Jaton desires the best education for his students even in the middle of the pandemic.
Jaton was only 19 when he became a volunteer teacher and started AHA Learning Center. AHA Learning Center is a non-profit organization that seeks to provide world class education to low performing but high potential public school students.
After teaching and running AHA for 17 years, it is now an award-winning community center that is open for tutoring and mentoring kids for free. Aside from mentoring, they also provide healthy meals, and give parents and kids a safe place where they can use computers for their studies. Unfortunately, this face-to-face set-up changed when the pandemic hit, and not all students have an access to technology and internet. Jaton and his team in AHA created emergency solutions to solve this problem.
Watch this story of a true educator, whose heart lies in bringing out the best in his students despite the hard circumstances that they’re in.
The digital divide
The pandemic has brought many challenges upon the lives of many people, students from all walks of life included. Public schools were stopped nationwide for the health and safety of the students, but in result to that, their education were affected. The solution that many has resorted to is to continue learning through online classes. The problem is not everyone has an access to technology and internet. Jaton and his team in AHA learning center know they have to do something.
The team tried everything to make no internet needed solutions possible. They start experimenting with text based messaging – delivering their lessons through Facebook messenger’s data-free version. They also send lessons through radio, where they run a daily alternative class radio programs for students. The team also tried delivering questions through mobile group texting.
According to Jaton, “I believe those who have the least in the life deserve the best in education. This comes out in my work which I really try to go the extra mile in providing better materials for the kids. I’m always experimenting w different innovations to make our no internet needed solutions run a little smoother.”
Right now, they are looking to adopt 100 public schools through NGO partners. They are also bringing in several programs from international NGOs to the Philippines.
His hope for the next generation
Jaton’s story is filled with the desire to build something, and the will to inspire. He hopes that the next generation of Filipinos become role model citizens who are college graduates ready to work, community leaders ready to serve, and global citizens ready to change the world.
He believes that we are the change that we seek. For him, he starts this change by investing on the young people to have a quality education so in the future they are capable to take part in building the country we want and we deserve.
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