In Payatas center, a different chance to learn for kids

On a road near the infamous Payatas solid waste dumpsite stands an unfinished but usable two-storey structure.  In the mornings, around 20 to 30 kids gather there, with 40 or more joining them in the afternoons.

Inside, staff of the Fairplay For All Foundation ready themselves and their humble center for a full day's schedule of play, reading, art, and other learning activities.

The children choose from among the available sessions the ones they want to attend. They decide what they want to learn during the morning or whole day they are there.

Fairplay executive director Roy Moore calls their approach to learning a "democratic" one, different from the fixed format done in the usual public and private schools in the country.

"Within the center a usual day we'll open at 9 a.m., the kids will rush in (usually they're waiting outside waiting for the center to open). We'll have 10 minutes where everyone can relax and then announce the classes," Moore said in an interview with GMA News Online.

"We'll gather everyone in the main area and then let them know what classes are going on, so they follow the teacher they want to join the class of. After 45 minutes the lesson is done, and we announce the second class, and then after that the third class. They choose which one to join and go there. The younger kids go to the kinder area throughout where we're building a kinder program based on emotional intelligence first."

The Fairplay Center has a backyard where the kids play futsal and other games. They are in the process of acquiring a larger lot a stone's throw away at an area where lots have land titles.

Football and futsal have been the springboards for Fairplay's interaction with the Payatas community. Fairplay has been there for several years now.

More than half of center's staff, including the "kitchen nanays" are Payatas residents. It really does take a village to rear children.

Months before, they had to haggle for play time and practice hours at the nearby basketball court. Sometimes, the haggling is unsuccessful. The Philippines is and has been basketball country since the Americans introduced the game to Filipinos during the colonial times.

"Traditional schooling is a Western invention that was spread to other countries. Our education system here in the Philippines isn't Filipino. Which is why it's so interesting that when the Spanish first arrived, they found the Philippines had a higher literacy rate than Madrid even back then. Informal, relationship, community-based solutions work best here," Moore said.

Fairplay's former location on the same street was smaller and cramped. Now, they at least have their own and larger space they were able to acquire with the help of donors.

"We've just started to include a full-time program for the kids who dropped out of school a long time ago or who never went to school. So we initially have five kids as test cases there. They are known as the full-time kids, they study with us for the whole day - choosing when and where they go to the classes. Typically they're here throughout the morning and afternoon sessions," More said.

He added that on Fridays, "they have their meeting where they discuss their ideas and rules for the center and vote on everything there. Like I mentioned during the program, one of the girls dropped out of school in grade 3, completely illiterate despite 2 1/2 years of school. Many of the kids can't see at the back of class, can't afford to keep going to and from school, or just aren't suited for that type of education."

Among Fairplay's donors is the Silver Star Century Group, which was able to recently gather some of its executives and staff from seven Asian countries for a brief visit at the Fairplay Center to bring Christmas cheer.

Representatives from Aon also visited the center to bring their donation and Christmas gifts.

Another visitor is Dr. Ponciano Menguito of the Department of Education. He is responsible for, among other things, school sports programs of the DepEd. He is also concurrent caretaker superintendent of the Manila Division of City Schools.

Also considered donors are the football fans who purchase Payatas football kits or uniforms.

"We're now able to start other classes and clubs too given the extra space. So early next year we'll start a chess club - others in the community have been playing chess on the street so I think that'll be really nice to build up. And if anyone wants to volunteer to teach a sport, martial art, dance, music, any skill or passion they have once a week, we now have the space to do that," Moore said.

The Fairplay Center is at No. 34 Bicol Street, Payatas, Quezon City.  —JST, GMA News