Leaders of Change

A seminar-workshop on leadership entitled “Making a Difference as a Youth Leader” was held last October 26, 2005 at 9:00am -1:00 p.m. in Roxas Hall of Bulacan State University attended by 36 Pathways' volunteers from the said university. The seminar is part of Pathways-Bulacan's Volunteer Enrichment Program that strives to
Ms. Elizabeth Alonzo, Department Head of the Provincial Youth, Sports, Employment, Arts and Culture Office (PYSEACO) in Bulacan, served as the resource speaker for the seminar together with Jinky Bron, May Arlene De Guzman and Niña Buenaventura, Project Development Officers of the said office.
The participants were given a personal leadership style survey to understand oneself before the seminar proper begun. The speakers then discussed tips on how to become a good leader including the meaning of leadership, decision making, working towards the goal, stress management, time management, and communication and achieving results from people.
Ms. Alonzo ended the seminar by encouraging the students to take a more active part in different programs in Bulacan catering to youth development. While the volunteers left the venue carrying a renewed light of volunteerism.

Creating Pathways in Education and Technology

Ninety five (95%) of public schools in Bulacan are equipped with computers. However, the computer units are almost always in a state of disuse. The reason: Teachers and school administrators who are suppose to utilize the computers do not have the slightest idea of how to operate a computer or, in some cases, even to start one properly.

Upon learning about the situation, Pathways to Higher Education, an organization committed to the betterment of education in the Philippines, the Provincial Government of Bulacan headed by Gov. Josie Dela Cruz, and Department of Education in Bulacan decided to initiate a project that aims to familiarize public school teachers, administrators and students in basic computer usage. This initiative was dubbed as Pathways-Computer Literacy Program (CLP) and was launched on January 19, 2004.

Now on its 22nd month of implementation, CLP have taught 45 DepEd personnel, 449 students and 1,572 teachers from public schools in different parts of Bulacan. And this is only the beginning, CLP is set to continue educating teachers and students in basic use of computers and, soon, on how to utilize the Internet.

Today, teacher and students in Bulacan are discovering the importance of computers in their lives and recognizing that knowledge in computer usage is essential in keeping up with the changing time. As one teacher puts it, “Akala ko dati nakakatakot ang computers pero hindi pala. Ngayon, mas mapapadali na ang trabaho ko at magagamit ko na ang computer ng anak ko. (I thought computers were scary but they’re not. Now, I can finish my work faster and I can use my child’s computer.)”

What We Do...

Computer Literacy Program

This program aims to promote computer literacy among the constituency of Bulacan. Presumed to have zero knowledge in computer operations, the participants are given a one-week hands-on lecture that aims to equip them with knowledge on basic computer usage and MS Office Applications. Public school students, teachers, principals, supervisors, and administrators are introduced, on the first day, to the fundamentals of computer like its parts and functions, mouse operations, basic typing lessons and MS Windows. MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint are discussed on the second, third and fourth days respectively. The training culminates with a number of activities designed to assess their newly acquired skills. The program has a 1:1 ratio of computer to student, which makes learning easier and more fun.

Summer Review Classes

It seeks to prepare incoming 4th year high school students for the upcoming Entrance Tests in various colleges and universities both in Metro Manila and in Bulacan. The participants are selected from the top 20 students from public high schools in Bulacan. During their summer break, they undergo a two-month review classes in Mathematics, English and Science.

Self-Enhancement Workshops
We believe in developing not only the intellect but as well as the personality of the students thus promoting a holistic growth. These workshops aim to develop the students’ interpersonal and intrapersonal skills through activities that build self-confidence and improve their social, relational and problem-solving abilities. Sample workshop topics are: Self-Awareness, Personal Visioning and Goal Setting, Time Management, Career Planning, Decision-making, Stress Management, Conflict Management and Leadership Skills Development.

Going Down the Memory Lane (trans. Sulyap-Kasaysayan)

Pathways to Higher Education is an innovative endeavor created from the strategic partnership of two distinguished institutions, the Ford Foundation and the Ateneo de Manila University. This undertaking employs a comprehensive response to the problem faced by academically gifted but financially underprivileged youth who are seeking to obtain and complete a college education.
On January 19, 2004, Pathways gave birth to its regional office located in the heart of the Capitol Compound in the City of Malolos. Dubbed as Pathways-Bulacan, the project was conceived thru the collaboration of three institutions namely: Ateneo-Pathways, the Provincial Government of Bulacan, and the Department of Education-Bulacan.
Pathways-Bulacan envisions to help the constituents of the province especially the marginalized youth by providing them avenues for intellectual, social and personal growth making way for a holistic development. Similar to the women of Malolos during the Spanish times, we believe that through these means, the Bulaceños can be assured of a brighter future.

(trans.)

Ang Pathways to Higher Education ay nabuo sa pagtutulungan ng Ateneo De Manila University at ng Ford Foundation. Ito ay tumutulong na tugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng mga matatalino ngunit mahihirap na bata na makapagtapos ng kanilang edukasyon.

Ang Pathways-Bulacan na naitatag noong ika-19 ng Enero taong 2004 ay matatagpuan sa kapital ng lalawigan Bulacan, ang Lungsod ng Malolos. At gaya ng mga kababaihan ng Malolos noong panahon ng mga Kastila, naniniwala ang Pathways na ang landas tungo sa mas magandang at mapagpalayang bukas ay magsisimula sa pagkakaroon ng edukasyon ng bawat tao.