Build a Better Future: Clinic and Classrooms for Tuburan Institute

BACKGROUND

Tuburan Institute, Inc. is the pioneering Steiner/Waldorf school in Mindanao.

Through Rudolf Steiner’s educational pedagogy and teaching approaches, Tuburan inculcates a holistic learning through the education of the head, heart and hands.

It was founded in 2011 by two young visionaries who dreamed of contributing to the improvement of the education landscape in Mindanao by making Steiner/Waldorf education accessible to all Mindanaoan children. The school started with no land, no buildings, and no money – just a vision of a truly holistic education accessible to all children.

As a seven year old non-stock, non-profit school, Tuburan offers a contribution-based school fee system wherein each family pays according to their varying economic capacities. Through a no fixed-base rate for school fees, Tuburan enables children from families in very low income brackets to also access Steiner/Waldorf education, like children from well-off families do. While this is a noble intention of widening access to education, this proves a challenge for the school to provide the needs of children because it often has to counter the lack of sufficient funds to sustain smooth operations of the school year in and year out. Consequently, parents and volunteers, in the desire to support the school’s sustainability, organize fundraising and do voluntary work at school helping cook the children's meals, clean the school grounds, wash the classrooms' curtains, help out with preparing for festivals, etc.

The in-kind donations and fundraising activities have been a big help. Professionals and volunteers have waived their fees as engineers, auditors, lawyers, layout artists, and event organizers, and have donated toys, paint, rice, seeds, and more. This is how we acquired our school buildings and equipment. Tuburan’s use of land is also under a usufruct agreement for ten (10) years. Since our resources are limited, whatever money we can acquire goes to teacher training and salaries, as well as the children's food and materials.

We have one goal and it is to provide children with hands-on learning opportunities in a nature environment and integrating the use of age-appropriate art, music, and movement in teaching arithmetic, language, science and more – to educate their thinking, feeling and willing. We want to sustain the success we've had so far with the children who are growing up to be very creative, expressive, independent, confident, resourceful, compassionate individuals.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT

Today, we are a thriving diverse yet accessible school thanks to the sincere cooperation and open support of the school community and its supporters. We are still growing Tuburan, and we are still grounding Steiner/Waldorf education in Mindanao. A lot of help is still needed in these pioneering years because Tuburan is growing and opening a new grade level each year towards a Steiner/Waldorf K-12 curriculum. More infrastructure and material requirements are needed to carry out the curriculum and pedagogy, and to provide the necessary out-of-classroom services, e.g. school clinic, library, etc. More children in Davao and Mindanao need support to be able to have a holistic and quality education like Steiner/Waldorf education. We continue to believe that this goal is shared by many people whose hearts are in the humanity’s future, and we are optimistic that it’s possible to sustain a truly holistic education – with people like you.

The school is located at Purok 8, Sitio New Loon, Barangay Tugbok Proper, Tugbok District, Davao City.

Visit www.tuburaninstitute.org for more information about how we are making a difference in the educational landscape of Mindanao!