Despite Hardships, VOHCS Child Brings Zip to School

Judilyn Bukiron sings and dances to an action song
with her classmates. 

Energetic and affectionate – that’s how Visions of Hope Christian School (VOHCS) Mandaue teachers describe six-year-old Judilyn Bukiron. Despite being underweight, Judilyn brings much zip with her to school. She is bright, fun-loving, and one who quickly finishes her tasks. Perhaps to show them her love and gratitude, she runs to hug her teachers every time she sees them.

The VOHCS Mandaue teachers first met Judilyn when they conducted a community survey in a densely populated area in Mandaue City, Cebu. Judilyn was resolved that she would not enter school anytime soon, but that changed when she and her mother learned about VOHCS. Her father is serving time in jail, while her mother is incapable of work due to goiter. Only Judilyn’s eldest sister, who is married and employed, provides for her siblings when she is able. One of the other siblings struggles to finish grade school while another is mentally unstable and has a baby.

Now that she is learning to read and write, Judilyn dreams of becoming a teacher when she grows up.

Judilyn is one of the six children at VOHCS Mandaue whose schooling is fully subsidized by VOHCS. The preschool has 39 pupils this school year.

The Gayo Brothers' Story Chapter 2

The Gayo brothers and one of their teachers at the Judith Lazaraga Tiongco Memorial School.  

Back in 2012, four brothers – Ryan, Jeran, Rene, Roy – captured the hearts and interest of Visions of Hope teachers in Jaro, Iloilo.  The boys were nine, seven, six, and five years old then,  all eager to learn to read and write. But even if a public school was just several meters from their house, none of them were in school.  “We don’t have slippers to wear to school,” Rene explained when the teachers asked why.

So the teachers asked the boys’ parents if the brothers could come to the VOH Christian School instead, and bought each of the boys some shoes and slippers.  Because they seldom had footwear the brothers would carefully carry the slippers from home, put them on only in the classroom, carry them back home, and hang them up on nails. 

All four boys learned how to read and write and learned about Jesus too during that school year. They graduated along with the rest of the class in March 2013. (http://cct-visionsofhope.blogspot.com/2013_03_01_archive.html)

So where are they now?

The brothers now go to the Judith Lazaraga Tiongco Memorial School near their home.  The three older boys are in first grade but Roy is in pre-school again because he still does not have a birth certificate, a requirement for enrolling in grade school  

And how are they doing? 

Roy is doing very well because he's had a head start in reading and writing.   Rene’s teacher says he is helpful and can keep up with the rest of the class.  The teachers of Ryan and Jeran also praise the brothers for being hardworking.  

On Sundays the boys walk to the Evangel Tabernacle, which has a strong ministry among poor members of the Tabuc Suba community, to attend Sunday School.

The boys have just started out on their journey through life.  For sure, it is not going to be easy.  May they always be filled with hope. And may the Lord send caring persons to walk alongside them.