COO Report Continued
It has been a very wet few months, so access to the village has been difficult;
flooding is a frequent occurrence. Since June we have had one evacuation of all
families to an evacuation centre.
I have concerns about our Remedial Reading program and have suggested to
Chairperson Cynthia and Manager Arlene that we employ a part time, retired
teacher who could review the children’s progress on a more regular basis. This
teacher could also train our parents who have been administering the program
since 2009.
It is the Remedial Reading, the Vitamin Program and the Dental Program that
differentiates the Cararoo Foundation from the other organisations. We are
very community focussed and, where possible, we get the parents involved in
our school program. Good examples are: the parents who run the canteen
service, the vegetable plot, various health checks such as keeping a register of
the children’s weights, simple eye testing, and helping at events like the
Christmas party, which requires at least 20 supervising parents.
I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW
During our Christmas in July party, invited guest Bong Cruz, president of
Rotary Club Makati Dasmarinas and a well known eye specialist in Manila,
noticed young Ashley squinting while reading a notice. He gave her an eye
examination on the spot. President Bong asked us to bring Ashley to his
surgery at St Luke’s Medical Centre as soon as we could. We organised that
in the next couple of days, and also included a couple of parents who help
us in the canteen, as they also have really bad eye sight. President Bong
tested all three and recommended glasses for all. Cararoo had the
prescriptions filled by a local optometrist. Cararoo also purchased an eye
chart that can be used in the canteen to test all children and President Bong
Canteen mothers with new glasses
Ashley’s new glasses
is happy to see groups of children at his surgery. Thank you President Bong.
Ashley has her eyes tested
Page 2 of 10
New testing program for all children