CYDF Newsletter, Vol.2, Issue 1, 2007 August 2008 - Calantas ...

p6Many indigent but deserving talented youth in the rural areas suffer theconsequence of their impoverished condition and although they have access to freeeducation, it is only true in the elementary level. Secondary education in the publicsector is not totally free, more so on the collegiate level. It may seem to require aminimal fee but for many, especially those who live in abject poverty, it is unaffordable!In essence, this is the beginning of making the “rift” between the “rich and poor” biggerAntonio M. Mendoza, Ph.D.CYDFI Founderand bigger in our society. Let alone those who have financial resources can afford to move on in their pursuit ofgood education, either in the public or private sector. The “impoverished condition” is like a “box-trap” for mostdeserving talented youth where they struggle with financial difficulty to move on and get secondary and, more so,college education. One possible way for them to get out of the “box” and their “cycle of poverty” is to providethem a resource like the one being espoused by CYDFI. Recognizing the need to respond to this issue, CYDFI hasmade a commitment in declaring its Mission leading to “A Crusade Against Abject Poverty In PhilippineRural Areas” thru a Scholarship Program Model with SWREM Theory In Action, as a methodology.Most scholarship programs being offered, nowadays, do not go beyond being able to send a scholar finishcollege education and able to make use of his education to help himself and his immediate family. What seems tobe “missing” in this modality is the element of effectively and conscientiously creating an environment where a“scholarship recipient” has to actively share and do to incoming scholars of what he receives from his scholarship,done on a continuous spiral loop basis, such as: “helping him help himself through the Scholarship Program so hecan help incoming scholars”. This key concept is missing in most traditional scholarship programs offered toyouth. And, CYDFI has designed and adopted “SWREM Theory In Action”, as a modality, to accomplish itsmission of helping to address abject poverty, especially in the Philippine rural areas.Am I glad that I finish my educationthru a Scholarship Grant given to me.I can move on with my life and beable to help other members of myfamily because I now hold the key tomy future...What a dream come true!Am I glad that I walked through the CYDFI Scholarship ProgramModel! Knowing that I now hold the key to my future as I becomeproductive after college, I can move on to fulfill my commitment tohelp, at least one or two, new incoming CYDFI Scholars and thelatter will, in turn, do the same and so on, on a continuous loop basis.I am almost certain that, someday, a lot of us will be helping eachother, in addition to being able to help our own respective families,leading to breaking the cycle of poverty in our midst and in ourcommunity. Eventually, the Scholarship will pave the way towardscommunity growth and development due to the “ripple effect” of theModel. The “Crusade Against Abject Poverty” of the Foundation inthe Philippine rural areas now becomes my own crusade, too.Fig. 1: Traditional Approach ofScholarship Program ModelAre you excitedto be a CYDFIScholar?Incoming ScholarsFig. 2: CYDFI Scholarship Program ModelOf course, I am! I will“burn” the oil to learn soI can help incomingscholars, too, when Ibecome productive aftergraduation in College. Iknow, you will do thesame. Our future dependson how we also do ourpart and fair share of theresponsibility for others.