By Faith Segundo, Resource Generation Manager, St. Mary Euphrasia Integrated Development Foundation (SMEIDFI), Quezon, Philippines
As one of the largest cities in the Philippines, Quezon City in Metro Manila is home to a myriad of vibrant communities. But among its neighborhoods, some grapple with extreme poverty, where basic needs often go unmet. Bagong Silangan is one such community. Most residents here have limited access to livelihood opportunities and resort to informal activities for subsistence. There is little by way of basic services, including education.
Early childhood is a critical period for cognitive, emotional, and social growth. During these formative years, the foundations for lifelong learning, behavior, and health are established, and for children in Bagong Silangan, access to quality early childhood programs can be transformative.
Recognizing this, the Good Shepherd Sisters in the Philippines established the Headstart Play and Learn Center in October 2004 in Bagong Silangan in hopes of bringing profound and lasting impacts to the lives of disadvantaged children and their families through early childhood care and development.
The program is coordinated by the St. Mary Euphrasia Integrated Development Foundation (SMEIDFI), the social development arm of the Good Sheperd Sisters in the Philippines, with support from benefactors, partners-in-mission, and community volunteers.
It is a responsive program catering to the developmental needs of children to ensure their readiness for formal education. It not only provides educational opportunities, but also ensures that children receive adequate nutrition, healthcare, and psychosocial support.
Headstart Play and Learn promotes inclusive education by providing accessible and culturally relevant learning opportunities whereby children from marginalized backgrounds are given a fair start in life.
As a community-based program it trains local residents as volunteer educators and community workers for collective effort in supporting the early childhood care and development program. It also ensures parents and guardians receive guidance and education on child-rearing practices, enhancing their ability to support their children’s development.
By levelling the playing field for society’s youngest members, Headstart contributes to long-term social equity and economic mobility. Since its establishment, the Headstart program has served more than a thousand children in Bagong Silangan. In addition to the services mentioned it also offers regular health check-ups and nutritious meals to help combat malnutrition and preventable diseases, ensuring that children are healthy and ready to learn.
Former students have notably shown progress in their intellectual abilities, values, and attitudes. Moreover, parents within the community have developed essential life skills and gained insights into effective parenting, children’s rights, and women’s rights.
Through Headstart, the Good Shepherd Sisters in the Philippines will continue to lay the groundwork for a brighter future, where all children, regardless of their socio-economic status, can have the opportunity to reach their full potential — creating a ripple effect of positive change that can uplift the entire community.
