JOY KIDDIE CENTER - CHANGING THE WORLD ONE CHILD AT A TIME

  It is often said that we have the ability to change the world.

 

  It isn't often that we meet such a person. John Go Hoc is from China and has been in the Philippines most of his life. Living in Intramurous gives a person a different outlook on life. There are many little children there from families that have nothing and are transient at best. They live around the Port of Manila and may be gone in a short time.
  In the summer of 2007, John thought is would be good to give a daily Bible study to the informal settler children that were just hanging around in the streets by his home. Without much prodding around 100 children attended. After the week was over, many of the children returned and wanted to learn more. Impressed by their eagerness to learn he began to teach them on the steps of his home. That was the beginning of the Joy Kiddie Center and Foundation.

 

We found ourselves playing on the same things the children do.

 

 

This is a center for learning and is in addition to the school they already go to. But John has rules that affect the children when they come to the center.

1. Children must be 5 years of age. They must know the password to enter which is a Bible Verse that changes weekly.

2. Day starts with prayer, flag raising and National Anthem in the morning for the children that go to school in the afternoon and the day ends with prayer, flag lowering and National Anthem at the end of the day for children with morning school.

3. There is devotional time for 15 minutes daily with Bible verses and stories.

4. One hour of lessons in reading, writing and arithmetic and arts and crafts.

5. Special attention is given to those that need help with homework or special assignments.

6. Up to 1 and 1/2 hours of playground time is allowed for those caught up with their work.

 

 

John started by himself but now has 20 young men and women that teach the over 400 children that attend each day. He also has a bakery deliver day old product to give the children something to eat on a daily basis. He also supplies a daily vitamin to supplement their nutritional needs. He has affected the lives of many Filipino children and is changing the world one little light at a time. His motto is 'It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness'. He helps them get into college and even gives them 1000 Pecos each month to spend to be able to go out with friends and be part of the social part of academia.

 

 

In all he spends over 100,000 Pecos each month of his own money to give these kids an opportunity to achieve. Most of us do not have the ability to provide the financial means that John can, but we can all do something. Today is a good day to start.