TPEF Scholars Hold 6th General Assembly
The 6th General Assembly & 2017 Learning Summit theme, “Enhance Skills. Gain Wisdom. Enrich Life.” outlined the education foundation’s over-arching goal for its scholars. On its fifth year of implementation, the summits provided a learning environment which included workshops, talks, group discussions, presentations, self-regulated and empowerment strategy inputs and workshops, games, and reflection sessions.
In the general assembly on April 28, Oldarito Naza, Jr. and Jill Loraine Laniog presented the results of the TPEF Strategic Planning for 2017 to 2021, which underscored the scholars taking a more active role in the implementation of the foundation’s three programs, including developing them as co-trainers or co-facilitators, trainers, and tapping them as volunteers in outreach efforts in remote rural schools.
TPEF runs the five–day 6th General Assembly and learning summit of TPEF scholars at International Institute of Rural Reconstruction, Cavite.
Some graduate scholars, all from the rural areas, delivered the keynote. Jackson Sarmiento, engine cadet, John Darwin Cardo, 4th engineer (on video), Michael Calipayan, Ara Jean Zafra, education graduates, Tina Rose Sapia-an, forestry graduate, Jayson Orlina, environmental studies graduate, and Allyson Agustin, 4th engineer, shared their “change stories” as a TPEF scholar among 85 scholars, and guests.
Graduate scholar Jayson Orlina, a son of ordinary fisherfolk in Biri, Northern Samar, extends his gratitude to TPEF for the college scholarship and scholars’ development program.
As engine cadet Jackson Sarmiento said, “TPEF has a big impact on my life. I used to be an out-of-school youth. Because of TPEF, I was able to study. I could not imagine that I could go international now, being an engine cadet. There is a huge change in myself, not just on the financial side, but also on the emotional and spiritual aspects. Even my characteristics improved due to the learning summits I have participated. I am very thankful to TPEF.”
On April 29 and 30, simultaneous training workshops for incoming third, fourth year scholars and recent graduates on resiliency, disaster preparedness, financial literacy, sustainable lifestyle, self-presentation for job application and career development and health and wellness were held. Interested scholars signed up as volunteer in learning summits, social development initiatives in remote schools and other activities of the education foundation, as part of developing further their skills and eventually applying them.
Recent graduates participate in the training workshop on job application and building their career, with trainers Myreen Cleofe and Ma. Joanna Añonuevo.
Each page of the scrapbook illustrates and narrates incoming 4th year college scholars’ appreciation to TPEF, for accepting them as scholars and engaging them in the annual learning summits.
Recognition to scholars with high academic performance and notable leadership skills, solidarity activities, presentation of the 2016 community outreach project (COP) led by scholars from Daram, Western Samar, planning for the 2017 COP, and “Larong Pinoy” also took place during the four-day summit. To cap off the event, the participants were guided through a meditation-reflection.