Teaching kids with art and heart

Typical Saturday mornings are spent catching up on sleep. But for the volunteers at A-HA Learning Center, Saturday mornings are set aside for heART Jam, a monthly art project designed as a bridge for the creative community to help out. This is just one of the innovative ways that A-HA uses to help their kids learn. "We're thinking of teaching English through The Beatles, Math through design," says writer Jaton Zulueta, half of the dynamic duo behind the after-school tutorial program. The other half is his sister, Aina Zulueta-Valencia, who is a painter.

"Most of us bring a lot of our own talents into the program. She makes the program fun. The experience is special because a lot of our personalities, a lot of our likes are invested into the program," says Jaton. Last Saturday's theme was 'Pinoys for Pinas', a Filipino pride workshop that culminated in a flag-making activity, where the kids made flags representing their grandest dreams for our country. Speakers from Got Heart Foundation gave short lively talks, first on Fernando Amorsolo, then on the evolution of the Philippine Flag. Then the kids were divided into small groups for the flag-making. A total of 25 volunteers helped out last Saturday, including local artists Mike Parker, Frances Alvarez, Manix Abrera, Apol Sta. Maria, Chung Padilla, Owel Alvero and Nice Buenaventura. "It's overwhelming," said Jaton, who shared that this was the biggest turnout they've had so far. Apart from Jaton, Aina and the volunteers' dedication and hard work, the collective support of nearby communities and the inspired partnership with Lisa Bayot’s Binhi Literacy Foundation, an intensive six month literacy program, keep A-HA running smoothly, Some, like graphic artist Caloy, volunteered through Facebook. Others, like Nice, are friends of Jaton. "I've been meaning to volunteer, but I haven't been able to until now. I had this small dilemma, I was feeling a bit guilty about helping other kids when I have my own. But I finally found the time," she says. Apol, also a first-timer, says he doesn't really know how to talk with kids. Still, he finds the experience enjoyable, and he's likely to volunteer again. "Masarap. Lalo na kung kaya ko naman 'yung gagawin, gaya nito. Sobrang nakakabilib yung ginagawa ni Jaton. Sarap suportahan," he said. "We really want results. Hinahabol namin 'yung high school (students)namin makapag-college. 'Yung grade school level, we want them to be exposed to different kinds of art through the years," says Jaton. A-HA Learning Center's students are from seven to 14 years old. "In five years hopefully we can have more than one branch, 'cause this is just one community," says Jaton. The siblings had their "A-HA" moment while watching a TED talk by American writer Dave Eggers. The author of "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" presented what they were doing in 826 Valencia, a free after-school tutorial center based in San Francisco, which eventually become the main model for A-HA Learning Center. The sibling's mom had been active in local community work for many years, and to help Jaton and Aina to get the project started, she rented out a space along Pililia Street in Barangay Olympia, giving the center an address. Nanay Nimfa, who had been helping Mrs. Zulueta hold Catechism classes for seven years. set out to convince the parents, mostly caretakers in Manila South Cemetery, to enroll their kids in the program. They didn't need much convincing, since the program is free. The kids didn't need convincing, either. In fact, some of them are so excited about the program that they arrive as early as two hours before schedule. "Gagawin ko imbes na magluluto ako alas tres, ala una pa lang nagluluto na ako," Nanay Nimfa says proudly. Nanay Nimfa is in charge of the students' feeding program, and true to her mothering role, she also encourages the kids to do their work. "Nakakatulong talaga sa mga bata. Sa Math, sa pagbabasa, kasi 'yun talaga ang medyo mahina," she says. Nanay Nimfa shares that occasionally, they take the kids on field trips. It's all part of A-HA's vision of the children having an expanded worldview: realizing that there is a bigger world out there, and that they can be the change they want to see in it. Despite the non-traditional approach, it isn't all fun and games. Of course, the center also has to deal with official business. Providently, A-HA Learning Center was adopted by Got Heart Foundation, which was formed by Melissa Yeung, a friend of Jaton who graduated with a degree in Developmental Studies. "I just wanted to do something concrete and sustainable," said Melissa who started the foundation in late 2007. Got Heart Foundation, which aims to empower marginalized members of the Filipino nation by developing entrepreneurs, ties up with different organizations, and adopted the center under their Learn program. Got Heart became A-HA's homebase, as well as a source of volunteers and speakers. It's been said that doing business with friends is a sure recipe for disaster, but in this case the opposite seems true. A-HA runs on a steady stream of volunteers that help out "like a revolving door," as Jaton puts it. In the last six weeks, A-HA has grown to include more than a hundred volunteers. They recently launched A-HA! 1:1, a volunteer campaign aimed at recruiting one volunteer tutor for every one of their 65 students. Since the students are in need of remedial programs, they would greatly benefit from the extra attention and extra care a tutor can give. - GMANews.TV Everyday tutoring sessions are held on weekdays from four to five pm, and the weekend art/literacy program is on Saturdays from eight to eleven am. To volunteer, contact 0918-979-3629.