Iwahig Learning Center

Sitio Iwahig is a low-lying community in Concepcion Uno, Marikina with at least 400 households.  It is flooded, on the average, twice a year.  The area used to be Marikina’s temporary dumpsite.  The dumpsite operated for several years but was closed in 2001 due to the protest of the residents. Marikina now uses another area as its dumpsite.  However, Iwahig is still being used for garbage-related operations as the city allowed a private corporation to operate a garbage processing and sorting facility in the area.  Residents shared that their houses are on top of the former dumpsite.  They noted that most of the community’s residents are employed as garbage pickers/sorters, shoe makers, vendors, drivers, contractual workers.

The Earthcare Village “Iwahig” Neighborhood Association, Inc. (EVINAI) was established by the residents  to help them address community concerns.  EVINAI stated it has 200 members. The daycare center in the community was established in 2002. From 2002 until March 2005, the Tuazon Community Center of St. Scholastica, Marikina (TCC) assisted EVINAI’s daycare center. Its assistance includes the training of two para-teachers.  TCC also organized a women’s organization, the Nagkakaisang Kababaihan sa Iwahig.  The women’s organization is focused on livelihood generating projects.  EVNAI and the women’s organization closely coordinate their activities. 

EVNAI sought the foundation’s assistance in December 2005.  Since January 2006, the foundation has been extending support to EVINAI and its learning center.   EVINAI’s partnership with the foundation is focused on helping them build their capability along financial management, project planning/monitoring/evaluation and the systematization of their early childhood development program.  The foundation also extends financial support for the supplemental feeding component, school supplies and learning materials and limited support for the allowance of the learning center’s para-teachers. 

The structure being used as the learning center is an abandoned house whose owners transferred elsewhere due to the flooding. BCNAI noted that the owner permitted them to use the structure.  The structure is made of concrete, wooden planks and GI sheet roofs. The floor of the  however, is approximately one and a half meters below street level, thus it is almost immediately submerged in flood water.  The parents added that their one-storey learning center is completely submerged during heavy flooding.

School Year 2006 to 2007

The Iwahig Learning center had a total of 68 students for school year June 2006 - March 2007. The parents shared that although there are three private and one government-run daycare centers near their community, these are financially inaccessible to them. The Iwahig learning center only exacts a P600 enrollment fee and P100 monthly fee. This fund is mainly used to augment the center-s resources for its operation. The parents also contribute P5.00 per day for the supplemental feeding component.

Within the school year, the center and parents regularly conducted supplemental feeding and nutritional status monitoring activities. The center also stressed to the children the importance of the teeth and how to care for these through a "toothbrush campaign" that encouraged them to brush their teeth after every meal. In coordination with the municipal health center, the center was also able to implement a dental and medical clinic for the learning center's students. During this activity, the dentist applied flouride to the children's teeth.

The children also enjoyed their visit to the Marikina Wildlife park. This activity was sponsored through the community work of students from the Philippine School for Business Administration. The students were referred to the center by the barangay.

While the children were occupied with their lessons and activities, their parents were also actively involved in learning center concerns. They conducted regular meetings to map out their plans and schedule the supplemental feeding tasks. Key parent organization representatives also participated in the Project Management Training, Christian Leadership Training, and health and nutrition training activities conducted by the Antipolo Seminary Foundation.

The parents initiated several projects. Through their initiative, the parents were able to construct the following improvements on the learning center's structure: installed a toilet bowl and cemented the floor of the comfort room; installed of the ceiling and cemented of the floor of the feeding area; constructed a concrete stage, that can be used for graduation and other center and community activities, beside the learning center. They spearheaded the a fund raising during the last quarter of the year. A part of the proceeds of this activity was used to purchase additional tables and chairs while the remainder was placed in the center's fund.

Fifty-four (54) students finished the school year: Kindergarten - 11; Preparatory (session 1) - 21; Preparatory (session 2 ) - 22. The parents noted that the public elementary school near their community has 12 sections for grade one. They shared that all 43 preparatory level graduates passed the public school admission examination and more than half were classified into the top five sections of the first grade. This, they said, inspires them to strive to sustain and further develop their early childhood education project.

School Year 2007 to 2008

The center's school year started on June 18, 2008. The distribution of their current students are as follows: Kinder - 23; Preparatory (session 1 ) - 27; Preparatory (session 2 ) - 26. Two para-teachers and one teachers' aide will handle this year's classes.

A new set of parents' organization officers has also been elected. They hinted that the new set of officers plans to raise resources for the construction or purchase of tables and chairs for the feeding area. They also shared a need and their plan to construct sinks in the feeding area where the students can brush their teeth and finish the construction of the center's comfort room.