The Little Iggy Center of Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan is a child care facility that offers educational and recreational activities for children ages 4 to 8. It is located between the Main Campus Peace Park and the Gym, and it operates for four months/ a semester. The Center is open to children of the university’s employees and students, who can choose from different package rates for the service. The Center aims to provide a safe and nurturing environment for the children, while also exposing them to the Filipino, Catholic, and Jesuit values of the university.
The Center is named after St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), who is also the patron saint of the university. The Center offers various activities for the children, such as arts and crafts, storytelling, music and dance, games, and field trips. Some of the activities are related to the themes of the university, such as social justice, environmental stewardship, and intercultural dialogue.
The Center is integrated with the curriculum of the School of Education of Xavier University, as it offers opportunities for education students to observe and handle children in a real-life setting. The Center also benefits from the expertise and guidance of the faculty and alumni of the School of Education, who serve as teachers and volunteers for the Center. The collaboration between the Little Iggy Center and the School of Education reflects the university’s mission of forming leaders of character for the needs of Mindanao, the Philippines, and Asia-Pacific.