19th Paaralan sa Konsulado Opens in New York
Left photo: AFTA Teachers with the group 1 students get ready for the day’s lesson. Right photo: Ramil Buenaventura teaches Philippine geography to PSK participants.
27 June 2017 NEW YORK – The pioneering “Paaralan sa Konsulado” (PSK) program of the Philippine Consulate General in New York undertaken in cooperation with the Association of Filipino-American Teachers in America (AFTA) kicked off its 19th year on June 24 at the Philippine Center-New York.
For nearly two decades the PSK has been offering introductory courses on Philippine history, geography, culture, performing arts, language, games, civics, basic social graces, and other informative sessions for young Filipinos and Filipino-Americans ages 6-16 years old.
For 5 Saturdays every summer, volunteer teachers from the AFTA along with special resource persons such as Filipino scholars, artists, and chefs conduct sessions for the next generation of Filipinos and Fil-Ams on Philippine heritage. The PSK ends with a culminating program participated in by all the program enrollees.
As a flagship program of the Consulate General, this program aims to keep young overseas Filipinos connected to their Philippine heritage. Many previous PSK graduates have gone on to be active members of the Fil-Am Community in the US Northeast.
The AFTA Team is led by its current President Roxanne Cajigas, PhD.
This year the PSK will include a bi-lingual story-telling session conducted by Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega.
For more information, visit www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph/ www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHConsulateNY. END