Expressing Love Through Small Acts

By: Alvin Perez

​​One of the quietest yet productive scholars of 2KK, Charissa Polican always shows initiative and endeavors to accomplish tasks independently.​
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​As part of the organization, Charissa spends most of her Saturdays facilitating kids for Kapatid Sessions. She even takes the lead in gathering the scholars and tutees for 2KK activities.

“Masaya mag-organize ng mga bata. Kasi nate-train ko yung sarili ko na maging ate ng mga kapatid (kids).” (It’s nice to organize the kids since I get to train myself to be a good sister to them.)


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As  the second child of Renelio Polican, a cheese corn vendor, and Judith Polican, a housewife and part-time siomai vendor, Charissa has learned and experienced how hard life is. Nevertheless, she believes that education is one of the keys in helping her family escape from their struggles in life and in alleviating poverty, in general.
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On Saturdays without Kapatid Sessions, she helps her parents to sell their products. According to Charissa, this is one of her ways in supporting the family.

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Aside from selling, she had known at the age of 12 that she also must take responsibility for her siblings’ welfare, especially when her parents are away to sell siomai and cheese corns in the streets. Charissa normally takes care of her younger siblings after her classes, and then works on her assignments and projects only after her parents come home from work.

 “Kailangan ko silang alagaan kasi minsan nagtitinda si mama at minsan nagpapahinga. Nakakapagod mag-alaga ng mga batang kapatid pero masaya.” (I need to take care of my younger siblings because there are times when my mother needs to work and rest. Taking care of them is tiring, but it brings me happiness.)

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Inspired by the story of her adviser in class, Charissa dreams of becoming an elementary teacher someday. She shared that her experiences as a youth teacher of the younger ones molded this dream of hers.

“Gusto kong maging guro para makatulong sa mga bata na magsulat at magbasa.” (I want to be a teacher to help kids learn how to write and read.)

With the organization’s efforts to help its scholars unleash their full potential, Charissa foresees that her dream is within her reach. She also pledges that she will continue to serve people with what she can do, even just through her small acts of love and kindness.

“Sa 2KK, natuto akong mas mahalin ang aking kapwa, tumulong sa kanila kung wala sila, at kahit bata ka may kaya kang gawin sa iba.” (In 2KK, I learned to love others more, that I can help them when they have none, and that I can do something good for others despite me being young.)​

​Sponsor today:  www.kapwakapatid.com/donate