Joel graduated from Minglanilla Boystown, the Philippines in 2022. In the months before he left, Joel was invited to speak at the United Nations Transforming Education Summit in Manila, Philippines.
Joel had a difficult start to life. He comes from a loving family in the Philippines, but his father is a poor fisherman and his mother a housewife who does odd work to help support their family. The family struggled for basic necessities and it was a big sacrifice for Joel to go to Cebu to complete his secondary school.
“I truly discovered the talents and capabilities that I thought I didn’t possess. I served as a class mayor of our section from grade 7 until 9. Also, I served as a commander of the CAT officers for almost four years. I became a photojournalist for one year. Until I became the president of the whole student body of the school. I am also privileged to attend the Stakeholders’ Convergence: UN Transforming Education Summit 2022 held at Pasay City.”
Joel is stepping out into the world as a new graduate with so many opportunities that he would not otherwise have, if it were not for the quality education the Sisters of Mary School gave him.
The impact of our work is increased when the children graduate from the programmes. Graduates are keen and motivated to acknowledge the opportunities they received. They want to ensure they share their good fortune to help the future generations at the school onto greater productivity. Graduate support boys and girls currently at the schools and fellow graduates in need of help.
They also help the Sisters with programme delivery, teaching, extra-curricular support, on the job training opportunities, jobs and with their outreach work in the community to reach new children in need. Their support is inspirational for the children at school, a lifeline for the Sisters and for graduating children and has been invaluable during the current pandemic.
Alumni associations have been developed by these graduates in many of the countries, particularly the Philippines and Mexico, to provide more structured support for graduates and for the Sisters. In the Philippines the alumni organisation is ASMSI and in Mexico, Gravini.