Photos by Mr. Mike Midem

In two consecutive weekends, a total number of 45 students lived among indigent families and residents of Gawad Kalinga Village of Sitio Ratay in Sta.Cruz, Calabanga, Camarines Sur.

“The whole immersion activity aims at exposing the students to realities in the society”, Mr. Ireneo Quejada, Coordinator of Student Activities and Community Program, explains. “The exposure trips and immersions all respond to the mission and vision of the school”, he further adds.

Held on November 5, 6, and 7 and 12, 13, 14, students stayed with pre-selected families in the GK village. The students spent time with the family members and did household chores. They even helped the family members in their livelihood.

“The immersion serves as awakening to many students as many of them are raised in well-to-do families”, Mr. Quejada explains. “We expect them to grow in awareness respond to these societal reality sooner or later in life,” he ended.

The students we chaperoned by volunteer teachers who camped out in the village. They monitored student behavior and responded to emergency cases. The teachers also conducted the post-activity processing of learning in the immersion.