A typical morning for 19-year-old Shajhana Bonso from Concepcion, Iloilo starts with preparing breakfast for her husband and child. When she got pregnant at 17, she decided to set aside her dream of having a diploma.
She admits to regretting her decision two years ago, as she feels her dream drifts farther away as days pass by and technology develops.
“Ang magkaroon ng pagkakataon na makipagsabayan sa ibang estudyante sa panahon ngayon ay napakahirap. Sa mabilis na pag-unlad ng teknolohiya halos lahat ng output ay sa kompyuter, at hindi ko kakayanin ang gastusin sa paaralan (Going back to school today is close to impossible. With the advancement in technology, almost all our output is done using a computer, and I can’t afford to pay for school fees),” laments Bonso.
But she believes that finishing her studies is the only ticket for her to be employed and earn enough money to sustain the growing needs of her family and provide a bright future for her kid.
In December 2017, with the help of a friend, Bonso enlisted for the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System.
The ALS program opens numerous opportunities for the likes of Bonso who have limited or no access to formal basic education.
ALS educators bring literacy, basic education, and useful knowledge to the deprived and underprivileged Filipinos. They often brave rough roads, hike mountains, or cross rivers to reach far-flung communities where they teach.
Bonso shares she enjoys using the ICT package which City Savings Bank donated. CitySavings is the thrift subsidiary of Union Bank of the Philippines and a member of the Aboitiz Group.
“Gamit ito ay natuto ako ng basic computer sa tulong ni Ma’am Obillos na magagamit ko kapag ako ay may trabaho na. Nagkaroon din ako ng tiwala sa sarili na mag-report sa harap ng klase gamit ang projector (With this I was able to learn basic computer with the help of my teacher, Ma’am Obillos, which I will be able to apply once I’m employed. I also gained self-confidence as I report and share lessons to my classmates with the use of the projector),” says Bonso.
CitySavings has greatly supported DepEd’s ALS program since 2016. To date, the bank has donated technology tools composed of more than 250 laptops and over 240 LCD projectors, as well as external hard drives and pocket Wi-Fi to more than 120 DepEd divisions. The tools hope to provide assistance to over 4,500 mobile teachers and their students across the Philippines.
In its third year of advocating literacy, the bank has moved past inspiration into actively helping build communities where every child, parent, out of school youth has access to opportunities to elevate their lives and fulfill their dreams through education.
Shajhana is now thrilled more than ever to visit their local ALS center to learn more. She has set her mind toward getting her diploma soon and most importantly become a good role model for her child and her family.