A decade and two ago, Kagay-anon visual artist was awarded a fellowship on graphic designing and communication in India as the country representative of the Philippines through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
A decade and two ago, Kagay-anon visual artist was awarded a fellowship on graphic designing and communication in India as the country representative of the Philippines through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The eight week program from March 3 to April 29, 2008 was sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India under the auspices of its ITEC/SCAAP Program and conducted by APTECH Computer Education in the Indian Capital City of New Delhi.
“The course I attended helped me acquire skills in designing information materials necessary in my work assignments, particularly in producing creative concepts in advertising TESDA programs and how this information should be delivered to the clienteles,” recalls Marigold Cherie Ramos-Garrido, now Provincial Director of TESDA Misamis Oriental.
“In addition to the IT skills gained, the opportunity to tour around India helped me widen my personal perspectives about other cultures apart from our own. From this program, I gained a deeper understanding about how people interact and make their lives more meaningful,” she added.
On top of the training, Garrido was also privileged to be tapped as resource person in one of the program’s social outreach for street children.
“It was a golden moment sharing my knowledge on basic drawing with 50 street children in South Delhi in partnership with Hope Education Center, a non-government organization engaged in providing education to the less privileged children,” she recalls.
“As we arrived at the venue, we saw wide-eyed children who were shy but excited to meet us. They were all wearing their blue uniforms with a smile and were all very obedient to their teachers. Elisa and I were both touched to see these children too young and innocent to experience poverty and hardship.”
“We were asked to impart our knowledge in sketching with the hope that they would be encouraged to aspire and determine their future careers despite their lowly state. According to Aptech, we were there to inspire them to dream about their future as well as stimulate their creative skills.”
“They thought we were there to help them but for us, we were not the ones who gave them something, but rather these children gave us something more valuable.”
“Being with them made me realize that children are all the same regardless of race, nationality and culture. They all possess common outlook in life particularly about modesty. No matter how brief such moment I spent with them but it was truly a humbling experience that I will treasure for the rest of my life.”
“Just as I was about to feel at home in Delhi it was time to leave. We spent teary-eyed moments bidding farewell with friends whom we have built good friendships.”
“In particular, she cited Ms. Sonia Narula, APTECH Vice President; Mr. Hanit Vairagi, Facilitator; and Ms. Rimi Karan, Trainor.
I surely miss India as there is much beauty in the country not only in the ladies and places, but also the people and their culture.
The country is something mystical that somehow my heart lent this place a special feel. Tata India… jaldi milenge (see you soon). (More to come next week).
