WE meets with CNN Hero Efren Penaflorida for LOVE2LEARN Project

Posted By abee on 07.30.2010 • (0)

On Monday, July 5, 2010 the WE Team, with members of our partner organization Young Focus, went to Cavite to meet with 2009 CNN Hero of the Year Efren Penaflorida. Efren works with Dynamic Teen Company – known most for their “KARITON CLASSROOM” concept. Efren and his mentor, KB Manalaysay of Club8586,joined the team and a discussion regarding a possible collaboration for WE-YF’s LOVE2LEARN Project.

It was an honor for the team to meet with Efren and KB, as the HSBC-funded LOVE2LEARN grant that Young Focus and WE recently received was inspired by the Kariton Classroom concept and the work of these humble heroes.  Together we discussed our plans for our current High School and College Sponsored Students, in cooperation with WE and YF volunteers, to be trained and then participate in teaching basic functional literacy to 3-12 years old children in the Smokey Mt Dumpsite Area who do not have access to learn Functional and Basic Learning Skills. Efren and KB were happy to share the curriculum and model they have developed and honed over the years, which is already being used and replicated in many other places, including Africa.

It was a truly inspiring, informative meeting and it was inspirational to hear how Club8586 and Dynamic Teen Company started and to hear of their trials and triumphs.  In the end WE were extremely humbled and grateful for their willingness to help us with the LOVE2LEARN Project. In sharing the Kariton Classroom curriculum they painstakingly developed after many years of trial and error, their hard work and willingness to share will now lead to positive change in the Smokey Mountain community as we launch the LOVE2LEARN Project!

Tagged As: CNN Hero of the Year, Efren Penaflorida, Geni Psinakis, Love2Learn, Manuel Manarang, Smokey Mountain, Tondo, Trina Santos, WE, WE International Philippines

Posted In: News