the package nor any benefits like sick leave et.al !

Now righteous indignation is mixed with despair. Impatience is mixed with fear.

I can only do so much. I feel overwhelmed.

Then I remember that when I am weak, His strength shines through me.

That my God will give me all that I need

That He will never forsake me.

That the dream in my heart is from His desire to see more people turn to Him, to receive His gifts of forgiveness and Eternal Life.

The new chapter begins as I work towards the Foundation.

Funding or no, this will not stop the Lord from using me.

Stepping out in Faith

My biggest hurdle in this time would be procrastination. I thought, if this thing could just be done with by hiring the right people, it is going to be a snap! Unfortunately I actually have to do work (SHOCK!!)

As I have intimated, the premise of a free school for the underprivileged is just the tip of the iceberg.

Preface the following statements with this: 

"I am a Christian. I am devoted to the Lord Jesus. I am NOT in this for the sole purpose of social justice, as I believe this is just going to put a band-aid on a tumor. I am NOT in this for the sole purpose of charity, as I believe that empowerment, enterprise and education are basic human rights, not just for the well-to-do. I will be making money from this, but only after the first 5 years, and after I have invested a HUGE amount of resources (read: time and money) into the project. I believe that generating income from such an endeavor is NOT SINFUL and finally I believe that the Lord's Will is for everyone to know Him and to share the Good News to everyone."

I believe it is pertinent that you acknowledge the context of what I am about to declare.

Basic Business Plan:

Step 1: Obtain permission to build a school (or a pre-existing one)

• Free to the underprivileged (poor to lower middle class), with a voluntary contribution fee per annum (quite like the NSW  Public School System)
• Focusing on NSW standards of education, and hopefully a recognition of learning transferable to AUS
• Scripture classes are going to be part of the curriculum as well as a voluntary attendance to church/ Sunday School/ Youth groups but is NON-Mandatory

Step 2: Once school is built and pupils start learning, main focus on re-training their parents with a stipend. Skills such as basic trade to advanced trade (basic construction all the way up to an electrician's license)

• More study is needed on this, yet I do believe re-training, or reinforcing training to an Australian International standard is the go just to make sure that there is future income rather than making a minimum wage earner return to their level of poverty.
• Initially the candidates are either set up with their own mentors to apprentice them into basic skills. Favorable candidates will be sent over to TAFE NSW for further training.
• As the Foundation progresses, this will need to be more of a training centre, focused on International Standard Trade training.
• Instill in each participant the importance of paying forward, thus each employed/earning participant will be encouraged to sponsor/support students of the School besides their own kin.
• Fostering a sense of Community, this group of participants will be encouraged to attend Church/ Couples Ministry/ Sunday School/ Bible Study, but it is NON-Mandatory

Step 3: Once parents are sufficiently trained, they will be encouraged to form their own consulting / contracting businesses, otherwise assistance will be given for them to obtain employment.

• A percentage of their takings will be forwarded to the running costs of the school
• An active arm of the foundation will be needed to source contracts for the skilled to obtain and do.
• Profits will be solely the proprietors. (that is any funds left after the expenses, including salaries and proceeds for the Foundation)

Step 4: Re-create the process and move to another location

• Hopefully this formulae can be extended to match other countries such as Myanmar or Cambodia

I know it seems simplistic, but the basic gist is the same. A self-funding charity that perpetuates Free Enterprise.

Let me know what you guys think!!!! I am keen to hone this bad boy to a pointy stick so I can poke out the eyes of oppression and poverty.