Freespirit
Waiting to be read…
Boom! is a story that echoes the weeping of the seas subjected to dynamite fishing. Using sound as anchor, 5thgrader Jared Pedroso of Tina Elementary School in Iloilo Province moved on to tell his story of how a father learned from his son in conserving the bounty of the seas. It is written in Hiligaynon,
'Mimas ang Patatas' is a first lesson in nutrition. Here, writer Aika Micah Joy Posadas will engage the younger reader into vegetable talk in a style that would soup up an otherwise bland appetite for veggies. A 6thgrader from Valderrama Central School in Antique Province, Aika Micah appropriately gave nicknames to vegetables that would well be remembered by her young readers -- such as Mimas, and what carbohydrates can do for kids. The story is written in Kinaray-a.
From Bubog Elementary school in Guimaras province, 5th grader Mariz Vilchez imparts lessons in health and sanitation in her story by introducing Amok -- aptly described by the book's title as 'Ang Mapinsalang Lamok.' The work of this young story teller made full use of imagery backed by clear coherent writing to carry across her message. In its simplest form, it educates the younger readers about dengue. It is written in Filipino.
These three stories along with 12 others rises from a heap of 119 entries coming from 116 young writers from 70 public schools of Iloilo, Antique and Guimaras, They were chosen by a panel of professional writers and language experts.
Dubbed as "Children Writing for Children," the book writing project was conducted by Save the Children, a developmental organization working in the Philippines the last 25 years.
While the storylines are themed along health and environment issues, the students were encouraged to draw out stories from day to day happenings around them and to tell these in a way that their younger siblings would understand.
Rich in local color and written in the language they know best, story tellers for this project were students from Grades 5 and 6 and first year high school Their stories were further brought to life through illustrations also done by children artists. The story books are intended for pupils in Grades 3 and 4. These books will be used in the reading programs of various public schools in Western Visayas .
Children Writing for Children is more than an advocacy to bring to the young minds the value of caring for their environment and staying healthy. It is also a project that hopes to contribute in developing the reading skills and comprehension of the students. As such, it strongly supports the findings that learning is facilitated better if children read in their own mother tongue thus, the use of Filipino, Hiligaynon and Kinaray-a, the major languages of Western Visayas.
These books are waiting to be read.
On Thursday, January 31, there will be a soft launching of these story books at the Iloilo Business Hotel. Save the Children seeks your support in seeing these books to print. Interested parties may contact Save at tel nos: (033) 337-1299 or through Ms Norma Chan-Pongan, project in-charge at email address: npongan@savechildren.org.