Professional Documents
Culture Documents
COFFEY
IN THE PHILIPPINES
JOHN COFFEY NOV 2009 - NOV 2010
WHAT AM I ABOUT?
ABOUT I am very passionate about two
PHILIPPINES TEACHING IN things: education and poverty. In the
• Location: ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS last year, I completed my Bachelor of
Southeast IN TORONTO Education at the University of Toronto,
Asia, south of
China and I experienced the joy of teaching
• Population: Kindergarten-Gr. 6 classes in various
90 million inner-city schools. Bringing my guitar
• Metro Manila
is 11th largest
to class each day, I frequently incor-
city in world porated music into my teaching. I also
with 16 million brought the desire to facilitate the
people
learning of children with special
• 7,000 islands
make up the needs. For the summer, I will be
country teaching and counseling at a summer
camp for children with
special needs.
WHY THE PHILIPPINES?
Manila, Philippines is one of the most overpopulated CHILDREN FROM
THE SLUMS
cities in the world. I was appalled and broken-
hearted at the sight of densely packed squatter
communities that stretched for miles, sometimes
through dump sites. Many school-aged children in
these areas and in the slums do not have the oppor-
tunity to get any formal education. Often basic needs
for food, sanitation, and safety come before the need
for education. My desire is to help urban poor chil-
dren achieve both these basic needs and to have the
opportunity to learn skills that can lead to future em-
ployment. Specifically, I will be feeding and washing
street children, helping youth with addictions, and
teaching literacy programs for the urban poor. I am
also hoping to take Tagalog lessons and to volunteer
in a small elementary school in a squatter commu-
nity.