Open Heart Foundation’s partnership with the Mindoro State University, formerly Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Science and Technology (MinSCAT) started way back in 2007. Under the Children and Youth Development Program (CYDP), OHF supports college students from both the Main (Victoria) and Calapan City campuses with their education. For the academic year 2021-2022, a total of 15 students are being supported.
OHF team conducted a monitoring visit on November 23-24, 2021 in both campuses, to meet these students personally, as majority of them are expected to complete their degree and graduate by June 2022.
Through coordination with the Office of the Student Affairs Services (OSAS) and the support of DSAS Scholarship Coordinator Ms. Evelyn Leynes and Mr. Alexis Fortunato, the meeting became a success. Agreements between the students and Open Heart were re-established with the renewal of the Kasunduan (MOU) for the SY2021-2022.
Courtesy call with the Local Social Welfare and Development Offices of of Victoria and Calapan City were also conducted for the purpose of introducing the Foundation’s program/service implemented in their locality.
On November 23, MSWD Head, Mr. Manuel Melo welcomed the team with open arms as he expressed the possibility of partnership for capacity building of their child development workers and some programs to address increasing concerns with out-of-school youth in their municipality.
Meanwhile, a short meeting with CSWD Officer of Calapan City, Ms. Juvy L. Bahia, RSW transpired on Nov. 24 meeting. Trainings for the day care workers aside from the possibility to increase number of beneficiaries from the city were initially discussed.
