At the end of each year, GFF Helps Philippines conducts a Project Evaluation in their partner schools to assess the impact of their projects on students’ overall performance and the welfare of the teachers. Recently, they carried out this evaluation at Lapnag Primary School, one of our most dedicated partner schools.

To ensure they could gather firsthand insights, they conducted the evaluation just before the students and teachers began their vacation. During the process, the teachers shared positive feedback about our initiatives, particularly the Sports Project, which the teachers found highly beneficial. Teachers also expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Sir Owen and the GFF HELPS Philippines Team for their support and dedication.

This feedback is a significant achievement for the team, as it reflects the meaningful impact of their efforts throughout the year. 

In December, after the final examinations at the SOGG Learning Centres in Bong, Chibbo, and Pudung, GFF Helps volunteers, Surabhi and Bipasha, conducted a Mobile Library Evaluation to assess the progress of the students in their reading skills. During the evaluation, each student was asked to reflect on the types of books they had read throughout the year. The students took turns coming forward to read aloud from one of the books they had chosen. This provided an opportunity for the volunteers to assess their fluency, pronunciation, and comprehension of the material. The reading session was also an excellent opportunity for students to gain confidence in speaking in front of their peers. The evaluation revealed significant improvement in the students’ reading abilities. Overall, the Mobile Library Evaluation was a success, underscoring the positive impact of the program on the students’ reading skills and personal development. As the program moves forward, it will continue to play a crucial role in enhancing the literacy and confidence of the students at the SOGG Learning Centres, equipping them with the skills they need to succeed in both academics and life.

On Thursday, December 19, GFF Helps Nepal was privileged to welcome Saom Sir for a three-day visit. The team, including the local representatives Mrs. Sanam, Ms. Pramila, and interns Ms. Resha and Mrs. Arju, warmly greeted him. His visit was a wonderful opportunity to exchange ideas and strengthen initiatives planned for 2025.

During his time with us, Saom Sir’s guidance and support motivated everyone. At the Adult Literacy Class, mothers greeted him with Nepali scarves (Khada) and flowers, showing their respect and gratitude. Many proudly introduced themselves in English, demonstrating their progress. Saom Sir encouraged them to keep learning, reminding them that education is valuable at any age. The mothers also shared their goals, such as improving public speaking and learning computer skills, and asked for books to help with their studies at home.

Saom Sir met with Mr. Bikash from Shree Balkumari School to discuss student development. Mr. Bikash suggested creating an English practice platform and introducing games like chess and Scrabble. Saom Sir also recommended organizing programs on dental care awareness and menstrual hygiene education.

A picnic for the rejuvenation of mothers was organized on 21st December, 2024. The picnic was held at Jagdole Park. The event was participated by GFF Helps representatives, GFF Helps interns, CDS staffs, and mothers from the SHEEP and Adult Literacy Class, with a total of 42 attendees. During the event, participants engaged in various group activities, including chopping vegetables, washing them, and cooking. Additionally, several games were organized in which mothers picked papers and performed tasks accordingly. The mothers’ group thoroughly enjoyed the event, participating in singing (Dohori) Nepali songs and dancing together. The attendees also took the opportunity to admire and appreciate the stunning natural surroundings of the park, taking in the beauty of the environment.

Later, Mr. Saom joined the group for about an hour, during which he actively participated. He danced alongside the mothers, fully engaging in the joyful atmosphere of the event. In addition, he took several photographs to preserve the memorable moments of the day, ensuring that the joyful experience was captured for everyone to look back on.

GFF HELPS representatives warmly welcomed members of Global Unites during their visit to the Sri Lanka Unites (SLU) Gampaha Reconciliation Centre. We introduced ourselves as GFF representatives and highlighted our shared commitment to fostering peace and reconciliation through youth-led initiatives. To extend our hospitality, we offered them refreshments and guided them on a tour of the Reconciliation Centre, showcasing the facilities where we conduct English and ICT classes for children and adults in the community.

This meeting was particularly meaningful as Global Unites is the parent organization of Sri Lanka Unites, the largest youth-led reconciliation movement in the country. The visitors were impressed by the impactful work being done at the center to empower marginalized groups and promote harmony. The visit also provided an opportunity to exchange ideas on collaborative efforts to inspire young leaders in conflict transformation, further strengthening the bond between GFF HELPS and Global Unites in their shared vision for sustainable peace.

GFF HELPS Sri Lanka participated in a pivotal meeting for the Child Rights Consultation Report hosted by Ms. Rushani Chandrasekara from Save the Children. Held at the Sri Lanka Unites (SLU) head office in Colombo, the session aimed to gather insights from various stakeholders to contribute to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Alternative Report. This platform provided a valuable opportunity to discuss strategies for safeguarding and promoting children’s rights across Sri Lanka and on how to improve the reports we have done.

The meeting also served as a networking platform, as we had the chance to meet SLU representatives from the Puttalam and Mullaitivu Reconciliation Centers. Engaging with teams from different regions allowed for a rich exchange of ideas and experiences in working with children from diverse backgrounds. This collaboration underscores the commitment of GFF HELPS and SLU to advocating for the rights and well-being of children nationwide.