CNN Hero’s ‘kariton’ gets bigger, better

MANILA, Philippines—The modest kariton (pushcart) that caught the attention of the world is waging a new revolution.

2009 CNN Hero Efren Peñaflorida. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The mobile Kariton Klasrum learning project of 2009 CNN Hero Efren Peñaflorida is breaking even more ambitious ground, pounding the streets of Cavite City with a holistic education, health and values initiative for out-of-school youth.

Dubbed Kariton Revolution, Peñaflorida’s Dynamic Teen Company (DTC) has expanded its alternative classroom program to tackle the 7Ks: Karunungan (education), Kabataan (youth), Kalusugan (health), Kapayapaan (peace and order), Kalinangan (arts and culture), Kalikasan (environment) and Kabuhayan (livelihood).

The themes will be discussed during classes held in DTC’s known style: Volunteers will park their kariton—each carrying instructional materials—on the streets and encourage out-of-school youth to take part in lessons.

’Be the change’

“I’ve always believed that we, as individuals, have to be the change that we dream of. We all have the hero within us and we can unleash it by coming together uniting for a common purpose for the sake of our country, our community, our very own family,” Peñaflorida said in a statement.

“I am always grateful for opportunities to bring my kariton to a wider public and, more importantly, to encourage more people to volunteer their time and resources,” he said.

To launch the Kariton Revolution, the DTC, the Department of Education’s Cavite division office and the Cavite youth council will hold a weeklong event from March 1 to 5 in Cavite City.

Organizers are calling on interested students to take part in arts and literary competitions to be held during the launch week.  The DTC will also hold a kariton design project open to schools, families, barangays, people’s organizations and other groups.

Celebrities, meanwhile, will grace a Kariton Revolution caravan to be held on March 4.  Education Secretary Armin Luistro is among those expected to grace the culmination of the launch on March 5.

Under the program, volunteers and sponsors may choose which of the seven key concerns to support.

“By highlighting these 7Ks, the [Kariton Revolution] is expanding the world view of our less privileged youth and giving them a more well-rounded education, even outside the classroom” said DepEd Cavite division chief Dr. Cresenciana R. Fancuvilla.

Last month, the DepEd and the DTC launched K4 (Kariton Klasrum, Klinik, Kantin), a joint program adopting Peñaflorida’s alternative classroom method to provide learning, healthcare and feeding to street children around Metro Manila.