St. Vincent Ferrer Community School

Vincent Ferrer Community School is a Program of the Basic Christian Communities of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in La Granja; La Carlota City, Philippines. The year 1992 witnessed the birth of the first kinder school located at the parish center. The parish is composed of different areas distantly located from each other. The parish can best be described as the church of the poor. The establishment o

f the kinder schools in different communities is in response to the appeal of the parents. The Parish has also perceived the need for Christian education as an avenue to counter the problem of poverty; lack in education is a deterrent to progress. The parents also undergo updates on social awareness – health and national issues and others. Goal:
To make available early Christian education to children in rural areas before starting grade school;
To provide necessary preparation for elementary education and to start the process of conscientization for social transformation. Problems Encountered:
While public education if free, economic situation – problem of poverty, lack of food, resources to meet requirements in school is a deterrent to pursuing even early education for the children. Government sponsored Day Care Centers are not available to all areas especially the remote ones. The attitude of the parents of “Hopelessness”, because of their poverty Education is impossible to their children. The Present:
Fifteen years after, twelve (12) schools still serve the parish and communities. The kinder schools are being managed by the school board. The churchties from Vlaardingen, The Netherlands through the Kerkenband Foundation have been our enduring partner for more than a decade. There are two classrooms in the Main school located at the parish center and a chapel-cum-classrooms in the areas. In the remote areas condition of the schools is poor; much more when the recent typhoon Frank hit us. The roofs mostly of nipa - a local material needs replacements and the walls, made of bamboo slots need repair. Despite this poor condition the school goes on. Finance Source:
The school is supported by the Churchties through the kerkenband foundation; donation and voluntary monthly pledges; Parents’ share which is very minimal. Parents are encouraged to share so that it will not be a dole out program. Finance source is not enough but the schools continue to operate. What is sad about this, the teachers suffers as the school cannot afford to give them just wage. They accept the work out of need to earn even a little only and their desire to help the children in their communities. Yearly budget is between 450,000.00 - 500,000.00php

The Future:
With the present Economic crisis, we are not so sure what will be the future of the kinder schools. In our fifteenth year celebration of the school we have for our theme - “HOPE FOR THE SEEDS “. A Challenge to All Of us. Brief background:

organized in 1992 with one classroom of one teacher
the classroom was borrowed from a family whom their house was partly no in use
it later on grew into several satellite school (especially 1995)
the school came and was born from Kristianong Katilingban (Basic Christian Communities) hence it was called community school and not merely kinder school or day care center. The SVFCS is a community school because its existence derives from the community and it aims to educate not only the children but the community as well. SVFCS is a support from the community through pledges, donations, contributions.