In an effort to support our Sacred Heart brothers and sisters, some Convent & Stuart students decided to help make a positive impact internationally in the Philippines. Education is critical. To an extent, it can dictate one’s future. The Read Naturally Program, started by the St. Madeline Sophie Foundation, Inc (SMSF) aims to aid Filipino students in becoming fluent in English.

As described on the RSCJ website, “the St. Madeleine Sophie Foundation, Inc (SMSF) [was]begun by the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Heart in the Philippines as a way of living out their educative mission in situations of poverty. Through the years, it has evolved into an educational center that serves children from age 4 to young adults in college/university.”

Convent & Stuart Hall students aid in this effort by offering online tutorials with a paired tutee (kid being tutored) every Friday evening. They go over passages in English and follow specific reading steps and as a result, the tutees can essentially, “read naturally.” This service allows Convent & Stuart Hall students to meet two goals of Sacred Heart Education: Goal 3: Serving Others and Goal 4: Building Community.

“As a part of this program, I have learned so much from tutoring and connecting with the kids in the Philippines,” says Junior Elsie Scott, “Our work in the program gives kids the opportunity to learn English [in accessible ways] without a cost.”

Filipino students being able to benefit from this service without having any expenses is a tangible way that this connection transforms people’s lives.

“As high schoolers, we may be young,” says Agastya Palathuruthil, “but this program is one of the ways we can make a difference in the world.”

These tutors, who willingly sacrifice their Friday nights, can see that their service improves the human condition on a global scale. Furthermore, the connection between Convent & Stuart Hall students and the community in the Philippines allows for both to learn from each other. During the tutoring sessions, many tutors have conversations with the tutees about their lives.

In conclusion, tutors for the Read Naturally program help facilitate and contribute to the initiative to assist students’ educational journey on an international level. And in the process, our students find themselves also transformed.

Want to learn more about SMSF? Click the link!

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