—— Interview with CORPh Program Coordinator, Wyn
Jocelyn, Social Media Marketing Officer, CORHQ
Date Published
Estimated reading time
5 mins
In the education field of Calls Over Ridges Philippines, a local team member holds a storybook in her hand, moving with lively gestures as she tells a story. The children’s eyes follow her closely, drawn in by her words, fully immersed in the world of the tale. She is Wyn.
Before joining Calls Over Ridges Philippines, Wyn had nearly 9 years of teaching experience. She worked as a public school teacher and later joined the local organization Teach For The Philippines, reaching remote communities and supporting children who were falling behind academically in school.
Poverty Will Always Put a Wall Between the Student and the School
In the remote communities of the Philippines, the barriers to learning go far beyond textbooks. They are rooted in the harsh realities of daily life.
When Wyn first became a teacher in a rural area, she met a student named Goryo. Although in the third grade, he could not read the alphabet, nor had he developed basic literacy skills, let alone kept up with the increasingly demanding curriculum. When Wyn first met him, he struggled to sit still for even 30 minutes. He was often absent from class, and Wyn had to ask around the neighborhood just to find him.
Goryo’s behavior was not mischief but the reflection of hardship. The pandemic had taken his mother’s life. His father, a crab catcher, struggled to provide enough food for Goryo and his siblings. Goryo’s story mirrors the struggles of countless Filipino children.
“In the Philippines, education is a wicked problem. It’s an ending problem; there are a lot of factors, but what I can identify, see firsthand, is poverty.” From Wyn’s teaching experience, she has seen that poverty leads to hunger, family conflict, the burden of caring for younger siblings—factors that make school, even if nearby, feel impossibly far away.
The Most Effective Teaching Strategy Is to Engage the Heart First Before Reaching the Mind
After learning about Goryo’s struggles, Wyn began taking him to the nearby market before class, letting him choose something to eat. A simple “Kamustahan? (How are you?)” became their bridge of connection. After a few classes, Goryo slowly opened up, began following her guidance, and even started sharing his personal worries.
Her experience with Goryo helped Wyn discover her teaching strategy—engage the heart first before reaching the mind. Facing many challenges, she believes the most important role of a teacher is to make every lesson joyful and engaging. She describes using a unique “superpower” to make children feel happy in her teaching. She will transform herself into any character, with exaggerated movements and energy; she shifts like a cartoon character every few seconds, turning her classroom into an animated performance.
For Wyn, creativity is the most important element in teaching—turning learning into an adventure full of surprise.
▼ Wyn is always fully devoted to every teaching session—no matter the medium, her passion for teaching can always be felt ▼
Stepping into the Community, Becoming the Bridge Between Children, Parents to the Education Programs
When Goryo completed the reading program, he attended the graduation ceremony wearing a neat uniform and shoes pieced together by neighbors. Picture the celebration of his perseverance and resilience from the community. Riding him to the ceremony on a bicycle was a neighbor, who often shared updates about Goryo with Wyn. Witnessing this, Wyn could not hold back her tears—it was proof of the saying: “It takes a whole village to raise a child.”
Her experience as a rural teacher taught Wyn that teaching does not end in the classroom; it continues in the community, with the children themselves. This realization led her to join Calls Over Ridges Philippines. Like her teaching approach—engage the heart first before reaching the mind—she became the connector between education programs, children, and their communities. Through the nutrition program and literacy programs, she designed creative workshops where parents learned about nutrition and children fell in love with reading through fun storytelling sessions.
Amat-Amat Lang — Slowly, Step by Step, Trust the Process
Over the one year at Calls Over Ridges Philippines, Wyn’s greatest learning has been understanding the importance of knowing the communities. “If you have this strong connection with the community, Everything will just flow naturally.” Wyn shared with excitement, and she is one of the key roles in building these connections.
Facing the immense challenges of education, Wyn describes her approach with a phrase in her mother tongue: Amat-amat lang, meaning step by step, slowly, trusting the process. One problem at a time, one small action at a time—helping a child become absorbed in a story, or engaging parents with sincerity.
Each small effort adds up, gathering into a powerful force that drives waves of educational change. “I am always reminded of how small steps can have a huge impact on the life of a student. Especially if you show up to them even in unexpected times. What I realized in the experience is that a child’s potential can be realized if they have full support around the world.”
about the author
Jocelyn
Jocelyn is CORHQ’s Social Media Marketing Officer
and is based in Taipei, Taiwan
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