VOHCS Gives Needy Children a Head Start in Reading, Math

The Visions of Hope Christian School gives children from poor communities in the Philippines a strong foundation of reading and math skills that will help them succeed in grade school and beyond. More than 600 children from some of the poorest, most populated, or unreached communities in the country are currently enrolled in the VOHCS preschool program which began classes right on schedule with the rest of the education system in the Philippines in June 2012.

Tina Gellor, principal, said, "Our goal is for all of the children who are 4.5 or 4.6 to five years old to be readers by December."

Aside from giving underprivileged children a head start in reading and math, the curriculum used by VOHCS instills godly values and helps the teachers lead the children toward a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

The preschools are in Bagong Silangan and Payatas in Quezon City; Malibay and Cabrera in Pasay; Signal Village, Taguig City; Intramuros, Manila; Caloocan City; Muntinlupa City; Angeles, Pampanga; San Pedro, Laguna; General Trias, Cavite; Aduas, Cabanatuan; Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Bacolod City; Mandaue City; Jaro and Oton in Iloilo; Capiz; Tagum and Ulas in Davao; Butuan; General Santos City; Surigao; Cagayan de Oro; Cotabato City; and Malungon, Saranggani.

The Intramuros school added a first grade level this school year.

Billy of Intramuros, Manila solves a subtraction problem...

...E.J.  sounds out two-letter syllables....

....Mon writes whether a number is even or odd.....

...and Julyfah colors a picture. 

Parents and grandparents of children enrolled at the Intramuros preschool
attend a meeting to plan activities for July, nutrition month. 

Photos by Angel Lazaro

VOHCS: Off to Great Start in School Year 2012 - 2013

The Visions of Hope Christian School (VOHCS) got off to a wonderful start in the new academic year with a total of 718 students in 29 schools  --  14 schools in Luzon, five in the Visayas, and 10 in Mindanao.

In the pre-schools (composed of more than 600 children from the poorest families in the communities) morning and afternoon sessions are held from Monday to Thursday, with the more advanced students attending the morning sessions. "One of the school goals for the year is for all children who are five years and younger to be readers by December," said Tina Gellor, principal. 

Children at the Visions of Hope Christian School in Intramuros, Manila recite 
Psalm 112:5, "A good man will guide with discretion," led by Teacher Angel Lazaro.

On Fridays, the children attend joint classes consisting of Children’s Brigade marching drills and lessons in music, arts, and physical education. While the children attend these sessions,  their parents learn how to do follow-up work on lessons taught during the week, pick up homework for the weekend,  and attend discipleship meetings. "Doors are opened for ministry to parents as well," said Principal Tina.  "We still have parents from last school year coming back for Bible study this year!" 

Aside from the pre-schools, VOHCS has started first grade in Intramuros, Manila, and in Malungon, Saranggani on the southern island of Mindanao.

Children sing, "Jesus is best and all to me, He is the One  who died for me so from sin I could be free."

In the  boarding school program for former street dwelling children, VOHCS has 52 children in grade school and 21 boys in high school.  The grade schoolers are temporarily housed at the Training and Development Institute campus in Magdalena, four towns from Bay, Laguna, where construction of a chapel, dormitory, academic building, and pool are nearing completion.  VOHCS hopes to move the children back to Bay in October.

Some 150 students in the towns of Midsayap, Aleosan, and Libungan, also on the island of Mindanao, have signed up to attend Alternative Learning System classes. The program has modules on all subjects in formal grade schools and high schools.  The classes prepare out--of-school youth to take grade school and high school equivalency tests.  "This is one way of bringing hope to  underprivileged youth, and even to adults," said ALS teacher Zuraida Alih.  "One of our students is a woman who is over 50 years of age. It is also an easy way to share the Gospel.  Our classes include Bible readings and devotions," Zuraida added.

Photos by Vivian Ataylar and Angel Lazaro