Graduate visits sponsor club

The Rotary Club of Woy Woy has hosted two special guests from the Philippines at its dinner meeting earlier this month.

The club has been sponsoring 21-year-old Mr Maurice Gradidez's education in the Philippines for more than 10 years.

In his first trip outside the Philippines, Mr Gradidez had the opportunity to meet with the members of the club who helped pay his way through primary, secondary and tertiary education that would not have been otherwise possible.

Mr Gradidez, who recently graduated from university as a secondary science teacher, was joined on his trip by Bagong Barrio Education Fund programme director Ms Cora Talisayon, an initiative focused on breaking the cycle of poverty through education.

The sponsorship of Mr Gradidez by the Rotary club was made through the Bagong Barrio Education Fund.

"The fund is a not-for-profit sponsorship program that supports the educational needs of the children of Bagong Barrio, the second largest slum village in Manila," Woy Woy Rotary Club president Mr Peter Clark said.

"Although public education in the Philippines is free, the country is still challenged by declining participation rates, with the most commonly cited reason for not attending being associated costs.

"Despite a family's best efforts, the poorest cannot afford even a basic education due to the costs of uniforms, supplies and transportation, not to mention the opportunity costs of foregone income.

"It is these costs that the Rotary club's sponsorship provided for Maurice.

"The visit to Australia is the first time Maurice has been out of the Philippines and has proved to be an exciting and stimulating experience.

"The Rotary family that he stayed with had to show him how to operate the shower, reticulated water not existing in Bagong Barrio.

"Ms Talisayon also stayed with a Rotary family and told them that their house would accommodate more than 10 families in Bagong Barrio.

"Now that Maurice has graduated from university, the Rotary Club of Woy Woy has sponsored another deserving student from Bagong Barrio."

Press release, 2 Jun 2010 Tony Cameron, Rotary Club of Woy Woy