Kolisko School Milestone Party

On March 2, 2008 we had a small party to celebrate some milestones, most note worthy of which is the transformation of an abandoned house into a cozy little school.

This was the drive way when we visited in October 2007

This is how it looks now.

One of our members had a friend, and this friend had cousins whose aunt hasn't been living in the house since July of 2002.

Who would have thought that this old abandoned house at No. 10 Alabama St. near Tomas Morato in Quezon City, would be transformed to what it is now?

We remember the kids saying back then that they don't want to study in this place seeing it in its dilapidated state.

Though still a work in progress, with parents contributing their time and resources, some painting the house themselves and dropping by everyday to sweep the floor, the Kolisko School will soon come into being ready to embrace and nurture children in its loving arms come June 2008.

So how did the Kolisko School come about? Best to quote my wife's introduction in the party.


"In April 2006, an international conference on children and education called THE 6TH INTERNATIONAL KOLISKO CONFERENCE was held in the Philippines for the first time. THE THEME WAS “SAVING FUTURE GENERATIONS: HEALING THROUGH EDUCATION”.

Parents and teachers who attended the conference were deeply inspired by the challenge of using education to heal and achieve social transformation posed by the conference speakers and organizers that, together with like-minded people, they started a study group in June 2006 to provide direction to the inspiration that was germinating in their hearts and minds. The study group was under the guidance of anthroposophic doctor Divina Hey-Gonzales.

Through continuous group study and consultations with civil society leader and founder of Spiritual Science in the Philippines Mr. Nicanor Perlas, the mission of the group was gradually unfolding: to venture into various initiatives in the community that would propagate Steiner Education in the Philippines.

The first initiative: to build a STEINER SCHOOL in Metro Manila to make Steiner Education available to more Filipino children.

The land and the tree are starting to heal.

To further strengthen this initiative, the group collaborated with St. Scholastica’s College Manila and offered A MASTERAL PROGRAM IN EDUCATION SPECIALIZING IN STEINER EDUCATION. This program is being offered in close partnership with the Institute for Practice Based Research in Switzerland.

The mentor and lecturer for this program is Ms. Astrid Schmidt-Stegmann, Director of Waldorf Education Teacher Education Program in Rudolf Steiner College California. Astrid has been teaching for 25 years in Waldorf Schools around the world before assuming her current position at Rudolf Steiner College.

After months of studying and reflecting, the group strengthened their commitment by giving identity to the initiative by registering THE KOLISKO FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION (KOFE) at the Securities and Exchange Commission in January 2007.

The months that followed was filled with so much activity that KoFE members found themselves busy looking for resources to help materialize The Kolisko School we see today. We have been conducting workshops on Parenting, Early Childhood Education and Toy and Doll Making during Saturdays.

To KoFE members who are here today, please stand up to be recognized for your selfless contribution in making our communal mission a reality.

These brave individuals are a testament of the saying that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can help change the world.”


Arns Jara
http://koliskoschool.blogspot.com/