Ateneo joins nation-wide Brigada Eskwela to help prepare for school opening

The Ateneo de Manila University through the Ateneo Center for Educational Development (ACED) is joining the nation-wide Brigada Eskwela initiative. Volunteers from the Ateneo are helping prepare 10 public elementary schools in Quezon City for the resumption of classes on June 11. The Ateneo began the initiative last May 17 and 18, will again be participating from May 23 to May 25.

 

The Ateneo has so far fielded about 475 volunteers to help clean, beautify and prepare public elementary schools in Quezon City - General Roxas, Payatas B and its annex, Culiat, Lupang Pangako, Manuel L. Quezon, Old Balara, Balumbato, Payatas C and Fairview.

The volunteers are made up of Ateneo staff from various units including the Human Resources Management Office (HRMO), Facilities Management Office (FMO), Residence Halls, Ateneo Human Rights Center, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Graduate School of Business (GSB) and teachers of the Ateneo Grade School (AGS). Some of the officers and students of the Ateneo Grade School have also joined the endeavor.    

 

The volunteers have been tasked to clean and repaint various classrooms, chalkboards, libraries, building facades and corridors and also to paint murals in various parts of some of the schools.

 

Sonny Rubio, building administrator from FMO said that the experience of repainting shelves at the children’s library in Gen. Roxas Elementary School made him feel fulfilled. He said that in doing his part he hopes “it helps and makes the children happy when they use the library.”

 

Jano Cadiz, 11 year old student of the AGS who helped clean some classrooms at the Payatas B Elementary School, said that he wanted the experience of helping to become “his habit” so that when he becomes older “it will be his habit to help others already.” 

 

Friends from the Couples for Christ, who are ACED’s partners in their program called Cornerstone will also be conducting their own Brigada Eskwela activity and focusing on donating chalk and painting chalkboards.

 

Mrs. Mel Oracion, ACED Director specifically requested volunteers to paint chalkboards this year. She said that “only teachers understand how satisfying and motivating it is to write on freshly painted chalkboards.” She added that this is because writing on chalkboards “is an important part of the memories teachers form during the school year.”

 

Those who are interested to donate may contact Jiza Jimenez at 426-6001 local 4028 or e-mail brigadaeskwela2012@gmail.com. Press release and photo from Ateneo de Manila University