ON-GOING FLAGSHIP PROJECT OF RC GREENMEADOWS PROJECT LOVEE

RC Greenmeadows adopted the poor communities of Tabaco and Lipat-Lipat, Barangay Hulo, Pililla, Rizal composed of farmers, farm workers, and other persons from areas with peace and order problems such as Samar and Bicol provinces who relocated to Metro Manila but eventually got displaced. These people were considered by the Bureau of Census and Statistics as the poorest of the poor Filipinos with annual incomes of P 12,000.00 or less. They do not have the resources to provide the basic necessities of living nor the source of steady income to finance the education of their children. Thus, the communities in these areas became the breeding places of not only delinquent children but also trouble maker adults. Early marriages and separations, fatherless or motherless uneducated children, drug addiction, theft and anti-social behaviors were common, driving the residents deeper into the quagmire of poverty and hopelessness. The Rotary Club of Greenmeadows (RCGM) decided to adopt these communities and transformed them into a Rotary Community Corps (RCC). To respond to this dire situation, the club launched its flagship project called Project LOVEE (Livelihood projects, Outreach programs, Value formation, Environment and Education).

Rotary Community Corps with above livelihood project

Other previous livelihood projects were:

Project LOVEE is a total approach to transform the community from the poorest of the poor residents to selfsufficient and respectable communities.
The following activities over the years of Project LOVEE with the Rotary Community Corps as partners are: 1. Livelihood Projects To better provide for the basic needs of the community, the Rotary club of Greenmeadows organized the Rotary Community Corps (RCC) of Hulo, Pililla, Rizal to assist the Rotarians in implementing the planned community development projects. The RCCs 100 members compose of farmers and their wives were given seminars on cultivation of high value crops rather than the traditional rice, corn, potatoes and cassava. A Food and Drug Administration approved plant was set-up to buy and process their produce. Members of the RCC are hred as workers. Finished products are sold under the brand name Uncle Toms. Label states that this is a livelihood project of the Rotary Community Corps of Hulo supported by the Rotary Club of Greenmeadows District 3780. The club through its Community Service Projects Committee assists in marketing the products.

ROTARICE First project for financing Free Range Chicken: Sasso Range marginal farmers and introduction of Chicken from France to improve Hybrid rice cultivation. native chicken breed.

A farmers cooperative was organized to better coordinate the activities. A municipal agriculturist through the efforts and resources of the club was requested from the municipal mayor to assist the cooperative and to teach the farmers to plant high-value short-gestation crops. Members have undergone training for what crops to plant, when to plant and where to plant for best results. The RCC is now engaged in egg plant production, tomato production, sweet corn and hybrid cucumber and preserved cucumber and jams. These are higher value short-gestation crops which are more profitable for RCC to market.

3. Value Formation Catechists were invited to foster love of God, country, parents and the elderly. Seminars were conducted by experts regarding Old Filipino Values such as respect and love of parents and elders, honesty, courtesy, and being humble and respectful.

Officers of RC Greenmeadows Community Corps

Regular Catechism sessions

4. Environment Care and Protection Club conducted seminars on waste segregation and conversion of biodegradable waste to fertilizer. RCC undertook tree-planting on the slope of the mountain near the schoolhouse and clean-up of the creek to avoid polluting the source of drinking water. The community was encouraged to stop the practice of burning leaves, tires, etc. as it contributes to ozone layer destruction. They were also encouraged to build toilets for each home to stop throwing out of the windows their human waste called flying saucers . A pathway to the communitys drinking/washing water source was constructed through bayanihan . Rotary Club of Esslingen Am Neckar of Germany donated P 40,000.00 to this project. The RCC planted 200 narra and mahogany trees at the back of the school building to prevent soil erosion and landslide that can endanger the students. Also planted were additional hundreds of narra and mahogany trees on vacant unproductive areas for future generations. A couple from the RCC were made to attend a seminar on proper waste disposal. They engaged also in the cleaning and removal of garbage in the creeks and rivers near their area. RCC campaigned to discourage people from using electricity and poison to fish in rivers and creeks since these

Members of Alahas Cooperative

Club is now coordinating with the Land Bank of the Philippines. This will empower the members by providing them with credit facility for access to cheap capital to invest in some farm equipment. 2. Outreach Projects Our club conducts yearly medical/dental and optical missions to provide for free consultations, medicines, dental care and tooth extractions, eye examinations and free eyeglasses. There is also at least an annual food, clothing and gift giving project. Through Matching Grant 65310 participated in by the Rotary Club of Brighton North, Rotary Club of Gladstone South and Rotary Club of Adelaide (Australian clubs), potable water and electricity are provided to Hulo Elementary and High School with the installation of a deep well and generator set.

Our Rotary Community Corps were on hand to prepare above projects and their orderly executions. They provide manual labor assistance in clearing the areas and the actual implementation of the matching grant project itself.

Deep Well with Generator from Matching Grant Project Regular tree planting activity. 7

School built by government at instance of RCGM A view of the bald vacant area before After the tree planting by the RCC

80 scholars of RCGM selected from the top 10% of each grade

substances kill small and big fishes. RCC discouraged their sons and daughters from killing birds, snakes, lizards, etc., especially endangered species like iguana, monitor lizards and the like. RCC campaigned against the indiscriminate cutting of trees for charcoal. 5. Education The community is located 4 kilometers away from the nearest school. There were less than 20 children going to school because of the distance and lack of funds to go to school. Problems of early marriages and separation, drug addiction, petty thievery and other crimes were common. A school was started in a 9 x 5 meters chicken house with 90 students. It went up to 120 in the second year and with the construction of school buildings reached more than 800 in 20092010. More than one thousand students are expected to enroll in school year 20132014. The school was cited as number one in learning growth in 2008 out of 57 schools in the region. This all started when RC Greenmeadows requested the local government to provide a 5,000 sq. m. area for the

computer tables and chairs. The municipal government on its part built a multi-purpose covered court. Club usually grants full scholarship for the top five (5) students of each class - 30 Elementary students (Grades 1 to 6) and 20 high school students. There are half scholarships for poor but deserving students who could not have continued schooling without Rotary assistance for a total of 120 students in Elementary and 50 High school students. For Pre-schoolers, the club advances the cost of setting up 25 students for their Prep School. Additionally, the club gives financial rewards to top 3 grade 6 students and top 3 fourth year high school graduates in the amount of P 1,500, P 1,000 and P 500 for the valedictorians, salutatorians and first honorable mentions, respectively. Altogether there are a total of 251 student-recipients. Significantly, the school is now ranked by the Department of Education # 1 in Pililla and #3 in the District, in terms of the quality of their students.

The first school established was a chicken house for 90 students

Club Members at Inauguration of First Classrooms

Needless to say, the beneficiaries and communities with the help of the Rotary Community Corps are very grateful to our club who has changed the lives of people with the long term benefits extended. Indeed this is a WOW project, with clapping grateful beneficiaries, a work of love under Project LOVEE.

construction of school buildings to be donated by the Rotary Club of Greenmeadows. A five-room school building with toilets was constructed. RC Greenmeadows also donated chairs, teachers tables, platform, blackboard and books for the library. Funds came from contributions of the members and friends. Encouraged by this civic action, the Department of Education constructed an 8-room conrete elementary school building and another 8-room building for high school. Today, there are 21 modern classrooms. Club donated ten brand new computers each for the elementary school and high school complete with printers,
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Award from the Department of Education