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Friday, March 22, 2024
Monday, February 19, 2024
Spotlight Series: Bahar Kurtbas
Name: | Bahar Kurtbas |
Age: | 20 years old |
Nationality: | German |
3 Words to describe yourself: | Ambitious - Determined - Structured |
Tell us about your career so far. What did you do before you came to volunteer in Tapulanga?
"I finished my school. After that I worked until I came to the Philippines."
Why did you choose Tapulanga?
"I chose Tapulanga because I like the organization. I want to help people who live in poor conditions and have less access to education. I am interested in working with children and would like to support all children through my volunteer work."
Tell us about a typical day at work.
"My lessons start at 7:30 am. We start by dancing together with the students. Then we work on the worksheets. I work until 3:30 pm."
What do you look forward to in your 1 year of volunteer service?
"I am looking forward to all the experiences, moments and adventures that I will gather."
What do you find to be most challenging about your work? How do you deal with it?
"The children's language. Unfortunately, I don't always understand what they want to say and we can't communicate properly. I try to learn the language and understand what the children are trying to tell me or my colleagues translate it for me."
Who inspires you?
"The mindset of Filipinos and of course the Filipinos themselves. "
Tell us more about yourself!
What are you passionate about outside of work?
"Traveling and cooking"
What one Tagalog or Ilonggo word/phrase do you like to use?
"Salamat Gid"
Bonus Questions!
What’s one place you visited that you love the most and why?
"All the places in the Philippines are so beautiful and special. But I think I've enjoyed Malapascua and Apo Island the most so far. Apo island because of the diversity in the sea and nature. And Malapascua, because it is a very small island. The people and everything else is very special on this island. It’s very familiar. You can meet people from all over the world there."
If you could swap places with someone else for a day, who would it be?
"My sister 😉"
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Spotlight Series: Katja Göpfert
Name: | Katja Isabel Göpfert |
Age: | 20 years old |
Nationality: | German |
3 Words to describe yourself: | Helpful - Positive - Happy |
Tell us about your career so far. What did you do before you came to volunteer in Tapulanga?
"Before I came to the Philippines, I finished my Senior High School in Germany."
Why did you choose Tapulanga?
"I chose Tapulanga Foundation because I love to work with children and the mission of the Foundation appealed to me. I was very impressed by how small the Tapulanga Foundation started and how big it has become in the meantime. If you want to change or improve something it usually starts small."
Tell us about a typical day at work.
"There is a morning and afternoon class. Every lesson begins with singing and dancing. The children learn the alphabet, writing, shapes, colours and much more. They work on worksheets and from time to time they make something creative what fits to the topic."
What do you find to be most challenging about your work? How do you deal with it?
"The most challenging thing about working here is the language. It's a sad that I don't understand what the children are trying to tell me and that I can't explain everything to them so well because I don't speak the language. That's why I'm trying to learn more and more words so that I can communicate with them better "
Who inspires you?
"My inspiration is my grandad, who always gave me a lot of advices and tips, such as that I should definitely travel like him to get to know countries, people and cultures. So I can combine the joy of being socially active, like my parents, with travelling. "
Tell us more about yourself!
What are you passionate about outside of work?
"Outside of work, I like meeting people, traveling, cooking, photography, sewing and do handicrafts."
What one Tagalog or Ilonggo word/phrase you like to use?
"Salamat Gid" is my favorite phrase and the one I use the most because the people here are all so helpful and kind.”
Bonus Questions!
What’s one place you visited that you love the most and why?
"The Philippines has many beautiful places, but so far I've enjoyed Apo Island the most because it has a wonderful underwater world with turtles, corals and different fishes that you can't find in Germany."
For you, what does a "perfect day" look like?
"My perfect day doesn't involve any specific activity. It needs people who are happy and content to have a good time together."
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Christmas Gift Giving 2023
In December 2023, the Tapulanga Foundation extended its generosity once more, showering not only its scholars but also neighboring communities with abundant blessings. Giving JOY and spreading LOVE, the foundation reached out to 2,014 families, kindling the flame of Christmas spirit. Each family received a heartwarming Christmas package, comprising 5 kilograms of rice, a delightful spaghetti pack for Noche Buena (Christmas eve dinner) and a box of chocolates!
Last December 8, fifty-four Grade 10 Tapulanga scholars enjoyed their fun-packed Christmas treat at Campuestuhan Highland Resort in Talisay City. The kids enjoyed different outdoor activities such as sky bike, rope course, Vikings and waterslide! 🥳
On December 13, 174 students, teachers, and staff of Jose D. Cuaycong Elementary School and 170 of Sitio Roma (a fishing village in Silay) and three farm laborers received Christmas gift packs from Tapulanga Foundation, with the special participation of POST Agency Services Inc.
On December 14, 50 families in Hacienda Maquina and 10 barbers in Silay City received their Christmas package, together with the 17 Pre-schoolers, teachers, and staff from Locsin Genealogy Preschool Foundation.
On December 15, we were beyond grateful to be welcomed by 134 students, teachers, and staff from Dalinson Elementary School, E.B. Magalona. With the help of our SFAS alumnus and former Tapulanga scholar (now a teacher at Dalinson), Ms. Donna Zaragoza, we were able to share a Christmas package to everyone! We had to cross a river and ride a "caro" (carriage driven by a carabao/water buffalo) to get to their school. The kids were so happy! This is our first time to give to them so God-willing, we will include them every year already.
On the 17th and 21st of December, we partnered with our German volunteers (Bahar Kurtbas and Katja Göpfert) to reach 63 more families at Hacienda Takas,76 families at Brgy. Alicante and 5 Sakada farmers along the way!
On December 19 and 20, a total of 615 scholars at SFAS (from Preschool to Grade 11) received their gift packages, together with 80 teachers, staff, and volunteers of SFAS.
On December 21, 50 families from Hacienda Manalo, 50 families from Hacienda Lonoy and 60 families from Hacienda Tinihaban received their Christmas package while 16 college scholars and six garbage truck collectors received theirs on the 23rd of December. It was indeed a very Merry Christmas for these families!
On the same day, Tapulanga Foundation, in partnership with Don Bosco Technical Institute of Victorias' Student Affairs, lit-up the Christmas spirit of 50 farm laborers in different haciendas in Victorias City as student government officers, together with their adviser, Mr. John Mark S. Encarnada, distributed 5kg rice and spaghetti packs to them. They were also joined by Student Affairs officer, Mrs. Edmalyn B. Alcuizar and the Vice Principal of the Junior High School Department, Mrs. Jona P. Castro.
To all the generous donors who made the Christmas Gift Giving 2023 a HUGE success, THANK YOU SO MUCH! TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!
Friday, January 6, 2023
Christmas Gift Giving 2022
The Tapulanga Foundation, Inc. has once again shared blessings to all their scholars and families in surrounding communities last December 202 during their yearly Christmas gift giving program.
Last December 9, 59 Grade 10 Tapulanga scholars enjoyed a fun-packed Christmas party at the Campuestuhan Highland Resort in Talisay City, assisted by ten Tapulanga staff and volunteers. The kids enjoyed different outdoor activities such as sky-bike, rope course, vikings ride and water slide. It was a most memorable day for the 10th graders, filled with excitement and adventure!
On December 13, TF visited and showed love to over 100 students and 11 teachers and staff of Jose D. Cuaycong Elementary School. The recipients received a gift package consisting of 5kg rice, a spaghetti pack for Noche Buena, and a box of chocolates - just in time for Christmas.
The following day, December 14, 120 families from Sitio Roma (a fishing village in Silay City) received their Christmas gift package as well from the foundation. Tapulanga donors Mrs. Elizabeth Araneta-Siega and her son, Gabriel, joined in the gift giving.
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On December 15, 40 families in Hacienda Maquina in Silay City, 120 pedicab drivers, 8 barbers, 10 sakada farmers and 3 staff from a local laundry shop received their Christmas gift of spaghetti pack and 5kg sack of rice!
In the afternoon of the same day, 10 scholars and teachers from Locsin Genealogy Foundation Preschool also received their Christmas treat of spaghetti packs, 5kgs rice, a box of chocolates and personal gift items for the kids.
On the last day of the week, December 16, our scholars form Pre-school to Grade 9 received their Christmas gifts consisting of 5kgs rice, a spaghetti pack, a box of chocolates and a personal gift item. On the following week, December 19, the Senior High School to College scholars also received their Christmas gift package. More than 600 scholars participated in Tapulanga Foundation's Christmas Gift Giving Program 2022.
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Just before Christmas eve, Tapulanga Foundation was also able to extend its gift-giving program to 104 farmers in nearby communities in Victorias City and E.B. Magalona, 50 families in Hacienda Lonoy and 80 families in Hacienda Tinihaban 1.
We want to express our sincerest gratitude to everyone who generously donated and supported this program so that JOY was given to more than 1,300 families! And all glory belongs to God!
Check out the full album on these links:
Grade 10 Christmas Gift Giving at Campuestuhan Highland Resort
Campuestuhan Trip Highlight Video
Christmas Gift Giving 2020 | Day 1 (Cuaycong Elementary School)
Christmas Gift Giving 2020 | Day 2 (Sitio Roma)
Christmas Gift Giving 2020 | Day 3 (Hacienda Maquina, Pedicab drivers)
Christmas Gift Giving 2020 | Day 4 and 5 (Preschool to College scholars)
Christmas Gift Giving 2020 | Day 6 and 7 (Farmers, Hacienda Tinihaban 1 and Lonoy)
Monday, October 24, 2022
Volunteer Spotlight - Jule Bär
Name: | Jule Bär |
Age: | 20 years old |
Nationality: | German |
3 Words to describe yourself: | Creative - Athletic - Artistic |
Tell us about your career so far. What did you do before you came to volunteer in Tapulanga?
"I finished my college education in Germany and 2 years of job internship in carpentry."
Why did you want to volunteer for a year?
"I want to learn another culture and learn how other people think and how they grew in their own culture."
What made you choose the Philippines?
"It’s a very different climate in the Philippines and it has so many coastal areas. It’s a huge different culture in here than Germany. Plus I can speak in English here."
Why did you choose Tapulanga?
"I like working with children in school and I like the advocacy of the foundation."
What is the most exciting or most memorable thing that happened to you during your few weeks as a volunteer?
"I love it when random students approach me during dismissal and ask me to play with them."
What do you find to be most challenging about your work? How do you deal with it?
"Kids don’t really understand when I talk in English so I can’t do much. So, I just ask them to go to their teacher."
Who or what inspires you?
"The small kids in school inspire me to continue to work."
Tell us more about yourself!
What are you passionate about outside of work?
"I love doing doing sports, riddles, hanging out with friends. I love cooking and arts!"
Tell us 2 things that you have learned so far.
"I learned to ride a jeepney and say “Lugar lang”! – I learned how to open a Pomelo!"
6 What is one thing you are good at?
"Sports"
What is one Tagalog or Ilonggo word/phrase you like to use?
“ "Lapis!”
Bonus Questions!
What’s your comfort food?
– "Döner! A German sandwich composed of bread with veggies and sauce."
Tell us about your favorite book.
– "Asterix"
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