Wednesday, November 28, 2007 Young mentors win Tayo award
THE student council of the University of the Philippines High School in Cebu (UPHSC) for school year 2006-2007 was recognized for helping public school students learn mathematics.
The UPHSC student council was recognized as one of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (Tayo) in the Philippines.
The activity was organized by the National Youth Commission (NYC) and was held recently at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City.
Beneficiaries
The UPHSC student council, in cooperation with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., facilitated an Academic Mentoring Program in Hipodromo Elementary School (HES).
The beneficiaries were grade six students who needed mentoring, particularly in Mathematics.
Euvic Ferrer, the former president of the student council and now a first year representative of University of the Philippines Visayas Cebu College student council, said that 30 mentors spent their Saturdays last December 2006 to March 2007 with the 99 students.
Top 10
Michelle Gudito, the student council’s former vice president and currently a Computer Science student, represented the UPHSC student council to the Visayas area search for the top five organizations and to the national search for the top 10 organizations.
“I’m happy and proud that we made it to the Tayo national level,” Gudito said. “Now, I am a volunteer of NYC. I will be joining its activities.” she added.
Ferrer said that it was an amazing recognition for a group of high school students.
Commitment
But although they were still young, their passion to help drove them to participate in the program.
“It’s because of the level of commitment our members shared to the students,” he said.
He added that the ranking of HES in the achievement exams rose and they can’t help but feel that their mentoring program was one of the factors that contributed to the students’ success.
The council received a trophy and P50,000 to fund its projects.
Participation
Tayo Foundation’s criteria in choosing top organizations include the participation of the youth in planning and implementing the project and, most especially, the impact the project made to the community.
Behind the organization were Roberto C. Basadre, the UPHSC students’ math teacher, and Anabelle Maglasang, their guidance counselor. Both faculty members were also the student council’s advisers. Nasvin F. del Rosario, UPVCC
