Compostela Valley's "Bayanihan sa Karunungan", a literacy program of the provincial government, has been successful in its summer activity dubbed as "Summer Big Brother".

The 15-day reading camp was in cooperation with the Department of Education and mining firm King-King Copper-Gold Project (KCGP).

KCGP is a partnership between Nationwide Development Corporation (Nadecor) and St. Augustine Gold & Copper Ltd. (SAGCL) wherein the two companies are working together to develop the world class King-king Project while partnering with the community to meet the needs of Pantukan.

The summer activity culminated last May 29 at the Nabunturan Provincial Capitol. On its launching season early this year, organizers identified top three elementary schools in each municipality with lower or below average reading and comprehension skills in most of their students during the previous school year.

Teacher-volunteers were then deployed to conduct reading and comprehension lessons during summer break to ready the students for the next school year, and to lessen time and resources off teachers when regular classes start.

In his message to the student-beneficiaries, teacher-volunteers and stakeholders and sponsors during the culmination program, Board Member Jayvee Tyron Uy, on behalf of Governor Arturo Uy, expressed his thanks to those who supported the activity from start to finish, and wish to receive the same support for the next season.

He added that the program will continue to address the reading dilemma especially at the elementary level. In support of the literacy program, the KCGP also donated P200,000.

One of KCGP's scholars a Pantukan local and a 4th Year Mining Engineering Student of the University of Southeastern Philippines, John Darwin Amag, also became one of the teacher-volunteers and taught students in the town of Montevista.
Amag said that it was really a challenge for him to teach students who have difficulty absorbing the lessons but felt fulfilled because he was able to impart knowledge to others.

He was assigned in a remote school and had to stay in the campus for the whole duration of the camp. Despite having no monetary gain, he was very happy for the experience and will not hesitate to volunteer again for the next season's camp.

King-king Copper-Gold Project is committed in investing in the growth and development of the community through education and to encourage Pantukan's growth by helping the young people have a brighter future.

SOURCE: http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1145537