Send 200 Filipino kids to better daycare centers

“The Kids are Happy Here”: Pitpitac and Cabalitocan Daycare Centers Three Months Later

In our last report, we shared that through your continued support to the Daycare Improvement Project, the HBI Team has been able to reach two new additional community daycare facilities in rural Luna, La Union – the Pitpitac and the Cabalitocan Daycare Centers. In this report, we will give you a closer look at these daycare centers now - three months after receiving packages of daycare improvement materials and equipment from the project.

Pitpitac Daycare Center in Luna, La Union: No More Tears

“The first thing I noticed after we received our daycare support,” says Teacher Agnes of the Pitpitac Daycare Center, “is that the students are crying less after being dropped off in my class.” She continues to share that in over 20 years as a daycare teacher, she’s used to kids being sad and upset whenever their parents leave them under her care. “It’s only natural for them to cry when Mama or Papa leaves them in school or in daycare,” she adds, and she often resorts to creative ways to appease a crying student - ranging from giving candies to allowing them an additional hour of play time.

“But in Pitpitac, the kids are crying less because they are actually excited to be here,” Teacher Agnes observes. “The first thing they do when they get to our classroom is ask me if they can learn the alphabet song on the TV,” she said as she points to the provided LED Television set for the learners. “Then after a short morning exercise where they copy dance moves being shown in the video, we start practicing our handwriting, learning how to count 1 to 10, drawing and coloring. Then the rest of the day is spent playing with toys.”

The children’s parents share Teacher Agnes’ sentiments. “It’s easier for us to drop him off at daycare now before we go to the rice fields or the sea to fish because he doesn’t cry or beg to just stay at home,” says Alma whose 4-year-old son, Michael John, attends the Pitpitac Daycare Center. As another day of learning ends, Teacher Agnes can only muse about the effects of the project in Pitpitac. “The kids only spend five hours in my class daily but it’s easy to see that compared to the other daycare centers where I teach, the kids are really happy to be here.”

Cabalitocan Daycare Center in Luna, La Union: Fewer Guardians Staying in Class

Apart from the cries and tears brought on by a temporary separation from their parents, another common fixture in Philippine daycare centers is the throngs of moms and guardians waiting on their kids during the entire class. “It’s especially obvious in the first few weeks since the start of classes,” Teacher Juvylynn of the Cabalitocan Daycare Center says, “but we don’t mind because it makes the kids comfortable, making them participate in class more.”

While the number of parents lessens as the school year progresses, Teacher Juvylynn notes that at least half of her daycare students still refused to go to class without a parent or a guardian staying over before Cabalitocan became a participant in the Daycare Improvement Project. “But there are fewer parents now, especially after the TV and the toys from the donors were unwrapped.”

Carol, a mother who up until recently used to accompany her daughter Natasha in class said that the change was almost instant. “One day she doesn’t want me to leave her side, the next day, she almost didn’t notice me because she is playing building blocks with her classmates.” When asked how she felt about it, she said that she’s fine with it – “I get to have more time to clean the house and help my husband at the rice fields. And I know that Natasha is having a good time in class so I don’t have to stay and watch over her.” Teacher Juvylynn notes that now, there are fewer moms and grandmothers who stay in class at the insistence of their kids. “It’s limited to the younger students,” she clarifies, “and I think it’s because we have more learning materials to entertain and capture the students’ attention.”

What’s next for the Daycare Improvement Project?

As of November 28, 2019, we have received 92 donations amounting to US$ 8,432 – 68 dollars shy of our 8,500 goal. Through your continued support, we will provide the Pitpitac and Cabalitocan Daycare Centers with additional learning materials such as big story and big picture books, hygiene kits, and toys. Apart from the monetary donations, local donors are also donating in kind by dropping off new toys and books for the daycare centers. We plan on delivering these vital daycare materials before Christmas.

Lastly, this report will not end without HBI giving thanks to the numerous donors and advocates of the Daycare Improvement Project. We continue to hope that we can reach more in-need daycare centers in the future but for now, we thank all of you in behalf of the 252 children & teachers in six La Union daycare centers for your kindness and generosity.

Happy Thanksgiving to our friends and supporters in the U.S.!