As a third year college student, Robelyn Kalaw needs all the financial help she can get.

Robelyn, a resident of Brgy. Lusacan, Tiaong, Quezon, is the eldest of four siblings from a household with no stable sources of income. Their family, who has been a beneficiary of the DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) since 2012, makes ends meet with the salary of the mother as a house helper and the occasional day jobs of the father as a construction worker.

As such, Robelyn finds ways to help with the finances.

So when she learned of the opening of slots for youth development workers in their university for the DSWD’s Tara Basa! Tutoring Program, she immediately signed up.

“Ako po ay mahiyain, kaya po ninais ko ring mapasama sa programa para magkaroon ako ng experience sa pagharap sa mga tao,” shared Robelyn.

The Tara Basa! Tutoring Program, implemented in partnership with the Department of Education and local and state universities and colleges, engages college students from low-income families in providing tutorial sessions to elementary students who are struggling readers and Nanay-Tatay sessions to their parents or guardians.

As a youth development worker, Robelyn was assigned to conduct sessions to 10 parents in Brgy. Sampaloc 2 in the neighboring town of Sariaya.

“Tinuruan ko po sila kung paano i-handle ang mga bata, lalo na kung paano nila dapat turuan ang mga anak nila na magbasa,” shared Robelyn, who added that she feels proud when the parents would say that they are already seeing improvements with their kids.

These Nanay-Tatay sessions are designed to capacitate parents and guardians of children, who are struggling readers, to continue the tutorial sessions at home even after the end of the program.

With great pride and fulfillment, Robelyn shares that it is not only the parents who goes home each day with new learnings. She, too, has learned a lot from the whole experience.

“Natuto po ako na magkaroon ng kumpiyansa na magsalita sa unahan. Natuto rin ako ng iba’t ibang paraan ng pagtuturo at kung paano epektibong ide-deliver ‘yung mga lessons,” said Robelyn.

After her engagement with the Tara Basa! Tutoring Program, Robelyn received PhP 7,800 financial assistance from the DSWD. According to her, she used it to buy her school needs for the opening of classes and some household items.

The financial assistance she received, though one of her main reasons she enlisted with the program, has become a secondary ‘takeaway’ for her after becoming a youth development worker.

According to Robelyn, the joy and fulfillment she felt while teaching the parents greatly affirmed her dream of being a teacher. As such, she is more determined and more inspired to study harder.

“Isa itong naging malaking tulong sa pagpapaunlad ng aking sarili para sa propesyong aking tinatahak sa hinaharap,” shared Robelyn, who is now a third year Bachelor of Elementary Education student at the Southern Luzon State University – Tiaong Campus.# [with reports from JLOCañones]