A Thousand Stories of Joy: Mondelez Philippines Concludes Year 2 of Joy Schools Program
Ranzelle’s story is also the subject of a short movie
available on Mondelez Philippines’ website. It shows how Ranzelle developed
from a shy and withdrawn child to one who participates in class, through the
help of a 9-month daily lunch feeding provided by Mondelez Philippines’ Joy
Schools program.
Her name is Ranzelle Ann Sombrero and this is her story of
joy. Ranzelle, residing in Tacloban was one of the hundreds of thousands of
children greatly affected by Typhoon Yolanda. Perhaps due to the trauma she
experienced or perhaps this was how life was for her but Ranzelle was a quiet
girl, hardly participating in school activities and always absent due to
various illnesses. Thankfully there was someone looking out for her, someone
who thought she deserved to experience joy in her young life.
That someone was her Teacher Villa P. Nacilla of Panalaron
Central Elementary School in Tacloban. In June 2014 the school became one of
the adopted Joy Schools of Mondelez Philippines. Seeing Ranzelle’s undernourished
condition, Teacher Nacilla made sure that Ranzelle would be part of Mondelez
Philippines’ daily feeding through the Joy Schools program.
“Wala po kasi akong makain minsan sa bahay dahil hindi
nakakapaghanda si Lola. Ang nanay ko naman po nasa Maynila. Hindi ko po alam
kung nasaan si Tatay,” goes Ranzelle’s story.
Turns out, those daily meals helped do wonders for Ranzelle.
The daily rice, viand, fruit and snack she received for nine months helped make
up for what she lacked at home. Ranzelle began to be active in class, always
reciting, always raising her hand to answer teachers’ questions. Coming to
school was exciting; not only because of the full meal she would receive but
because of the energy she now had to learn and develop.
In March of this year, Ranzelle not only passed the 4th Grade,
she also achieved the 1st Honor rank in her class. Her nutrition has improved
and she now even enjoys her school’s playground. Ranzelle is living proof of
how with a little joy, great things can happen for the future leaders of the
country.
Ranzelle, energized every school day and present in
class was even able to achieve 1st Honors at the end of her 4th Grade, less
than 2 years after Typhoon Yolanda devastated her hometown of Tacloban.
Bringing Joy, Creating the Future. Launched in 2013 during
Mondelez Philippines’ 50th year in the country, the Joy Schools program aims to
help create joyful centers of learning through interventions for nutrition,
teacher training and facilities improvement. Unique in its own right, the Joy
Schools aims to help turn sadness into joy for three of the most pressing
problems of public elementary schools today.
Now celebrating its 52nd anniversary, the Company formerly
named Kraft Foods has seen more than a thousand stories of joy created through the
help of its 9-month daily feeding program for undernourished students, urban
gardening seminar for schools and parents, teacher values formation and skills
training, and facilities improvement to create a conducive and joyful learning
environment. All these the Company was able to achieve through the support of
its partner, the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).
The Results of Joy. In March of this year, 85% of its 1,064
feeding beneficiaries achieved normal nutritional status, from being
undernourished. Feeding programs are great motivators for attendance as such
90% of these students became present everyday during the last school year.
Furthermore, their constant attendance ensured they achieved and maintained
above passing grades for the whole year.
The story of Ryzza was made the subject of a short movie available on Mondelez Philippines’ website. In the video, you'll see that it depicts how Ryzza was instructed by Teacher Atregenio to read with the help of a Remedial Reading seminar she attended, made possible by Mondelez Philippines’ Joy Schools program.
It wasn’t just the students who experienced joy either. Teachers
received exclusive training from the Ateneo Center for Educational Development
and the Learning Library. Parents received training from East West Seed
Foundation and supplies to start their own gardens and grow their own
vegetables. Also, schools received books and sports and play equipment for
their students’ enjoyment. Truly, joy was felt by everyone.
Joy You can Take with You, Always. Lady Ryzza Sanchez, now a
Grade 3 student of Joy School Padre Zamora Elementary in Pasay has her own
story of joy. Her story starts with as much sadness for Ryzza was a concern for
her teachers for being noisy, disruptive and talkative in class. Teachers’
patience was tested, including that of Teacher Lailane B. Atregenio.
“Ryzza, bakit ka hindi nakikinig sa klase?” was Teacher Atregenio’s
question.
“Teacher, hindi po ako marunong magbasa.”
These were the five words in Ryzza’s story that would help result
to great joy in her life. It was through the learning from the Remedial Reading
seminar Teacher Atregenio attended and the help of the new remedial reading
corner, both provided by Mondelez Philippines that Ryzza began to learn to read.
Excited, Ryzza would read even at night, memorizing the words and letters she
copied that day in her notebook. She started with words, and eventually moved
to books like her favorite “Si Daginding.”
As Ryzza began to read, she also began to gain
self-confidence. Now a transformed book lover, Ryzza isn’t part of the remedial
reading class anymore but she drops by from time to time to learn some more and
create more joy for herself.
Now, Ryzza is able to read and even has a favorite
book.
The stories of Ranzelle and Ryzza tell us that joy cannot be
donated or given. It is created together, through partnership and concern for
each other.
“Two years into our Joy Schools program we have seen that
the true joy comes from the passion and dedication of our partners, teachers,
principals and parents,” shares Maria Cindy C. Lim, Head of Corporate Affairs
of Mondelez Philippines. “Together, we are able to help the students create joy
for themselves, to write and weave these stories of joy that hopefully they
will remember forever. We’ve helped create more than a thousand stories so far,
and we’re eager to help write a thousand more as we continue our program this
year.”
For more information on the Joy Schools program, visit http://ph.mondelezinternational.com/well-being/community-partnerships and watch the stories of Ryzza and Ranzelle.
Mondelez Philippines is celebrating 52 years in the Philippines.
Please do check out the success stories of the kids at
Mondelez Philippines' Joy Schools Program
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