“Nothing is too small when it comes from the heart…when put together, every little bit can build mountains”
Moving Ahead with a lot of HOPE
Nini Veloso (founder Sunshine Club)
2024 has opened her doors to us with renewed vitality in Sunshine Club. The year 2023 was productive and fruitful. Almost all onsite meetings with the children were already conducted within the school premises. The library has been renovated and improved, and except for get-togethers with a bigger number of volunteers, this is the ideal “home” for our monthly get-togethers. Ably assisted by our loyal Sally Balaños and with the help of Ms Sarena Inalisan, the school librarian, our partnership with Kalayaan Elementary School’s Adopt-A-School Program has been continual.
The monthly meetings allow us to interact and get to know the children up close. The activities this year are geared to help in their reading comprehension, a major subject which suffered greatly post-pandemic, especially among public school students. (https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/12/06/2316752/student-assessment-philippines-still-bottom-10). Partnering with us are the Happy Movers Club who will prepare activities for English enhancement for our Intermediate level beneficiaries.
Together with our scholars, I will be helping the primary-level students. Storytelling, interactive learning, and educational games are among our tools to help in this cause. In our monthly agenda, we include values formation as an underlying theme of our stories.
We also continue donating pre-loved books for the school library and their classroom reading corners. This is aligned with the Department of Education’s project “Catch-Up Fridays”.
For the year ahead, there will be more thrust in the activities for the mothers of the Sunshine Club kids. The Sunshine Moms team continue their catechism and values formation classes. Guests give talks on current issues like care for mental health, social media use, etc. to help them with their spiritual and family life. A dedicated donor has stepped up to assist the “Moms Team” in their activities. We thank Tita Lenny for this valuable partnership.
Our Assisted-Scholarship program now has two freshmen, three sophomores, two juniors, and one 4th year student. Almost all our assisted scholars are on the Honor Roll. The outstanding students communicate with their donors personally. In addition to the 8 scholars, two donors volunteered to help two former Sunshine Club students who need financial assistance for college.
We had two successful graduates for SY 2022-2023 including one who graduated as Summa Cum Laude. To date, we now have five college graduates gainfully employed in their fields who benefited from this program.
Our “60 of Anything for Christmas” 2023 was truly inspiring. We received numerous gifts in kind which helped us bring cheer to the families for the entire season of Advent on to the New Year. Packages of food, toys, school supplies and home goods were abundant from our loyal friends and partners. We appreciate ALL our gifts, big or small, for as our annual theme goes – “60 of anything” will always be special and much appreciated. After all, each present adds up to the whole – leading to such a festive array of gifts!
This year, Sunshine Club will officially celebrate its 18th year since it was founded in 2006. The outreach continues to thrive as it remains a circle of camaraderie and family life among the beneficiaries, the school, the volunteers, and our faithful donors. Asked many times about the secret of our small successful outreach: it is the unity strengthened by the gift of relationships formed through many years and abundantly blessed by the good Lord above.
We move forward: thanks to the solid partnerships, firm commitment, and dedicated work of all. Happy stories compound. Miracles abound. Hope indeed, is never lost.
Meet Our Fabulous Media Team!
As the Sunshine Club marks its 18th year, we are proud to celebrate the success of former “Sunshine kids” who have earned their college degrees, while others are soon to graduate. These individuals now contribute their time and resources as volunteers, serving as role models for the children, inspiring and encouraging them to achieve their dreams.
It is a privilege to work with such talented and dedicated individuals. We’re excited to provide our new team with the tools they need to promote the club effectively through social media. This is a big responsibility, but we are confident that these exceptional individuals will be the torchbearers for the Sunshine Club’s future, ensuring that it continues to thrive for years to come.
AIRAH DELA CRUZ
Photo Editor
KYLA MAE PIMENTEL
Video Editor
RONICA JANE CANTERE
Design & Layout
CHARMAINE CHESKA FESTIN
Design & Layout
PRINCESS SARAH PINTOR
Publication
JULIET JAVIER
Design & Layout
JAHNZELL MALINO
Publication
NINI VELOSO
Founder/Website Coordinator
MALEN MENDOZA-BAXTER
Website Design/Editor
Food for the Body
Food is an essential part of our lives, as it provides us with the necessary nutrients, minerals and energy that our bodies need to function properly and stay healthy. Sunshine Club prepares healthy and nutritious lunches for the children during the school term. Fresh produce and a variety of groceries are likewise delivered to the children and their families regularly.
Food for the Mind
Education is incredibly important as it provides individuals with knowledge, skills, and values that enable them to succeed in their personal and professional lives. Feeding the children allows them to have the energy to participate in class. The club arranges various activities such as arts and crafts, and visits to interesting places to stimulate creativity and to expose them to the world outside school.
Food for the Soul
Sunshine Club holds regular classes on Christian doctrines and values formation that deepen the children’s understanding and appreciation of their faith. Their parents are equally invited to attend parenting evenings where guidance is provided and where they learn from each other.