These are the schools of the rural areas which are called Family Farm Schools. Technically defined, a family farm school is an association of families, professionals and institutions that assume the responsibility of development and the promotion of the rural environment. The school follows integral educative actions, especially with the youth, as a way of responding to common problems of their area. It is an approach using education of the youth and members of the community to start dynamism in the usual stagnant rural areas of the Philippines.

This was the same approach used since 1935 in France and Europe, whose rural conditions were typically the same as what we have in the country now. This has transformed them into the vibrant rural communities they have now. These schools are now in place in countries such as Cameroun, Ivory Coast in Africa, the countries of Peru, Argentina, Guatemala and Brazil in South America. In Asia, the Philippines, Vietnam and New Caledonia are places we can see Family Farm Schools.

It is not an easy task though to establish one, but starting with the rural families, organizing them into an association will start the eventual establishment of these schools. Though it will start small, it gives the associated families, a sense of ownership of these schools, empowering them to hasten development in their areas and not waiting for dole-outs, removing the Bahala na mentality of the people.

Since 1988, when the first family farm school was established in Lipa City, the alumni of this school has already moved forward to their different work. Most choose their field in agriculture, finishing with degrees in college, others continued the business of their farms and made it grow. Some when back to their alma mater and became one of the teaching staff. The schools have made their mark as good citizens of the country and are employable because of their skills. But what makes a family-farmschool alumni different from other graduates? It is their sense of confidence, training in attitudes and skills with a general preference to go back to their areas wherever they maybe working at the moment.

How is it done? The basics come from the families themselves, the members of the family farm school associations whose commitment are crucial in the sustainability of the schools. These families and members’ coherence and unity lies in the formation activities they also undergo and the projects they launch to help uplift their economic situation, their sense of cooperativism and dynamism to solve their own problems. It is also through the use of an alternation of periods in the school and their family business or farms that the learning of the youth has been made integral. This is to say, there is a fusion of academic and real-life learning.

For the long term establishment and sustainability of the family farm schools, through their associations and the team of teachers, supports are very much in need for more people to be involved in these endeavors. How? People have skills, knowledge, talents they can share. There are those who can support the associations through their projects. Some can help in the legislation of a law to recognize this system of development, be it on the teachers’ plight or the associations’ projects. However, all people can help disseminate information on these schools, promoting it as means for development starting with the rural families.

Be another hero by helping these heroes of the rural areas, the members of the family farm school associations and the teaching staff of these schools.

The family farm school and the Pampamilyang Paaralang Agrikultura, Inc. will have its first ever benefit concert on April 28 at the PICC Plenary Hall featuring the University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors. Special guests are Jose Mari Chan and Agot Isidro. Tickets are available at the PICC, 551-6296 and at the PPAI Secretariat, 892-8977 to 78.