Ramblings of an overworked freak

All work and no blog makes a freak dumb.

 

OUR KIDS 'R' NOT ALRYT: Good news is we can save them

This is a project that I and my brother have been tinkering on.

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I would like to invite you to form an outreach program with your family and friends in a community of your choice. In fact, it would be best if it would be your
own. You can even call it a picnic or a simple get-together with everyone in your community. Call it either as a way to get in touch with them again or to know your neighborhood better.

In our continuing disenchantment--even dangerously bordering on indifference--over the non-closure of the Gloriagate crisis, we may be forgetting our own family and community--and the kids who will inherit our nation. Please let us spare them from the cancer plaguing our land and help them become better persons, especially when their time has come.

So what do Gloria and a community get-together have to do with saving the young and the children in your backyard?

1. First, plan with your family and close friends what you can possibly do in your own community. Look at your own sets of skills and resources that are related to the arts, sports, and education. One of you may be a teacher, a singer or has the time and/or money to share with the community.

2. Decide on a plan of action. It's better to start small first, for logistic reasons and time management. You may form a chorale, a visual/performing arts group, an environmental awareness campaign squad, or a sports team.

3.Involve your local barangay, church, school, and other like-minded members of your community. Tell them about your goals. Chances are, they can help with venue, legwork, contacts and even financial assistance.

4. Target kids who need your help the most. Do not pre-judge or prejudice. Your goal is to help them find their voice. Or for them to find hope in their young hearts and creative minds.

5. Incubate and then grow from there. From one group, depending on the size of the overall team, expand into another project. Allow other members to take the lead after you are convinced that the group can manage on its own.

6. Best of all, have fun and keep things cool! Remember that these are MTV-bred kids, and that you are doing this to inspire hope amongst them, to nurture their creative side, and to keep them out of bad influences.

That's it? Yes, it does sound simplistic and seemingly pointless until you realize that kids these days hardly get the right attention and guidance in a nation preoccupied by parents who have to work doubly hard or overseas to make ends meet, and a government only concerned with its own political survival. And we have the power to change all that if only we work as one community--as we should have been doing even before barangays were formed.

But why should you care? Because they are all our children, too. These are the same children who will either grow up to become responsible citizens or hardened criminals. They will be playing with our own children. And we can do something in shaping a better future for them while it matters. Or be victims of our own undoing when they have long strayed from the right path.

Of course, continue to question the government for shamelessly neglecting not just us but our children, too. Justice and peace go hand in hand.

posted by: kookiefreak at 14:46 | link | comments (1) |
likha

While checking my Yahoogroup, I saw the portal I put up for an org I founded: Likha, and how spams have greatly infiltrated its inbox. Sadly, the org no longer exists as the batch we entrusted to continue its legacy failed to deliver its noble objective.

Time was when Likha, a visual arts org based in PLM, would organize exhibits and art workshops that promote social awareness, excellence and creativity in the campus. When we would spend time, money and all just to come up with the best exhibits in the university. Those were rewarding years for us, the founder and the founding members. 

Here are some facts on Likha:

Founder: ME!

Founding date: July 17, 2000 (the anniversary was 11 days ago!)

Founding members: Richard Madlangbayan, Matthew Reyes, Amelita Liwanag, Jeline Ramos, Don Nario, etc.

Founding venue: Tugon-RESCUE shed

posted by: kookiefreak at 12:43 | link | comments |
likha