Some people may be wondering why some children of remote schools in Nueva Vizcaya are proudly sporting similar hairstyles these days.
This can be attributed to the work of new haircutters who were trained under the Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. - Ang • Hortaleza Foundation, Inc. Ganda Mo Hanapbuhay Ko program. In line with its holistic approach in extending assistance to residents of poor communities, TYKFI launched the Gupitan sa Paaralan, bringing the trainees to communities and public elementary schools in Nueva Vizcaya from August–December, 2015 to cut the hair of kids at a very affordable price. The first three Gupitan sa Paaralan activities were held at the Tan Yan Kee Elementary School on August 11, 2015; Sinapaoan Elementary School on September 1, 2015; and Macdu Elementary School on December 3, 2015. This project was supervised by Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. Corporate Communications Officer Valerie Tan, with the assistance of Evelyn Abao and Jan Nazarene Irorita. Under the Gupitan sa Paaralan program, the participating school requested the TYKFI to invite the trainees to a half-day haircutting session. Meanwhile, the school head coordinated with the local parents-teachers association to announce the holding of the Gupitan activity. Each school was spearheaded by the school head and was assisted by the assigned teacher per grade level. Students permitted by their parents to have their hair cut were asked to pay a token five pesos (P5.00) each to the haircutters. Meanwhile, TYKFI also paid the volunteers an additional P15.00 per haircut for a total price of P20.00/head. The price is considered very minimal compared to the average P40.00/haircut in the province. This is TYKFI’s way of serving not only the children from poor communities who cannot afford a good haircut but also providing additional income and livelihood opportunities to the unemployed. More than 400 students from the three participating schools benefitted from this TYKFI project. The students were also expected to learn proper grooming and hygiene from the haircutters. Parents and teachers were happy and satisfied with the services of the haircutters. They told TYKFI organizers that they hope the haircutters will visit their schools again on a regular basis for the kids’ haircut. As Krisha Jayne P. Binan, grade 5 student from Tan Yan Kee Elementary School said: “Maraming-maraming salamat po sa Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. Napakalaking tulong po ninyo sa buhay namin. Kahit sa simpleng gupit lamang sa murang halaga may malaking tulong na rin ito. Wala na pong mas hihigit pas sa mga tulong na inyong naibibigay sa amin. I hope this will not be the last time that you’re going to help us. More power and God Bless! Again, thank you so much Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. and most especially, Dr. Lucio Tan.” |
What the Haircutters say about their part-time livelihood and volunteer work:
Malaki po ang naitulong ng Gupitan sa Paaralan sa amin, lalong lalo na sa aking husband dahil may katuwang na sya sa hanapbuhay. Hindi po nasasayang ang aking oras at natututo akong magtrabaho ng mabilis. Higit sa lahat, napakabuti ng Foundation sa aming mahihirap dahil sila ang gumagawa ng paraan upang makatulong kami sa aming pamilya. Maraming-maraming salamat po.--Thelma Piedal
Malaki po ang naitulong sa akin ng Gupitan sa Paaralan,lalo na sa knowledge,diskarte at kung paano ako mag-gugupit dahil iba’t iba kase ang hugis at kapal ng buhok ng tao. Dito rin ako natuto kung ano ang babagay sa gugupitan ko, natrain din ako ng husto at higit sa lahat nageenjoy ako sa tuwing may schedule ng Gupitan. Importante, kumikita pa ako na dagdag tulong pinansyal para sa gastusin at pangangailangan ng aking pamilya.
Natuto rin ako kung paano makisama sa mga dinadayo naming gugupitan,at sa aking mga kasama na mas nakikilala ko pa. Higit sa lahat, ang aking trabaho at mas mabilis na ako magtrabaho …garantisado.
Ang “commitment” ko sa community ay ang pagiging handa na tumulong sa tuwing may mangangailangan ng aking trabaho. Ang paggugupit ay tulad ng medical mission.
Maraming maraming salamat po sa TYKFI dahil hindi birong samahan ninyo kami kung saan man ang scheduled service namin. Tinatanaw ko po na malaking utang na loob dahil kami po ang napili ninyong tulungan. Handa po akong sumama sa tuwing may Gupitan activity po tayo. Gina Abat
Nakakatulong po ng malaki sa kabuhayan ng pamilya ko ang natutunan ko sa haircutting. Ang kaunting kinikita naman po sa Gupitan at nakakatulong din sa pag-aaral ng mga anak koOlivia Bumagat
Nakatulong sa akin ang Gupitan sa Paaralan ng TYKFI dahil lalong dumami ang mga customers ko. Natuto rin akong mag impok sa pamamagitan ng paggugupit at pakikisama sa mga customers ko.
Ang commitment ko sa community ay mas pagbubutihin ko pa ang aking trabaho ko at serbisyo at pakikisama sa mga customers. Maraming salamat po sa sa TYKFI sa ibinigay ninyong pagtulong sa akin at sa mga kasamahan ko. God bless po and more power. Marlon Gadingan