October, 2008
 


Cargill FHM Student Stands Out
Two and a half years ago, Cargill sponsored the first class of FHM kids in Malolos, Bulacan. The school now serves over 80 children - and is starting to make its mark! A new, light-filled building makes FHM more visible. Our students are being noticed, too. Recently, 6th-grader and Cargill scholar Angela Caldito placed 5th in Science in the MACIPRISA Contest, organized by the Malolos City Private Schools Association. Congratulations to Angela — and to your teachers!

In a recent thank you note to Cargill, Angela wrote…
“Everything changed for me physically, mentally, and emotionally...I changed physically because I started to grow taller. I also learned to practice thinking more deeply about things. Now I’m thinking about my emotions and learning how to manage them…I help my cousins with their assignments. I do this because helping others is one of the things I learned in this school. Thank you for being my sunshine.”		  
 

In this Issue:

  • Cargill FHM Student Stands Out
  • A Thank You Note
  • Navitaire Volunteers Bag Major Accenture Award
  • Community Fire and Response
  • Parent Bags Project Expands
  • News From FHM Graduates
  • Parent Bags Project Expands
  • GE Employees Host Ecopark Adventure
 


Photo by Jaypee Maristaza

Navitaire Volunteers Bag Award
For five years, Navitaire’s Manila employees have invested in FHM. That their efforts support the business, as well as the children, was recognized by a major Accenture Award, the Sarimanok, given to Navitaire Hungry Minds School Volunteers “For developing and implementing the best people programs that positively influence employee engagement.” Since the company’s integration into Accenture, its mother company, new colleagues from the 16,000-strong Accenture Philippines workforce have become involved. An email query to the global FHM account read, “I’ve seen the fulfillment and happiness in you guys and also the joy in every HMS kid’s eyes; that’s why I really want to inquire and, hopefully, be one of the volunteers.”
 
Community Fire and Response
When a July fire swept through the Paco community, FHM parents were among the first to help their neighbors. Though five FHM children lost their homes, all of these children were in school the next day. Teachers brought in clothes. Soon donations for the homeless began to arrive from employee friends at places like Navitaire, General Mills, and Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan Law Offices. Funds helped with immediate needs like rice. They also let families buy roofing material, wood for posts, and cement to rebuild basic shelters. For many, things are still very difficult.
 

Graduate Successes
We are always glad when FHM graduates are admitted to good schools. A few admissions highlights are below. Watching the children succeed is even more satisfying. Donors for high school, enjoy seeing some outcomes that your support — and the students hard work — have made possible.

Manila Science High School
2
Philippine Normal University Lab School
3
Students Among Top 20 Paco Catholic Applicants
6
 

2008 High School First Quarter Results:

  • Philippine Normal University Lab School class rankings: #1,#2,#7
  • ERDA Tech Foundation: Batch Rank #1
  • Paco Catholic: 4 Merit Achievers and 2 Second Honors
  • Manila Science High: Average Science, English and Math grades over 87
  • Awards for Outstanding Character and Conduct, Spelling Bee, and Speaker of the Quarter
 
Recycled Bags: Mothers Teach Mothers
While her son was in the FHM school, Nanay [Mother] Wilma was always a parent leader. Her son now studies in Don Bosco Technical Institute, but Nanay Wilma’s leadership continues. Her sewing sets the standard as parents turn old rice and flour bags into reusable marketing bags. The high price of rice means that bags are harder to find: fewer people have money to buy a whole bag of rice at one time. Many stand in long lines for small amounts of government-subsidized rice. Recently, mothers from the Malolos FHM school visited Manila and learned to make bags from parents like Nanay Wilma. When fire broke out in the community, what one thing did a mother take from her home? She saved the refurbished Singer machine that she has been buying on installments. The project helps feed her family.		  
 
    GE Employees Host FHM Ecopark Adventure
How often do children from depressed communities get to enjoy nature’s beauty? Manila GE employees organized and shared a day with FHM children at a park. The Ecopark was created a watershed critical to the Metro Manila water supply. In a day they will long remember, kids planted trees, rowed on the lake, and watched science lessons come to life.
 

Learn more about the Food for Hungry Minds community at http://www.foodforhungryminds.org.

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