Inside a classroom at Lt. Andres Calungsod Elementary School (LACES) in Midsayap, Cotabato Province, a lesson is happening without a single word being spoken out loud.

Gian Carlo, a youth development worker (YDW), moves his hands with quiet purpose. Across from him sits a parent-beneficiary with a hearing impairment. Yet, through Gian’s careful gestures, the day’s lessons come through loud and clear.

Gian handles the parenting sessions of Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program. When he realized that one of his attendees could not understand spoken language, he didn’t see it as a roadblock. Instead, he took it upon himself to study sign language so he could bridge the gap and deliver the lessons he prepared.

“Alam kong hindi ako eksperto sa paggamit ng sign language, ngunit ginagawa ko ito upang makabuo ng inklusibong sesyon,” Gian Carlo shared to Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office (FO) 12 – SOCCSKSARGEN.

Gian is just one of the 847 YDWs deployed across Region 12 – SOCCSKSARGEN who are doing the heavy lifting on the ground. Their work is the backbone of a much larger mission of the DSWD’s Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program (TBTP).

The TBTP is a holistic social welfare and education initiative aimed at reducing learning poverty. It helps struggling elementary readers improve their literacy skills while providing short-term cash-for-work opportunities and financial aid to college students and low-income families.

The core belief driving the initiative is simple: every parent and child has the right to read, write, and acquire new knowledge. To make this happen, the program brings education directly into poor communities with the youth as the primary partner.

Now in its fourth year, with the latest Tara, Basa! cycle launched last May 4, the tutorial and parenting sessions are continuously rolling out nationwide.

Today, over a hundred thousand beneficiaries—comprising child learners, parents, tutors, and YDWs—are actively taking part in the sessions.

For Gian, standing in front of the community is a two-way street. He views the program as a level playing field where a person’s status or physical limitations do not dictate their capacity to grow.

“Alam ko na ang bawat sesyon ay panahon para matuto, hindi lamang para sa mga magulang, kundi para sa tulad kong YDW,” Gian said.

Even though the parent-beneficiary cannot hear the lectures, Gian’s efforts make one thing completely clear to her: the government is present, and the right assistance is reaching those who need it most.

Seeing this level of dedication from the youth partner-beneficiary also leaves a lasting mark on the people managing the daily operations.

Adelaide Bolences, a community coordinating officer for TBTP, gets to witness these personal victories firsthand.

“Fulfilling po [para sa amin] na makakita ng mga taong nagbabago ang buhay dahil sa kanilang karanasan sa Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program,” Adelaide said.

By bringing education directly to vulnerable communities, tutors and YDWs are proving that learning really is for everyone.

Through a simple willingness to adapt and care, the DSWD is ensuring that no one gets left behind. (KB)