EDUCAMPI: FOSTERING LIFELONG LEARNERS THROUGH

ENGAGING DAY CAMPS

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PROFILING, SURVEYING, AND PREPARATION - March 30 - April 20, 2025

Getting started on our NSTP community service journey in

Calihan was all about really getting to know the riverside
community near Medex Court. We knew that before we could
even think about teaching, we had to understand the lives of the
kids and families we hoped to help. So, our first big step was a
thorough survey and profiling of the area, which was absolutely
crucial for our tutorial program.

Our main goals were pretty straightforward, we wanted to

gather basic information about the households who lived there,
their education levels, and what their everyday lives were like.
This helped us figure out which kids would benefit most from our
literacy and tutoring sessions. But more than just collecting data,
we aimed to build trust and connect with the community. We
wanted them to see us not just as students but as partners. And of
course, we needed to spot any potential roadblocks or hidden
resources that might pop up as we started our programs.

We went door-to-door, clipboards in hand, talking directly

with residents in their homes. These one-on-one
conversations were key to getting accurate information
about things like household size and whether there were
school-aged children. We also made sure to simply observe.
You could see the makeshift shelters and the small creek
winding through. These details gave us a real feel for the
community's living conditions, which is so important for
tailoring our programs to their unique needs. We spent time
with the children, our main focus, helping us identify those
who would truly benefit from our tutoring.

Our time in the community gave us some clear takeaways. It's

definitely a place with many families and young children,
reinforcing that our literacy and tutorial programs are genuinely
needed. The informal housing and natural surroundings
highlighted the importance of us providing a consistent,
supportive learning environment. We were really encouraged by
how open and willing the residents were to talk to us. That kind of
community engagement is a huge plus for our future success.
However, the creek, while small, signals a bit of a challenge for
accessibility, which we'll need to factor into making sure kids can
attend our sessions regularly. Seeing the political campaign posters reminded us that this community
is very much a part of the local political landscape.

This initial survey and profiling phase was a complete success and laid a
solid foundation for our NSTP work. We've collected valuable
information that we'll now dig into to create lesson plans that truly
resonate with the children in this riverside community. The warm
reception we received during this first phase truly brightened our outlook
for the continued success of our NSTP community service.

DAY 1 - APRIL 27, 2025

The team assembled at 7:30 AM at 7-Eleven M

Paulino in San Pablo City, full of energy and excitement
for the day ahead. After ensuring everything was packed
and accounted for, they departed at exactly 8:00 AM and
arrived at Medex Court by 8:30 AM. The atmosphere was
already buzzing with activity; some of the teammates
were busy preparing the venue, setting up materials, and
checking the flow of the program, while others were
assigned to fetch the children who would be participating
in our program. By 9:00 AM, all the children had arrived,
and the program officially began.

The group members then distributed learning

modules that allowed the children to follow the discussion.
The group started with a fun and lively energizer led by
Liezel and Kristine, which helped wake up the kids and set a
cheerful tone for the day. After that, Liezel took the lead by
singing the ABC song, engaging the children through music.
Lhea and Hanna followed by using flashcards with letters
printed on them and encouraging the kids to guess words that
began with the letter shown, a simple but fun way to boost
their vocabulary and confidence in speaking.

The next part of the program, led by Janna, focused on

numeracy skills. She guided the children in counting from 1
to 20 to test their familiarity with basic numbers. The
children were eager to participate and showed genuine
interest, which made the team feel that their efforts were truly
worthwhile. After the lessons, the team distributed some biscuits to the children for the break. Then
came the most anticipated part of the day, the games related to waste management, which were
designed not only to entertain but also to educate. As the master of ceremonies, Bins and Hanna
introduced the first game: a waste segregation activity where each team was given three boxes labeled
biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and recyclable. The team scattered paper cutouts of different kinds
of trash, and the children had to decide which item belonged in which box. Each correct sorting had a
corresponding point value, and the team with the highest total won. The kids were very engaged and
even competitive, which made it all the more exciting.

The final game, called "Cup Bee," was all about teamwork and problem-solving. Each team
was given a rubber band connected to multiple
strings, and they had to work together to lift and
stack cups while answering an environmental
question related to proper waste disposal. It was both
challenging and fun, and it really showed how
cooperation could lead to success. After the games,
the team took a moment to celebrate with the
children, laughing, chatting, and taking selfies to
remember the day. The group concluded the program
at 12:00 PM and accompanied the children back to
their homes. Though it was a bit tiring, the day was
incredibly fulfilling. April 27, 2025, was more than
just a day of activities; it was a meaningful
experience where we were able to share knowledge, promote environmental awareness, and bring joy
to young learners who were excited to grow and explore new things.

DAY 2 - MAY 6, 2025

On a bright and early morning, the team gathered at

their designated meeting place—7-Eleven M.
Paulino—at exactly 7:00 AM. From there, we
proceeded to the riverside area to fetch the children
and accompany them to the venue. Upon arrival,
while waiting for the rest of the kids to show up, the
early learners enthusiastically engaged in their
warm-up activities, setting a lively and eager
atmosphere for the day’s session.

At 8:00 AM sharp, the program officially began with

an energizer led by Bins and Janna, who guided the
children in singing and dancing to the “Mag-isip
Isip” song. This fun and interactive activity helped
energize the learners and capture their attention for
the sessions ahead. The literacy team then took over
and taught a lesson on the “Alpabetong Filipino,”
followed by the numeracy team’s lesson on
recognizing larger numbers and basic counting. These foundational skills were delivered in an
engaging manner, ensuring the children remained attentive and participative.

After the learning sessions, the students were given a

short break where they enjoyed some biscuits and
juice. Refreshed, they eagerly joined the games
prepared for them. The first game, “Good or Bad,”
required them to identify and sort pictures based on
whether the actions shown were positive or negative,
promoting moral discernment. The next game, the
“Caterpillar Game,” encouraged teamwork and tested
their ability to work together toward a shared goal.
The session concluded with a reflection on the values
they had learned, leaving the children not only more
knowledgeable but also with strengthened character
and camaraderie.

DAY 3 - MAY 11, 2025

​
​ The third session of EDUCampi was held in
collaboration with EDUCares, along with eight of
their members. Upon arriving in the Medex Court
before 8 AM, some members of EDUCampi who
were already familiar and known by the parents of
the students were accompanied by some members
from EDUCares for them to experience and see the
residential place of the children. While waiting for
others, the other students were already at the
venue, they were assigned to make cards for their
mothers as it was Mother’s Day. With the help of
EDUCares, there were materials readily available
for the students to make cards; they just needed to write their own letters and add some designs to
personalize them, exercising their writing and drawing skills. After crafting the card, they were placed
in an envelope and glued with a heart to make it more visually appealing. When all the students were
finished, they were gathered up to start with an energizer. The members and students were led by
Lleona and Jamila in dancing to energetic songs to keep their bodies awake and moving. Then, the
motivation part of our program started, where the students played pass the bottle, in a circle, and the
player who had the bottle when the music stopped would be eliminated. The game helped the students
become more active and ready to learn.

​ To start the lesson in literacy, while the

children were playing, Hanna and the other
members arranged the modules to tackle four
different stories, grouping the children into four
groups where there are at least two members to
teach each group about the story and guide them to
read. The groups first read the story on their own, and each facilitator taught each child how to read a
part of their story. Then each child was called in front to read the story with their group and assigned
to read each of their parts with the help of a team member. Some already knew how to read and
needed only a little assistance in some words they were not able to recognize, but many still struggled
to read, so the members broke down some words into parts, which helped the kids pronounce the
sentences continuously. Even though it was quite hard as younger children can only recognize a few
words and letters, each child was still given a chance to read with the guidance of each member.
Through mimicking and recognition of letters, most of the children were able to read with confidence
in front of their classmates as the member guides them through one-on-one teaching.

​ After reading, a short break was

conducted where the members gave each
child a snack and were given a few minutes
to rest after learning. Then, the games were
headed by Janna and Stephanie, with the
theme of culture for this week. The first
game was like tumbang preso, but each cup
had a number written on it. Since the kids
already knew basic addition and
subtraction, the game tested their agility in
solving and their aim to hit the cup with the
right answer. In every round, each group
had a representative to throw their slipper
to the right answer, but all of the members
of the group helped in adding and subtracting. The kids were able to enjoy it as it incorporated a game
that they are able to play in their yards, and had the opportunity to strengthen their numeracy skills.
The next game was titled “Pamilihan sa Palengke,” which created a roleplay game where they are in
a real-life wet market, provided with various items like vegetables, fruits, fish, and bread, which are
printed as they bring their eco bag with them to place all the items in it. Each group was given play
money and a list of items to buy from the market. The team leaders, Shanai, Hanna, and Jazmmine,
led their teams to make strategies to finish the fastest. There are also facilitators in each market item
who are tasked to check if each player would give the right amount of money and give change.
Overall, the game enhanced each child’s communication, reading, addition, and subtraction skills as
they read the list of items and talked to each facilitator to buy each thing. The third session of teaching
literacy and numeracy showed improvement in each child’s skills in these areas, and they were able to
incorporate the Filipino culture in learning.

EDUCares Collaboration - MAY 18, 2025

On May 18, 2025, we had our second collaboration

with EDUCares, focusing on community outreach and
environmental education. The day began with a
meet-up at our school, SPC, where members of
EDUCampi and EDUCares gathered before heading
to Barangay 3-D, the community assigned for the
activity. Both teams walked their way to the
destination, and although the walk was short, it served
as a light and energizing exercise for the members. EDUCares had already prepared the necessary
materials and sound system, which we helped bring to the barangay's covered court. Upon arrival, the
team was assigned to gather children from the area. Around 10 to 15 children joined the activity,
along with the presence of both the SK Chairman and the Barangay Chairman.

The program started with a fun and lively Zumba session to motivate the children, followed by
interactive games organized by EDUCares. Shanai facilitated the distribution of tasks among the team,
while Hanna, Jaz, Lhea, and Steph, along with Kuya Angel,
served as facilitators and ushers, guiding and assisting the
children throughout the event. The activities were designed
to teach the kids about proper waste management in an
engaging and memorable way, blending education with
enjoyment.

To
conclude
the
program,
the children were invited to write their personal
environmental pledges on printed leaf-shaped
papers provided by EDUCares. This symbolic
activity encouraged them to reflect on their roles in
protecting the environment. Finally, certificates of
appreciation were awarded to the Barangay
Chairman and the SK Chairman for their support
and cooperation. The event was a meaningful and
productive experience for both the volunteers and the participants, reinforcing the value of community
involvement in environmental advocacy.

Day 5 - May 25, 2024

The final day of community service marked a heartfelt

conclusion to the teaching program held at Barangay Calihan's
Riverside. As with previous Sundays, the members gathered at
7-Eleven near CardBank before proceeding to the MEDEX
Court, where Sir Fruel was already waiting. The agenda for the
day was to continue literacy and numeracy lessons and to award
certificates of participation to the children as tokens of
appreciation. Upon arrival, the team split up and began fetching
the children from their homes. Though the walk was long and
tiring, the joy on the children’s faces made every step
worthwhile. Many were already waiting and enthusiastically
welcomed the members, even asking why there had been no
session the previous week. The team explained that they had
conducted outreach in another location and informed both the
kids and their parents that this would be their final session in the area. They expressed deep gratitude
for the parents' trust and for allowing their children to be part of the program.

Back at the court, some members had already started facilitating the children using the prepared
modules. The session officially began around 9:00 AM, and the members conducted educational
activities focused on basic literacy and numeracy. Sir Gilbert observed for a while but had to leave at
10:00 AM due to prior commitments. The children
continued engaging with the materials, and by
mid-morning, they were given papers on which they could
write short notes or messages to the members. This
heartfelt activity allowed both the children and the team to
reflect on the time they had spent together. By 11:30 AM,
the distribution of certificates began. One by one, the
children were called up to receive their certificates, and
photos were taken to commemorate the occasion. The
atmosphere was light yet emotional, as the reality of
parting began to set in.

After the program, the team accompanied the children

back to their homes, giving them educational kits that
included modules, crayons, and pens—items purchased
using funds from earlier solicitations. As they said their
goodbyes, many of the children insisted on walking back
with the members to the court, a simple but touching
gesture that reflected the strong bond built over the weeks.
Although physically tired, the members were filled with
pride and fulfillment. As first-year students, they
successfully planned and executed a meaningful
community service project that made a real impact. It was
more than just teaching; it was about connection, growth,
and shared purpose. “We came to teach, but we ended up learning just as much from them.”

PROFILING, SURVEYING, AND PREPARATION - Jazmmine SanJose and Liezel Gonzales

DAY 1 - Hanna Monreal and Maximus Villegas

DAY 2 - Angel John Cardenas and Vince Christian Segunial

DAY 3 - Janna Quinay and Lhea Soliven

EDUCares Collaboration - Stephanie Cacao and Janna Quinay

Day 4 - Kristine Castillo and Stephanie Cacao