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39 VOpp: Plumber

2011-09-29T15:19:00.000+08:00

With improved plumbing facilities, the wards need no longer assist in bringing water from one cottage to another.

Volunteer as:
PLUMBER
ELSIE GACHES VILLAGE - DSWD NCR *

: : Beneficiaries
Persons with disability

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 2,000
Organization’s counterpart--Php 500

: : Nature
Administration

: : Tasks
To maintain good plumbing system in the 26 cottages of the Village

: : Expected volunteer output
Repaired plumbing system

: : Qualification
Knowledgeable in plumbing
Very patient and persevering

: : Location
Muntinlupa City

: : Schedule
As need arises

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks

* The Elsie Gaches Village is the only government center for the mentally challenged persons. It provides care and rehabilitation to abandoned, neglected, children with special needs such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, visual and hearing impairment, mental retardation, autism an other related illnesses. It has 14 cottages that can accommodate up to 470 clients at a given time. It is managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, National Capital Region.

If you want to volunteer, please contact:
Fernando Bainto, Social Welfare Officer
T [2] 807.6023 E egv_ncr@yahoo.com

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

38 VOpp: Database programmer

2011-08-31T13:13:00.001+08:00

Help save resources and hasten the implementation of DSWD projects.

Volunteer as:
DATABASE PROGRAMMER
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT, STANDARDS BUREAU

: : Beneficiaries
Partner organizations

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 90,000
Organization’s counterpart--Php 136,000

: : Nature
Institution building; regulation of NGOs and social welfare agencies

: : Tasks
To design a program for database of social welfare and development agencies/NGOs and service providers
To assist in implementing an online transactions system for registration, licensing and accreditation of organizations

: : Expected volunteer output
Operational system for database-–within 3 months after the matching

: : Qualification
Knowledge and skills on database designing and programming

: : Location
Quezon City

: : Schedule
Within 3 months after matching, staggered
5-8 hours per week
Weekdays, during office hours

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Equipment, supplies, materials
Recognition/award

If you want to volunteer, please contact:
Eduard Gonong
DSWD Building, Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City
T [2] 931.3181 E eogonong@dswd.com.ph

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

37 VOpp: Mason

2011-08-27T12:54:00.002+08:00

Keep the building of a government agency serving Filipino children in top condition.

Volunteer as:
MASON
COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN *

: : Beneficiaries
Partner organizations

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 10,800
Organization’s counterpart--Php 4,320

: : Nature
Administration

: : Tasks
To undertake repair and maintenance of masonry works

: : Expected volunteer output
Repaired masonry works--once a month or as need arises

: : Qualification
Skilled mason

: : Location
Quezon City

: : Schedule
As need arises

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Recognition/award

* The Council for the Welfare of Children is the focal inter-agency body of the Philippine government for children's concerns. It is responsible for coordinating and monitoring the implementation of all laws, programs and services for children according to the Child 21 Framework and the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child.

If you want to volunteer, please contact:
Igmidio Mike C. Conde, Administrative and Finance Division Head
10 Apo St, Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City
T [2] 740.8864 M 0920.8939253 E cwc@info.com.ph

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

36 VOpp: Plumber

2011-08-20T12:09:00.003+08:00

Keep the building of a government agency serving Filipino children in top condition.

Volunteer as:
PLUMBER
COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN *

: : Beneficiaries
Partner organizations

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 10,800
Organization’s counterpart--Php 4,320

: : Nature
Administration

: : Tasks
To undertake plumbing repair and to trouble shoot

: : Expected volunteer output
Repaired plumbing system--once a month or as need arises

: : Qualification
Skilled and well-experienced plumber

: : Location
Quezon City

: : Schedule
As need arises

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Recognition/award

* The Council for the Welfare of Children is the focal inter-agency body of the Philippine government for children's concerns. It is responsible for coordinating and monitoring the implementation of all laws, programs and services for children according to the Child 21 Framework and the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child.

If you want to volunteer, please contact:
Igmidio Mike C. Conde, Administrative and Finance Division Head
10 Apo St, Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City
T [2] 740.8864 M 0920.8939253 E cwc@info.com.ph

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

35 VOpp: Resource person on baking

2011-07-16T11:53:00.001+08:00

Enable public school students to bake more products for their livelihood project.

Volunteer as:
RESOURCE PERSON ON BAKING
ANDRES BONIFACIO INTEGRATED SCHOOL

: : Beneficiaries
Urban poor; elderly

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 500/day
Organization’s counterpart--Php 500/day

: : Nature
Education/training; livelihood

: : Tasks
To demonstrate how to bake breads, pastries

: : Expected volunteer output
Baking demonstration classes

: : Qualification
1. Must have the technology and know-how in baking
2. Have the commitment and dedication to do the job

: : Location
Mandaluyong City

: : Schedule
Whole year, staggered
Average 1-4 hours per week
Weekdays, during office hours

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Recognition/award

Please contact:
Ma. Julia D. Belolo-TLE Coordinator
Grace B. Mendoza-Asst. TLE Coordinator
Nancy N. Descanzo-YECS Moderator
T [2] 532.3179 E abismand@yahoo.com

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

34 VOpp: Consultant on organizational development

2011-06-07T20:41:00.000+08:00

Improve the organizational structure so that new programs and projects for persons with disabilities may be introduced.

Volunteer as:
CONSULTANT ON ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
ALYANSA NG MAY KAPANSANANG PINOY, INC. *

: : Beneficiaries
Persons with disability; member organizations

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 50,000
Organization’s counterpart--Php 20,000

: : Nature
Project management; resource mobilization; institution building

: : Tasks
To help formulate the organization’s manual of operations
To assist in organizational development

: : Expected volunteer output
An operations manual—whole year

: : Qualification
Skills in project management, policy formulation and organizational development

: : Location
Quezon City

: : Schedule
Whole year, staggered
Average 5-8 hours per week
Weekdays, during office hours

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Equipment, materials, supplies
Recognition/award

* AKAP-Pinoy was registered as a federation of persons with disabilities' (PWD) organizations in 2004. Its main goal is to organize the PWD sector and to advocate for barrier-free environment, a rights-based society for full equalization, participation and improvement of quality of life of persons with disability.

Please contact:
Carmen Zubiaga, Director-Media Affairs
Office of the Consultant on Disability Affairs,
G/F Mabini Hall, PVAO Compound, Camp Gen. Aguinaldo, Q.C.
T [2] 664.9154 M 0921.5498008 E carmenzubiaga@yahoo.com

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

The seed

2011-05-18T10:57:00.002+08:00

By Christina Alejandro
Volunteering, No.8

Sometimes situations seem so bad that you feel whatever you do won't make a difference at all. But in my life, some things changed some things for the better.

I first heard of Brother Joe Dean from my mother. She told me he was a man who, with his wife and family, opened their apartment gate to the homeless, the street children. They would feed them, sing with them, tell them stories, play with them, teach them about goodness. Their lives got so intertwined with these people that Joe Dean's kids even developed respiratory illnesses from them.

I marveled at how one family sought to make a difference in the lives of these homeless children, numbering in the thousands in Metro Manila. How could they stand being shunned by their neighbors due to the noise from and smell of the children? How could they exchange a life of security and normalcy for an uncertain future dependent on the generosity of others, just to care for these poorest of the poor?

One Christmas, my friends and I decided on a project called "Heart and Bowl" for Bro. Joe Dean's motley group of children. On a Saturday morning, we gave them meal, games and entertainment. That was the first time we met Bro. Joe Dean.

He was a robust cheerful man with the looks of a trim Santa Claus and a Visayan accent. He stuck out like a sore thumb among the sun-browned complexion of the children but he certainly spoke their language and they called him their "kuya".

Bro. Joe Dean thanked us profusely as if we had given them not just momentary joys but a lifetime of memories. He told us how he started with just one child, feeding him, and how the others just came, how their numbers increased to the hundreds, and how they would come regularly to see him.

"Ang Paglipad ng Mga Ibon" by Blessel Carlos*

Deep in my heart I felt, how could this kind of situation go on without much funding or support? I secretly expected it to fail eventually. Little did I know that Bro. Joe Dean had more than human resources to take on this mission of caring for the street children. He was a man of deep prayer. He was serving with great gratitude and joy for this calling from the Lord.

Bro. Joe Dean and his family moved to a new home where the neighbors were more welcoming of the children. A restaurant chain agreed to give their leftover food for their cause and Bro. Joe Dean would pick these up late at night after closing time from their different branches. The front of their apartment now has a new name, "He Cares Foundation," to show the children that God cared for them even if no one else seemed to.

Sometimes, when you plant a seed and forget about it, it still grows. Sometimes you don't even know that you had planted a seed!

After a year or so from our first visit, I got a group of three friends to plan a project to regularly help with the feeding.

One of my friends rallied her Singles Prayer Community to hold monthly feeding days, masses and value formation lessons in the foundation along with free medical check-ups and treatment for the children!

Another friend took the foundation's mission to heart. She prepared a formal proposal to her company to sponsor the children's education and got her company's approval for scholarships! She also organized a pool of volunteers to tutor the children. Today this company sponsors more than a hundred of the He Cares children!

One day at our family gift shop, a good friend in college saw one of the coin banks for He Cares Foundation at the cashier. Believing that the foundation must be legitimate and worth looking into, she visited and visited and visited more. With another classmate, she produced a short documentary video about the children which was shown on TV and used for presentations to corporations and possible benefactors. She became one of the most dedicated volunteer workers and council members. She does a great job liaising for the children's needs. What my friend was doing meant a lot to me too. With her intelligence, credentials, work experience, she could be earning a lot for herself during her extra time and saving for her future. Instead, she had chosen to work for people who could never repay her efforts.

The Foundation has been in existence for 7 years now and I have seen it grow tremendously in the past 3 years with amazement. It was soon approved by the Department of Social Welfare as an accredited foundation.

Livelihood sessions (also for the mothers of the street children), dental missions, summer camps, prayer meetings and other events were held in the caring center. A vehicle was made available at an unbelievably low price so they finally had a means of transport.

Since I was dabbling in website authoring during the days I met Bro. Joe Dean, I made a site that features what the foundation is all about. A Christian community in France saw the site and adopted it as their means of social action. They sent a young Frenchman to work with Bro. Joe Dean for a year. He would send pictures and reports for the community to evaluate. Their dream is to build a permanent shelter for the children who cannot be found homes for.

Fighting to change the children's way of life--drugs, prostitution, crime, sickness and extreme poverty were overwhelming, but the people who have reached out to care have also been overwhelming.

Bro. Joe Dean says he sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night and prays for our family and for others who have helped the children. Though he has gone through many tragedies with these children his heart is full of joy knowing God has been there all this time and it is His work after all and all Bro. Joe Dean needs to do is keep on keeping on.

I guess it's true that "anyone can count the seeds in an apple but only God can count how many apples are in a seed." Let's keep planting seeds where we can, no matter how little and inconsequential they may seem, and at the right time, we may yet see a rich harvest.

--
He Cares Foundation is located at 4-A Road 9 Cor. Road 1 Project 6, QC. T 454.0985 and 928.8910, M 0917.401.0752, Bro. Joe Dean Sola.

*Ms. Blessel "Bleps" Carlos is a full-time graphic designer. She graduated from the University of the Philippines with a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts major in Visual Communication.

Ang sabi ni Bleps: "Para sa akin, ang mga ibon ay para na rin yung mga taong na-inspire ni Bro. Joe Dean. Dahil kay Bro. Joe, natuto silang lumipad at mangarap habang sinasaboy ang mga buto sa kanilang paglipad. Sinisimbolo ni Bro. Joe ang mga puno sa paligid kung saan nakuha ng mga ibon ang mga buto.

Sa makulay na kabundukan, pinakita ko lang kung gaano kasaya ang mga bata kapag sila ay nakakalaro sa bahay ni Bro. Joe. Sa palagay ko ay pakiramdam nila ay para silang nasa fairy tale pag naglalaro kina Bro.Joe. Makulay, masaya, at may pagmamahalan, di tulad sa lansangan na magulo at parang walang pag-asa."

The Best Volunteer Experience Winning Essays, 2004
Pinoy-Rin Inc. and the PNVSCA

19 VOpp: Consultant on resource generation/mobilization

2011-05-14T09:36:00.000+08:00

Help generate or mobilize resources for programs benefiting persons with disabilities.

Volunteer as:
CONSULTANT ON RESOURCE GENERATION/MOBILIZATION
ALYANSA NG MAY KAPANSANANG PINOY, INC. *

: : Beneficiaries
Persons with disability; member/partner organizations

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 50,000
Organization’s counterpart--Php 20,000

: : Nature
Project management; resource mobilization

: : Tasks
To assist in formulating project proposals or feasibility studies for resource generation/mobilization

: : Expected volunteer output
Project proposals and/or feasibility studies

: : Qualification
Skills in formulating feasibility studies
Has background in Financial Management

: : Location
Quezon City

: : Schedule
Average 5-8 hours per week
Weekdays, during office hours

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Recognition/award

* AKAP-Pinoy was registered as a federation of persons with disabilities' (PWD) organizations in 2004. Its main goal is to organize the PWD sector and to advocate for barrier-free environment, a rights-based society for full equalization, participation and improvement of quality of life of persons with disability.

Please contact:
Carmen Zubiaga, Director-Media Affairs
Office of the Consultant on Disability Affairs,
G/F Mabini Hall, PVAO Compound, Camp Gen. Aguinaldo, Q.C.
T [2] 664.9154 M 0921.5498008 E carmenzubiaga@yahoo.com

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

Feature Contents

2011-05-10T14:55:00.001+08:00

Walk the thought:

Begin the work of Christmas
Time again
Love, respect, stewardship, I
March 8 and a book for doctors
In the summer garden
Spirituality from a volunteer's eyes

Volunteering:

Going beyond philanthropy
Demystifying mental illness through poetry
Building rainbows of hope
And these are my roots
I want to do all I can do for this town
I want to do all I can do for this town (con't.)
Children have dreams too!
My GX volunteering journey
The seed

Volunteer management:

Kaisa sa 0-6: Another common ground

Issues and others:

Irony of volunteering

33 VOpp: Administrative assistant

2011-05-07T14:34:00.002+08:00

Make administrative work for the cause of the disabled sector more efficient.

Volunteer as:
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
ALYANSA NG MAY KAPANSANANG PINOY, INC. *

: : Beneficiaries
Persons with disability

: : Estimated valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 30,000
Organization’s counterpart--Php 10,000

: : Nature
Administration

: : Tasks
To coordinate and supervise daily administrative activities

: : Expected volunteer output
Office efficiency - whole year

: : Qualification
Undergraduate degree in Business or Management

: : Location
Quezon City

: : Schedule
Whole year, staggered (thrice a week only)
Average 5-8 hours per week
Weekdays, during office hours

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Equipment, supplies, materials
Transportation allowance

* AKAP-Pinoy was registered as a federation of persons with disabilities' organizations in 2004. Its main goal is to organize the PWD sector and to advocate for barrier-free environment, a rights-based society for full equalization, participation and improvement of quality of life of persons with disability.

Please contact:
Carmen Zubiaga, Director-Media Affairs
T [2] 664.9154 M 0921.5498008 E carmenzubiaga@yahoo.com

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

My GX volunteering journey

2011-04-22T18:06:00.002+08:00

By Ryan Anthony M. Bestre
Volunteering, No. 7

“Get ready for the most challenging six months of your life,” read the ad on volunteering. The most challenging six months of my life? Bring it on!

Global Xchange (GX) is a youth volunteering program of the Voluntary Service Overseas that allows young people to initiate positive change by helping organizations and communities both in the Philippines and the United Kingdom. I feel a sense of fulfillment by volunteering, knowing that I can do something good for others without cost in our dog-eat-dog world. I decided that the corporate world was not my place, resigned from my job, and took the challenge of the GX.


GX Team 62 with Bradford City's Mayor

After all the rigors of application, assessment, training, and clearances (I had to gain weight before I was medically cleared), we were off for the first phase of the program. Our destination – Bradford, West Yorkshire, located in the northern part of England. It is a small, friendly city with diverse people and culture, very similar to my home city, Baguio, in terms of size, weather, and the general feel of the place.

Our group comprised of 10 British and 10 Filipinos. Each one had a counterpart with whom we lived and worked with in a cross-cultural environment.

I had to get used to the language and the food. Bradford had its own British accent where “funny” is “foony” and “sunny” is “soony”. Rice-eating Filipinos learned to eat bread or cereals for breakfast and sandwich with fruits or crisps (that’s how the Brits call their chips) for lunch.

My first volunteer placement was at Seen and Heard, a program of Barnardo’s, a national charity organization that takes care of young people. My British counterpart and I interviewed some of the organization’s independent visitors and produced a promotional video from it.

My second volunteer work was at Abigail’s Project, an organization that provides accommodation for destitute asylum seekers, people who fled their countries due to political or religious persecution but became impoverished in the places where they sought protection. We helped set up the house where they would be staying and assisted establishing the office of the organization.


Peace presentation in the arms museum

The Community Action Days (CADs) afforded the whole team to work on various community projects and activities from cleaning up and gardening to advocacy projects such as the peace display and presentations in an arms museum. We showcased Filipino games and dances, songs and poetry during our Filipino Fun Day and Night. We got a bit serious and discussed global issues like poverty, peace and development during Global Citizenship Days.

We tried to make sense of what we did. We needed to validate that our volunteer work was actually making a difference. For instance, we asked how gardening could be significant. We may not understand now neither see the results of what we did but I’m sure that the effects of volunteering are exponential, if not for others then for the inner self.


At Keighley (author 2nd from left, lower row)

After more than 7,200 collective hours of volunteering in Bradford, we traveled to Mindanao for the second phase of the program.

Mindanao is an impression of danger and war, but the conflict in this Land of Promise is complex and historical. It is conflict over the rich natural resources of the region where greed and ignorance fuel all the negativity associated to the place.

My volunteer work in Iligan City was totally different from what we had in Bradford. We helped the Lanao Educational Arts for Development, Inc., a non-government organization that uses music and the arts for peace advocacy, organize a music festival for peace that promotes Iligan City and Mindanao as Zones of Peace.


Sports Fest at the School for the Deaf

During our CADs here, we had a sports fest at the School for the Deaf, tree planting with students and community locals, a fundraising gig, and play time with children in a disability rehabilitation center and kindergarten.

Because Iligan is such a small city, boredom set into me until the city was placed on yellow alert. We became anxious but had to be vigilant as the supposed ambush of the Philippine Marines by the Abu Sayyaf brewed war in Basilan. At that time I was reading Gracia Burnham’s “In the Presence of My Enemies,” an account of her kidnapping experience in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf. We felt relieved when the situation sort of improved.

All in all my GX volunteering journey has been challenging, frustrating, rewarding, and fun. I think I gained more than what I offered. Volunteers would usually think they could change the world but in the end, they wouldn’t have quite changed others. Others change them instead.

This journey is a prelude to simply be the change I wish to see in the world.

18 VOpp: Technical assistant for broadcast media operations

2011-04-16T09:14:00.000+08:00

Strengthen and expand the reach of the "voice" of the disabled sector in the country through media.

Volunteer as:
TECHNICAL ASSISTANT FOR BROADCAST MEDIA OPERATIONS
ALYANSA NG MAY KAPANSANANG PINOY, INC. *

: : Beneficiaries
Persons with disability

: : Estimated valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 30,000
Organization’s counterpart--Php 10,000

: : Nature
Advocacy; project management

: : Tasks
To formulate and organize a media plan for advocacy activities

: : Expected volunteer output
A comprehensive, realistic media plan

: : Qualification
Graduate of Mass Communications or related programs
Experience in radio broadcast operation (scriptwriting, etc.)

: : Location
Quezon City

: : Schedule
January - June 2011, staggered
Average 5-8 hours per week
Weekdays, during office hours

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Equipment, supplies, materials
Transportation allowance

* AKAP-Pinoy was registered as a federation of persons with disabilities' organizations in 2004. Its main goal is to organize the PWD sector and to advocate for barrier-free environment, a rights-based society for full equalization, participation and improvement of quality of life of persons with disability.

Please contact:
Carmen Zubiaga, Director-Media Affairs
T [2] 664.9154 M 0921.5498008 E carmenzubiaga@yahoo.com
Daylin Taleon, Program Manager
T [2] 995.8616 M 0918.9212915 E daylintaleon@yahoo.com
Office of the Consultant on Disability Affairs,
G/F Mabini Hall, PVAO Compound, Camp Gen. Aguinaldo, Q.C.

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

5 VOpp: Technical assistant for information technology

2011-04-05T07:26:00.000+08:00

Make all published information on disability situations, issues and concerns in the Philippines accessible nationally and internationally via the Internet.

Volunteer as:
TECHNICAL ASSISTANT FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
ALYANSA NG MAY KAPANSANANG PINOY, INC.*

: : Beneficiaries
Persons with disability; member organizations

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 30,000
Organization's counterpart--Php 10,000

: : Nature
Advocacy; research and publication

: : Tasks
To update the website contents
To upgrade the related IT, if possible

: : Expected volunteer output
Updated website
Transfer of knowledge on IT

: : Qualification
Knowledge in information technology
Website preparation or maintenance

: : Schedule
January - June 2011, staggered
Average 5-8 hours per week
Weekdays, during office hours

: : Location
Quezon City

: : Support/benefits for volunteers
Food/snacks
Equipment, supplies, materials
Recognition/award

* AKAP-Pinoy was registered as a federation of persons with disabilities' (PWD) organizations in 2004. Its main goal is to organize the PWD sector and to advocate for barrier-free environment, a rights-based society for full equalization, participation and improvement of quality of life of persons with disability.

Please contact:
Carmen Zubiaga, Director-Media Affairs
T [2] 664.9154 M 0921.5498008 E carmenzubiaga@yahoo.com
Daylin Taleon, Program Manager
T [2] 995.8616 M 0918.9212915 E daylintaleon@yahoo.com
Office of the Consultant on Disability Affairs
G/F Mabini Hall, PVAO Compound,
Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City

Comments, questions, stories to tell regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

32 VOpp: Special Education Counselor

2011-04-02T21:57:00.006+08:00

Improve the self esteem and socialization skills of children with special needs.

Volunteer as :
SPECIAL EDUCATION COUNSELOR
GUIDED AND UNIFIED INTERACTION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN INC.*

: : Beneficiaries
Youth and children

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 18,000 per volunteer
Organization’s counterpart--Php 32,000

: : Nature
Medical and allied health service
Advocacy

: : Tasks
Attend orientation, training and hands-on activities.
Assist the organizer to take care and manage needs of special children.
Assist the organizer to facilitate activities intended for special children.
Assist the organizer to prepare resources to meet the needs of special children.
Assist other volunteer caregivers/sped counselor in the conduct of activities intended for special children.

: : Expected volunteer output
Assistance during the Summer Camp

: : Qualification
Individuals (college students or professionals) who have interest and passion for the protection, welfare and integration of children with special needs to community

: : Location
Manila

: : Schedule
10 Sundays for training:
Manila Feb 20-April 24, 2011
Tayabas, Quezon April 25-29, 2011
10 consecutive days for volunteer work: April 29-May 8, 2011

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Accommodation/board and lodging
Medical/health assistance
Equipment, supplies, materials
Transportation allowance
Insurance
Training
Referrals
Recognition/award

*GUIDE, Inc. helpS physically, mentally and emotionally handicapped children including orphaned, abandoned and street children from different institutions, orphanages and public SPED schools.

Please contact:
Gerry Duwin A. dela Zerna, President and Managing Director
126 Private Road, Brgy. Hulo, Mandaluyong City
M 0917.8437758 E guidedchildren@gmail.com

Any comments, questions, stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

Children have dreams too!

2011-02-13T11:56:00.012+08:00

by Maricel H. Barahan
translated by Victor V. Amores
Volunteering, No.6

I am one of the youth who have dreamed of obtaining a wide range of knowledge for the improvement of our family life, but then, I was not able to finish a college degree. I only had one semester in college because my family could not support me financially. I stopped studying long ago and worked where work is available.

One of these is Learn and Achieve with People's Instruction Support (L.A.P.I.S.), which I joined with much hesitation because I know that I am not that good in teaching though I have some notions about it. With no other options, I hesitantly attended the training seminar in Guiguinto for youth volunteers. There I came to know what the project was all about, what to do during my voluntary service, what was expected of me as a volunteer, and techniques for tutoring children in Grades 1 to 3.

January 5, 2004. This was The Day for it was the start of my voluntary service. I was lucky that my sister and I were assigned in the same school, the Tugatog Elementary School, which is near our residence. We were introduced to the teachers and to the school principal, Mrs. Nacu, who oriented us about what the school expected from us.

"Ma'am and Mika" by Jill Posadas*

My first session was a "knowing you" activity. I introduced myself to the children and they did the same. The session went smoothly. There were 30 pupils, all belonging to one section, who needed tutorial sessions. My sister and I divided them into two groups with each one of us handling her own group.

I observed that not all the children in my group could read and write. One child, she was called Mika, caught my attention. She looked like a mischievous child. She was wearing eyeglasses because of eye defect. As days passed, I became closer to them and they would sometimes call me "Ate Cel" or "Ma'am." I felt happy that I could be called "Ma'am" even if I have not earned a degree in teaching. It feels satisfying, isn't it?

One day our session was suspended because of a meeting and reset on the next day. One child approached me and said, "Ma'am, why didn't you teach us? We want you to teach."

I answered him, "I will teach tomorrow if you will read your lessons."

"Yes, Ma'am," he answered.

It could not be prevented that there children would turn mischievous during the tutorial sessions. I would call the erring child and ask him to read so that other children would not do the same things.

While they were having a break, Mika came to me and asked, "Ma'am, will you teach me to read? Because Ma'am Nacu said that if I could not read, I will not be promoted. I can read although it is not good enough."

"Okay, you stay behind after our session and I will teach you." Thus, I taught her after each session.

What was enjoyable was that she could be taught easily. Her teacher, Mrs. Judith, told me that Mika was slow in her reading development because of her defective eyes. Through my assistance, she learned to read.

I met her together with her grandmother. They told me, "Ma'am, your session is already over." The grandmother told me, "Thank you, my daughter, for teaching my granddaughter. She will be in Grade 2 this coming school year!"

It is satisfying to think that I had contributed something to a child who, like me, has her dreams.

I miss the pupils because every time I see them passing by, they would always call me "ma'am." They would always ask me when I would teach again. I told them, "Even if I would not be able to teach you again, there would be other people like me to teach you. They are young people who, like me, hold with regard a little child with dreams."

--
L.A.P.I.S. is a volunteer activity for the youth to help tutor grade school children who are slow learners. The children are tutored on English, Pilipino, and Mathematics. L.A.P.I.S. is a joint project of the Provincial Government of Bulacan, Department of Education and Barasoain Center for Innovative Education.

*Ms. Jill Posadas is a copywriter, freelance writer and freelance illustrator. Her projects included the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Workbook for Children and Greeting Cards for Museo Pambata. She has joined several group exhibits at the Galleries of Fine Arts, Ayala Museum and with Ilustrador ng Kabataan. She is a graduate of AB Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines.

According to Jill, her painting depicts the essay's author teaching her student Mika how to read. Background colour suggests time to be around late afternoon/sunset. Bright spirals suggest beginnings of bright ideas or dreams or infinite possibilities that have been opened up for Mika now that she can read. How many more things will this little girl be able to achieve now, or how many of her dreams will she now be able to realize, thanks to the help of this particular volunteer teacher?

The Best Volunteer Experience Winning Essays, 2004
Pinoy-Rin Inc. and the PNVSCA

13 VOpp: English Tutorial Assistant (Elem)

2011-02-12T19:35:00.000+08:00

Build children's trust and contribute significantly to their academic performance, self-confidence and self-respect.

Volunteer as:
ENGLISH TUTORIAL ASSISTANT (Elem)
SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES, PHILIPPINES *

: : Beneficiaries
Children and youth; persons with disability; urban poor

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 11,200 per month
Organization’s counterpart--Php 42,000 per month

: : Nature
Education/training; Counseling

: : Tasks
To check the assignments of the children
To track their progress in English proficiency
To teach the children proper English reading, speaking and writing

: : Expected volunteer output
Implemented English enhancement program per child
Written progress report per child

: : Qualification
Graduate of AB Liberal Arts/Communication or other related fields
Loves children
Honest, compassionate, God-fearing
Creative and patient

: : Location
Manila, Muntinlupa City

: : Schedule
3x/week (2 weekdays, 1 weekend)
5-8 hours per week
Weekdays, after office hours; Weekends

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Recognition/award/volunteer certificate
Referrals

* SOS Children's Villages is a place for orphaned, abandoned and neglected children to belong to a home and family where SOS mothers and co-workers give support and encouragement. It is a place which enriches the children's God-given talents so they can take their place in society.

Please contact:
Freya Pacis, Special Projects Assistant
Mindanao Drive, Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City
T [2] 807.0764 M 0918.3041211
Sharon Barzaga, PEDA Head SOS Children’s Village, Manila
T [2] 807.0764

23 VOpp: Graphic artist

2011-01-27T10:38:00.000+08:00

Inform the public about activities and programs that benefit indigenous peoples in our country through newsletter publication.

Volunteer as:
GRAPHIC ARTIST
CARTWHEEL FOUNDATION, INC. *

: : Beneficiaries
Indigenous peoples

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 10,000
Organization’s counterpart--Php 450

: : Nature
Advocacy

: : Tasks
To conceptualize the theme and flow of the newsletter
To gather the articles and pictures
To lay out and finalize for printing

: : Expected volunteer output
Newsletter, one issue

: : Qualification
Knowledge in using PageMaker

: : Location
Mandaluyong City

: : Schedule
More than 8 hours per week
Weekdays, during office hours

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Equipment, supplies, materials
Referrals

* Cartwheel Foundation is a SEC-registered organization whose main thrust is education for and with the indigenous individuals and communities in the Philippines. Its programs include the preschool program, alternative learning session, college scholarship and the Pamulaan College (Indigenous People’s College).

If you want to volunteer, please contact:
Coleen Ramirez, Executive Director
Unit F, 218 Malinao St, Brgy Hi-way Hills, Mandaluyong City
T [2] 584.1532 E coleen@cartwheelfoundation.org
Michael Obanan, Programs Officer
T [2] 584.1532 E michael@cartwheelfoundation.org

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

Core team and volunteers

2011-01-23T20:15:00.002+08:00

The iVolunteer portal is run 100% by volunteers, a blessing we always acknowledge. From web design, editorial ‘structuring’, writing, editing and publishing, to social marketing, communications, networking and resource generation, everything here is volunteer effort.

Core team 2011:

Ryan Anthony M. Bestre
Ryan is currently working as an Englsih as a Second Language Teacher and Special Events Coordinator. He is an environmentalist and volunteer at heart and is passionate about the environment, community work, performing, traveling, culture and people.

Julie T. Chan
In the few years that Julie has been volunteering, she has learned to appreciate the poetry written by people who have experienced mental illness, the inspiring stories of volunteers, and the meaning of true stewardship of God's creation. As our world faces the grave consequences of energy descent and environmental degradation, we invoke the spirit of volunteering in practicing conservation, cooperation and creative community solutions to save, heal and nurture the Earth.

Deanie Lyn Ocampo
Deanie is a teacher, researcher and development worker who promotes the welfare of infants and young children till age six years in our country. That field is now called Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD). She enjoys advocating for volunteerism because volunteers in action create and give inspiration, encouragement and love wherever they are. Communities filled with such good things is her vision of communities for ECCD children.

Regnard Kreisler Raquedan
Regnard is a graduate student at the Asian Institute of Management and an advocate of web standards and usability. He is the User Group Manager of the Adobe User Group-Philippines and Local Ambassador for the UXNet in Manila. He blogs at Standards Web Standards and The AIM Blogger.

Do you want to volunteer for iVolunteer.net.ph? Hurry, send us a note at ivolunteernetph@gmail.com

Volunteers 2011:

Cara Tizon, Meah Ang See, Ruth Pizarro, Rose Marie Cosio, Jose Jolly Villaviza

Volunteers 2001-2010:

(Atty) Abe Margallo, Abraham Pedrina Jr, Ang Chak Chi, Angela Yu, Anthony Sanchez, Blessel Carlos, CIUDAD band, Campaigns and Grey, Carl Edwin Tupas, Carmela Anne Molo, Celia de Jesus, Charlie Naval, Chaya Erika Go, Chito Dugan, Chona Ignalaga, Christine Ong, Christopher Layno, Christopher K Peabody, Christy Planco, Cielo Presas, (Dr) Cora PB Claudio, Creative Aid, Cristina Alejandro, Damcelle Torres, (Atty) Danilo V. Roleda, Darwin Santiago, Desiree Mendoza, Ditas Bermudez, Elbert Or, Elissa Escalante, Eliza Villarino, Emily Christine Dy, Evelyn Singson, Exequiel Dijamco, Fiona Norada, Froilan Grate, (Atty) Geronimo Sy, Gilbert Olaez, Gina Abella, Grace Pe-Bacani, HIBLA, JL Diaz, Jaclyn Abergas, Jaclyn Saez, Janette Tan-Lee, Jean Paula Khalaf, Jen Abaricia, Jenny Lyn Hernandez, Jerome Montemayor, Jerry Tieng, Jill Posadas, Jim Alabastro, Joan Villarente, Jonathan Juanillo, (Atty) Jong Navarro, Jose Mari Daclan, Judith Angela Alpay, Julie Chan, Junille Caritos Vasquez, Laiden Pedrina, Layeta Bucoy, Leidon Angeles Cruz, Lesley Lim, Liza Miraflor, Liza Ong, Maria Ocampo, Marie Pia Aguilar-Baldos, Marissa Joyce Wong, Marivel Aro, Mark Joaquin Ruiz, Marla Garin, McCann Erikson, Michael Velilla, Michelle Perez, Mitzie Correa, Naomi Corpuz, Norman Jiao, Nozomi Sugahara, Rechilda Magpayo, Regnard Kreisler Raquedan, Reina Guartico, Rizalino Alejandro, Robert Alejandro, Roberto Calingo, Romi Garduce, Ronalisa Co, Sanny Buncha, Shayne Merioles, Sheilan Villafranca, Spencer Ocampo, Steve Pareja, Suzanne Lu, Yoly Villanueva-Ong, Young Artists Fellowship for the Environment, Yusuke Araki

We might have missed other iV volunteers. So sorry. If you were one or you know others who are not included in the list above, please post the names in the comment box below, thanks!

16 VOpp: Math Tutorial Assistant (Elem)

2011-01-20T16:42:00.001+08:00

Build a child's trust and contribute significantly to his/her academic performance, self-confidence and self-respect.

Volunteer as:
MATH TUTORIAL ASST (ELEM)
SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES, PHILIPPINES *

: : Beneficiaries
Children and youth; person with disability; urban poor

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 11,200 per month
Organization’s counterpart--Php 42,000 per month

: : Nature
Education/training; Counseling

: : Tasks
To check the assignments of the children
To track their progress in Math proficiency
To teach the children Math appreciation, comprehension and application

: : Expected volunteer output
Implemented Math enhancement program per child
Written progress report per child

: : Qualification
Graduate of BS Math/Engineering/Computer Science/Economics/Education
Loves children
Honest, compassionate, God-fearing
Creative and patient

: : Location
Manila, Muntinlupa City

: : Schedule
3x/week (2 weekdays, 1 weekend)
5-8 hours per week
Weekdays, after office hours; Weekends

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Recognition/award/volunteer certificate
Referrals

* SOS Children's Villages is a place for orphaned, abandoned and neglected children to belong to a home and family where SOS mothers and co-workers give support and encouragement. It is a place which enriches the children's God-given talents so they can take their place in society.

Please contact:
Kate Mehur, Special Projects Assistant
Mindanao Drive, Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City
T [2] 807.0764 M 0918.3041211
Sharon Barzaga, PEDA Head SOS Children's Manila
T [2] 807.0764

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

I want to do all I can do for this town

2011-01-19T11:55:00.003+08:00

by Deanie Lyn Ocampo
Volunteering, No.5

National heroes are not made because they have liberated a people. They are made because of their spirit of initiative and commitment throughout seasons of triumph and struggle. When opposition came, they responded positively and decisively. Their resolutions toughened with action, whether the benefits were for an oppressed country or for one desolate town.

"Treasures" (Batangas) by Ganny Tan

In 1892, the streamer Cebu brought Dr. Jose Rizal to far-away Dapitan, an outpost of the Spanish power in Mindanao under the jurisdiction of the Jesuits, where he lived in exile until 1896. This four-year interlude in his life would seem humdrum in contrast to his more exciting and threatening life charged by our Spanish conquistadores with propagating “errors concerning religion”, “anti-Spanish statements”, and revolutionary ideas. Life in Dapitan could be idyllic enough to quiet down a filibustero.

But when Rizal arrived in Dapitan, he wrote to Fr. Pablo Pastells, Superior of the Jesuits, “I want to do all I can do for this town.”

He worked hard to improve it and to raise the civic consciousness of the townspeople.

In Dapitan, Rizal became a sought-after eye specialist who catered to patients from different parts of the Philippines and Hong Kong. Though some were wealthy, most of his patients were very poor he had to give them medicine gratis. Rizal then became interested in local medicine, studied the curative value of plants, and prescribed these as well.

When there was malaria infestation, he drained the marshes for several months.

With tenacity and ingenuity, Rizal constructed a waterworks system where clean water flowed for several kilometers from a little mountain stream across the river from Dapitan to the distribution reservoir. He used his training in Ateneo de Manila University as expert surveyor, read more engineering books, and built this well-known water supply. His materials included lime burned from sea corals and the fluted tiles from house roofs. This aqueduct wound in and out among the rocks and across gullies in bamboo pipes supported by rocks or brick piers.

Perhaps it was for this project that Rizal invented a wooden machine that could make 6,000 bricks in one day.

Thanks to him, Dapitan enjoyed a street lighting system: Rizal used P500 paid to him by an English patient and lit the dark streets with coconut oil lamps.

In 1893, Rizal tried out his educational ideas by putting up a school and teaching 21 pupils. He taught morals, literacy, languages (Spanish and English), geography, history, mathematics, vocational work, nature study, and gymnastics. Except for five pupils, the rest did not pay tuition so he had assigned them to work in his garden, fields and construction projects in the community.


"Kataka-taka" by Ganny Tan

After the two-hour study in the afternoons, the pupils helped in the farms – they built fire to repel insects, pruned fruit-bearing trees of mangoes, lanzones, guyabanos, nangka, and enriched the soil with manure. They also had time for boxing, wrestling, swimming, arnis, and boating.

Rizal and his pupils studied the forests, coasts and its flora and fauna. He was able to collect 346 Philippine shells representing 203 species. He received scientific books and surgical instruments from colleagues in Europe because of his continued intellectual exchanges with them. Later, rare animal specimens which he discovered were named after him: Draco rizali (flying dragon), Apogonia rizali (small beetle), and Rhacophorus rizali (rare frog).

As an artist, Rizal molded some parts of the image of the Holy Virgin for the sanctuary in the Sisters of Charity’s chapel and designed its flawlessly beautiful and delicate curtain.

With the assistance of two nuns, Rizal also produced a masterpiece of majestic beauty that became a prized possession of the Santiago Church in Dapitan. It was a canvas oil painting behind the main altar, a scene depicting the court of Pontius Pilate, which the young Jesuit parish priest, Fr. Vicente Balaguer, had asked Rizal to make for Lent in 1894.

For “four years, 13 days, and a few hours,” our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, served the people of Dapitan as a doctor, farmer, businessman, artist, scientist, community worker, and volunteer.

As a Filipino volunteer then, he was also an everyday hero.

To the next page

Philippine Copyright 2011

I want to do all I can do for this town (con't.)

2011-01-19T11:00:00.002+08:00

by Deanie Lyn Ocampo
Volunteering, No.5

To the previous page

"Pwede Na" (Bamban, Tarlac) by Ganny Tan

Everyday heroes are those who thrive on getting things done and making things work locally. They overcome difficulties on the ground. They are skilled in adjusting and identifying priorities: if national politics is too disheartening, then they get their hands soiled down-to-earth to unceasingly help the common folk.

Rizal gave his talents to Dapitan because he knew that it is a community capable of attaining development and self reliance. Today, we too can envision the same for each barangay, municipality, city or province in our country.

Inspired by our national hero’s volunteer efforts in Dapitan, you can also be an everyday hero like him! Here are 11 volunteering ideas on community development and local governance which you can do this 2011:

1. Access and read the very important Medium-Term Development Plan of your municipality/city (not just the Annual Investment Plan) and interview your local planning and development coordinator regarding issues your local government faces.


"Bigger Kondol" by Ganny Tan

2. Help improve the efficiency of barangay agricultural support services such as the distribution system of planting materials and operation of collection and buying stations of farm produce.

3. Help design better curricula for young children in the kindergarten classes of your public schools. Develop instructional materials for teachers, share creative activities they can do, or teach them how to compose songs, poems and stories.

4. Get hold of the most recent DSWD accreditation results of day care workers and centers in your barangays. What do they have to improve on? With the community, plan how to address the needs of the Day Care Service in your locale.

5. Share techniques on family dynamics, counseling, social work, or conflict resolution with the Katarungang Pambarangay team to help them facilitate amicable settlement and speedy resolution of disputes.

6. Start an information and reading center. Survey the needs of children, youth and adults. Find second-hand books, posters and printed materials. Add a functional literacy program too!

7. Assist in research or projects on livestock and poultry, vegetable seed farms, medicinal plant gardens, fruit tree seedling nurseries, water and soil conservation, inter-barangay irrigation systems, and others.

8. Organize projects for primary health care, maternal and child care, and disease control. Help source medicines, medical supplies, and equipment for barangay health centers, maternity clinics, or municipal hospitals.


"Casita Ysabel" (Mabini, Batangas) by Chaya Go

9. Draft information and communication system designs. Help encode data or transcribe documents. Make better signage in and around government offices to guide people regarding procedures.

10. Study the solid waste disposal system and suggest ways to upgrade the general hygiene and sanitation conditions in the communities. Highlight ecotourism spots and educate residents on value-based principles and practices for sustainable development.

11. Read the Local Government Code of the Philippines. Then set an appointment with the mayor or any of the local government officials of your municipality/city, introduce yourself and proudly declare, “I also want to do all I can do for this town.”

Philippine Copyright 2011

31 VOpp: Web designer

2011-01-19T06:38:00.002+08:00

Assist the IT staff of a child care institution design its website.

Volunteer as:
WEB DESIGNER
ASILO DE SAN VICENTE DE PAUL *

: : Beneficiaries
Youth and children; women

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 15,000
Organization’s counterpart--Php 600

: : Nature
Administration

: : Tasks
To design a website

: : Expected volunteer output
Organization's website

: : Qualification
Has background in web designing

: : Location
Manila

: : Schedule
5 hours per week
Flexible time

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Recognition/award

*Asilo de San Vicente de Paul was founded in 1885 by Sister Asuncion Ventura, a Daughter of Charity. It is a SEC-registered and DSWD-licensed child-caring institution that dynamically and continuously responds with quality service to a growing number of children in crisis.

Please contact:
Russell Camacho, IT staff
1148 United Nations Avenue, Paco, Manila
T [2] 523.3829, [2] 523.1460 E asilomla@yahoo.com

Any comments, questions, stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

Write for iVolunteer!

2011-01-01T14:42:00.000+08:00

iVolunteer.net.ph is looking for creative, eloquent and hardworking writers to become part of its editorial team.

Do you love to write? Do you find writing and researching about volunteers and volunteerism exciting? Maybe you're interested in exploring how effective management of volunteers can help in the development of an organization or a community. Or you may find the implementation of volunteerism best practices in an institution challenging.

Whether you're a writer who wishes to learn more about volunteerism, or a volunteer who loves to share your expertise through writing, iVolunteer.net.ph would like you to join us!

You will have the opportunity to write for us in the following sections and sub-sections:

A. Features:
1. Walk the thought -- articles related to volunteerism or development which are more reflective, philosophical or spiritual.
2. Volunteering -- articles about volunteers or unique volunteer experiences
3. Volunteer management -- articles that focus on volunteer programs, volunteer organizations, good volunteer management practices
4. Issues and others -– articles exploring or discussing issues and challenges in volunteerism, volunteer management, institutionalization of volunteerism

B. Resources:
1. Toolkits: Volunteer -- how to's on volunteering
2. Toolkits: Manage volunteers -- how to's on different volunteer management phases
3. Policy documents -- briefs on policies related to volunteering in the country (provide links to other websites)
4. Publications-- briefs
5. Research reports – briefs

When you write for us, you can either be an occasional contributor or a regular member of the editorial team.

As an occasional contributor, you may send in your article(s) to be considered for publication in any of the above sub-sections at anytime. Your name will be listed as contributor in our website as soon as we publish your article.

For a regular member, please choose two sub-sections (for example, Volunteer Management and Research Reports) under which you wish to submit articles. You will be committed to submit at least one article every quarter for either one of the sub-sections of your choice.

However, of the four articles you will have submitted in a year, you should have at least one article for each of the two sub-sections.

Also, your name will appear under the "members of the editorial team" in our website as soon as you have an article published. And as iVolunteer.net.ph develops its website contents, you will be the first to be considered for the positions of assistant editor and editor later on.

For the length of article, minimum number of words is 800 and maximum of 1,000.

All articles submitted must be the original work of the author who must have the exclusive ownership of the copyright. Authors shall retain the copyrights of their respective articles when these are published in the iVolunteer.net.ph website.

An article that is previously published elsewhere should have a note advising the details of the initial publication.

If possible, please provide photos/charts/tables to go with the articles. And please cite their sources.

If your article is published, you will receive an honorarium.

Excited to be part of iVolunteer.net.ph? Then please email us at iVolunteerSubmissions@yahoo.com with the following information:

For Contributors:

1. Full Name:
2. Email Address:
3. Cellphone Number:
4. Organization's Name, Address, Email Address, Website (if applicable):
5. Brief Bio:
6. Please send your article for consideration in WORD 97 - 2003 document with the following as subject line: "Contributor: Sub-section, Title of the Article"

For Regular Members:

1. Full Name:
2. Email Address:
3. Cellphone Number:
4. Organization's Name, Address, Email Address, Website (if applicable):
5. Brief Bio:
6. The two (2) sub-sections of your choice:
Please wait for our reply to confirm acceptance of your application.
7. If you're accepted and are ready to send your article, please send it in WORD 97 - 2003 document with the following as subject line: "Member: Sub-section, Title of the Article"

Email us now!

8 VOpp: Values educator/ Basic education mentor

2010-12-17T14:42:00.000+08:00

Improve street children's positive values and academic performance.

Volunteer as:
VALUES EDUCATOR/BASIC EDUCATION MENTOR
CHILDHOPE ASIA PHILIPPINES *

: : Beneficiaries
Children and youth

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 10,000 per month
Organization’s counterpart--Php 10,000 per quarter

: : Nature
Education/training

: : Tasks
To conduct values education classes and tutorial sessions for school-aged street children

: : Expected volunteer output
Weekly classes conducted

: : Qualification
Graduate of Education/Social Work/Psychology/Communication Arts
Good inter-personal skills; flexible and patient
Physically and emotionally fit to work with children

: : Location
Metro Manila

: : Schedule
1-4 hours per week
Weekdays, after office hours; Saturdays

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Equipment, supplies and materials
Transportation allowance
Referrals
Recognition/award

* Childhope Asia Philippines works to promote the welfare of street children in our country and the Asian region. It provides these children with alternative education, psychosocial support, and referrals to health centers. CHAP also has a capacity building program for NGO staff and volunteers.

Please contact:
Teresita Silva, President/Executive Officer
1210 Penafrancia Extension, Paco, Manila
T [2] 563.4647 E chap@childhope.org.ph
Ma. Ester Coles, Training Officer
T [2] 563.4647 E chap@childhope.org.ph
Cheryll Manuel, Training Officer
T [2] 563.4647 E chap@childhope.org.ph

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

Ten million hours for development

2010-12-05T10:13:00.008+08:00

By Deanie Lyn Ocampo
iV Corner, Communities No.3

In Einstein's Dreams, physicist-writer Alan Lightman narrates "…there are two times. There is mechanical time and there is body time. The first is as rigid and metallic as a massive pendulum of iron that swings back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. The second squirms and wriggles like a bluefish in a bay.”

Evidences of both times abound in the world of volunteers:

A volunteer sits in the office of the leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front in Davao del Sur with a rifle's butt aimed at his belly. He tactfully presents the livelihood assistance program for the soldiers and their families. There is no need to gain their utmost trust within the next 30 minutes, or even before sun sets. He knows that time stretches into very difficult hours for people who live in armed conflict. Hope is a thin strand in the skein of many losses. It is best to patiently wait.

In Bohol, a volunteer uses time precisely. She teaches the farmers how to utilize artificial insemination in breeding cattle and carabaos. On these days, they prepare the frozen semen. At this minute, they collect the ovum. At this second, they inseminate. At this hour, they transfer the embryo. To increase productivity, the work is mechanical. The clock ticks to one year and the number of calves in Bohol (together with outputs of similar volunteer work in Cebu, Siquijor and Negros Oriental) increases to 1,000 more. It is best to count time mechanically here.

In both times, volunteers sense the urgency. They go to where they are needed for local or national development. For the moment they do not mind that development is a long-term process while their volunteer work is time-bound. They simply go to face the underweight children, the harried teachers, the trafficked women, and the dry land.

Time commemorates what is essential. In 2001, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed it as the International Year of Volunteers (IYV). The IYV 2001 promoted voluntary service more vigorously, facilitated and recognized volunteer work more enthusiastically, and built stronger networks more widely.

Next year, 2011, marks the tenth year following IYV 2001. How much have Filipino volunteers contributed to development during the past ten years?

According to the United Nations Volunteers’ Strategic Review of the Volunteer System in the Philippines in 2004, there has been no system that documented the volunteering activities through the years.

Because of this, the International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) Philippines launches “IYV+10 Philippine Project: Ten Million Volunteer Hours” to recognize the quantitative contribution of Filipino volunteers for national-local development in the Philippines.

This project looks at the past and the future. It aims (1) to document at least 10 million hours of volunteer work during the past decade, and (2) to initiate the design of a national volunteering agenda for the next decade. It enjoins institutions from the academe, business, non-profit, and government sectors to document its volunteer engagement effort and to set the ways forward for volunteerism in the country.

The results of this first nationwide survey will give credence and added respect to volunteer effort, and clarify the economic impact of volunteers. It imputes the volunteers’ share to Philippine Gross National Product, to the Human Development Indices, to the Millennium Development Goals.

Then again, the value of volunteering is not all about mechanical time.

In Bicol, the volunteers conduct Science “magic shows” for the province’s school children to demonstrate several science principles in non-traditional ways. They organize stargazing nights on rooftops. Beginning at dusk, the telescopes bring the heavenly bodies closer to the children. Three hours after, the activity is done. But many months and years later, the children would remember the lessons from such evenings.

“Many important parts of life are immeasurable: the contributions volunteers give to their communities and environment, and the satisfaction you gain while making a difference. Intellectually, researchers may measure volunteer impacts, and thinkers on the sidelines may conceptualize it, but only active volunteers know the true value of volunteering,” reminds Brian Cugelman, architect of UN Volunteers’ www.WorldVolunteerWeb.org.

The year 2011 will mobilize many more volunteers, raise the profile of volunteering, and showcase the diversity of volunteering in the Philippines. It is time that volunteering comes again into focus.

Let us begin by documenting at least 10 million hours that Filipino volunteers have already given. For whether it is mechanical or body time, in Einstein’s Dreams, volunteers can “make a world in either time. Each time is true, (even if) the truths are not the same.”

*IAVE Philippines, formerly the Philippine Association for Volunteer Effort or PAVE, is a national network of volunteer managers and volunteer organizations in the country. It is affiliated with IAVE and its 50 member-countries and is represented in the IAVE International Board. To participate in this project, please contact the Secretariat at T +2.727.8838, M +917.827.3124, E 10millionhours@gmail.com. The online survey will be accessible soon.

Philippine Copyright 2010

Communities Contents

2010-12-01T07:48:00.002+08:00

Celebrating volunteers of peace
IYV+10 in 2011

IYV+10 in 2011

2010-11-22T20:54:00.007+08:00

Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency
iV Corner, Communities No.2

Volunteers help build houses in Maralit, Paranaque

Volunteer communities around the world are gearing up for the celebration of a special major event that will highlight ten (10) years of active volunteer participation in nation building. Dubbed IYV+10, the tenth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers will be celebrated in 2011 to bring forth the hallmarks of volunteerism across the globe.

The United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/Res/52/17of 1997 issued on 20 November 1997 declared year 2001 as International Year of Volunteers (IYV). That year's four-fold objective is to enhance the recognition, facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteer service worldwide. The Declaration dedicates 2001 to “increasing awareness of the achievement and further potential of volunteerism.”

Considering the positive impact of IYV, the UN General Assembly decided to mark its 10th anniversary and harness it as a venue to “consolidate the successes attained and build on the momentum created by the IYV”. The United Nations Volunteers has been tasked to serve as the focal point for the IYV+10 worldwide celebration.

Of note is how volunteerism contributes to the realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) whose 15-year timeline will end in 2015. The IYV+10 theme “Volunteering for the MDGs” will highlight the role of volunteers as partners of the government and the private sector in achieving the MDGs.

Volunteers run the village library for Ugandan children

The Millennium Declaration, signed in 2000 by 189 UN member countries, embodies the pledge of the participating nations to: 1) Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, 2) Achieve universal primary education, 3) Promote gender equality, 4) Reduce child mortality. 5) Improve maternal health, 6) Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, 7) Ensure environmental sustainability, and 8) Develop a global partnership for development.

Spearheading IYV+10 celebration in the Philippines is the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency, the government focal agency on volunteerism, assisted by an IYV+10 National Committee. The Committee, chaired by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), with members from various government agencies and the private sector, was organized to identify activities fitting for the event.

An Action Plan has been crafted that seeks to involve volunteers, local and foreign volunteer organizations, NGOs, academic institutions, corporate groups and government and international development organizations in the year-long celebration.

IYV+10 will be launched in December 2010 as part of the celebration of the National Volunteer Month and International Volunteer Day. Among the major activities include a Volunteer Fair and Youth Forum on December 3, Manila Bay Clean-Up on December 5 and volunteering activities to be organized by local and foreign volunteers in various parts of the country.

Philippine Copyright 2010

10 VOpp: Basic/Advance Computer Trainer

2010-11-09T15:21:00.000+08:00

Develop computer literacy of women and youth leaders of different urban poor communities.

Volunteer as:
BASIC/ADVANCE COMPUTER TRAINER
EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION, INC. *

: : Beneficiaries
Children and youth; women; urban poor

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 14,000
Organization’s counterpart--Php 7,000

: : Nature
Education/training; livelihood

: : Tasks
To teach basic computer operation
To teach MS word and Excel
To set-up databases for membership and lending cycles

: : Expected volunteer output
Trained 2-3 leaders
Trainees are able to operate MS word, Excel, make graphs and analyze
Databases for membership and lending cycles

: : Qualification
Computer literate (MS Word, Excel, others)
Can work in people’s organization (urban poor) with minimal facilities available
Physically fit

: : Location
Metro Manila

: : Schedule
2-3 hours per week
Weekdays, during office hours; Saturdays

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Equipment, supplies, materials
Recognition/award

* ERDA is a fund-operating organization with more that 160 partner organizations nationwide. Its main thrust is to provide poor children aged 5-14 years with greater access to basic education and to support their families and communities with integrated programs and community organizing.

Please contact:
Ma. Carmen Alicio, Social Marketing Officer/Technical Assistant
66 Linaw St., Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City
T [2] 732.4347 / 732.3198 E erda_edo@vasia.com

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

14 VOpp: Tutors

2010-07-20T20:02:00.000+08:00

Assist children in public elementary schools, urban poor communities or the City Jail cope with the demands of school and reduce the pressure for them to drop out.

Volunteer as:
TUTOR
UNANG HAKBANG FOUNDATION *

: : Beneficiaries
Children and youth; urban poor

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--at least Php 600 per month
Organization’s counterpart--at least Php 300 per month

: : Nature
Education/training

: : Tasks
To tutor 5 public elementary school children in Math and English
To conduct one-on-one tutorial of former street child enrolled in a night high school
To tutor 3 children enrolled in an alternative learning system (ALS)
To conduct basic literacy class in City Jail
To conduct advance tutorial classes for Munting Titsers/peer tutors

: : Expected volunteer output
Public elementary school children pass post-test in Math and English
Street children in night high school promoted to next HS level
More confident Munting Titsers
Children in ALS qualified to take Evaluation and Placement Test
Students in City Jail pass post-test

: : Qualification
Has love for subject matter and ability to make lessons interesting and engaging
Requires patience and fluency in Filipino

: : Location
Mandaluyong CIty

: : Schedule
At least one meeting per week
1-1/2 hours per meeting
Weekdays, during/after office hours; Weekends

: : Support/benefits
Equipment, supplies and materials
Recognition/ award

* Unang Hakbang Foundation is an organization that helps children on the streets and in poor urban communities. It has two main programs: Aral Kalinga, a mentoring and tutorial program for in-school children whose average grade is 78% and below, and Buhay Kalinga, a mentoring program for out-of-school children and youth.

Please contact:
Olie Lucas, President
39 Calbayog St., Brgy. Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City
T [2] 531.3474 M 0920.9244623 E olie.lucas@gmail.com
Merli Adviento, Program Coordinator
T [2] 531.3474 M 0927.6604325 E uhf_philippines@yahoo.com

17 VOpp: Busina Mo, Dunong Ko volunteer

2010-07-19T08:34:00.000+08:00

Travel with a mobile learning center and help children from Manila's underprivileged communities develop love for learning.

Volunteer as:
BUSINA MO, DUNONG KO VOLUNTEER
VIDES PHILIPPINES VOLUNTEER FOUNDATION, INC. *

: : Beneficiaries
Youth and children; women; urban poor

: : Estimated valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 43,200
Organization’s counterpart--Php 800,000

: : Nature
Education/training

: : Tasks
To organize and conduct creative learning activities for in-school children
To teach basic literacy to out–of-school children

: : Expected volunteer output
Conducted activities for the children

: : Qualification
At least high school graduate
Experience in conducting catechesis or in teaching
Willingness and patience to work with disadvantaged children
Willingness to undergo formation prior to actual volunteer work

: : Location
Metro Manila

: : Schedule
Saturday mornings for 12 weeks
2-4 hours per week

: : Support / benefits
Equipment, materials, supplies
Training
Recognition/award

* VIDES Philippines, the volunteer arm of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters of Saint John Bosco), is a volunteer organization organized in 1995 for the formation of volunteers towards solidarity for the education and development of women and the poorest young. It is part of the international organization Volunteers International for Development, Education and Services.

Please contact:
Sr. Jojo Orosco, Executive Director
3500 V. Mapa Extension, Sta. Mesa, Manila
T [2] 715.6740 M 0917.8804756 E videsphil@yahoo.com
Sarah Barbe, Social Worker
T [2] 715.6740 M 0906.4880080 E videsphil@yahoo.com

Strengthening volunteerism through the Volunteer Act of 2007 (Republic Act 9418)

2010-06-30T09:06:00.004+08:00

By Joselito C. De Vera *
Policy Documents, No. 2

Some may find it ironic that a law on volunteerism was passed. Why is there a need for a law on something that is inherently a social value, and a positive one that is intended to achieve a common good? Is there really a need for such legislation?

The reason and the answer can be gleaned from the declaration of policy of Republic Act 9418 or the Volunteer Act of 2007. This legislation recognizes that volunteerism or "bayanihan" can be harnessed as a strategy for national development and international cooperation. The Act commits government to partnership to achieve the needed social transformation and sustainable development through volunteerism.

There are three main interrelated objectives of the Volunteer Act of 2007. First, it aims to provide the policy framework that shall underscore the fundamental principles necessary to harmonize the broad and diverse efforts of the voluntary sector. Second, it aims to provide a conducive and enabling environment for the mobilization and nurturance of volunteers and volunteer organizations. Third, it hopes to strengthen the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) as an effective institution to support volunteerism in the country.

Being a framework, the Volunteer Act recognizes the different roles of different sectors of society, including government. It is tasked to provide the environment for volunteerism to prosper. It shall be facilitative, coordinative and promotive in performing its functions. To a certain extent, this means taking a backseat.

Photo by Baldwin Kho

Now, let me elaborate a little bit on the academe. The Volunteer Act specifically calls for integrating volunteerism in the education curriculum. This proposal will encourage academic institutions to continuously devise ways to effectively teach and practice the value of volunteerism. Such integration provides students with the volunteering arena by which they can channel their idealism and vigor into something worthwhile.

A parent in my child's school summed up our sentiments in a Parent-Teacher Association meeting, "If a child spends more than eight waking hours per day for five days a week in a school, then parents have indeed placed a lot of trust in the educational system to assist and influence in the formation of this child."

Let me cite other provisions that are of immediate challenge to us at PNVSCA.

One is the establishment of a National Volunteer Infrastructure and Forum. This aims to establish a national registration and networking system to improve coordination among volunteers and volunteer organizations, particularly in sharing and complementing volunteering information, experiences and resources.

Another is the establishment of a Volunteerism Consortium that will engage volunteer organizations in activities like research and modeling of best volunteer practices.

The Volunteer Act is not comprehensive to address all the needs of the volunteer community but it is a first great step and a step in the right direction.

With the Volunteer Act of 2007, the academe is expected to renew and assume a more dynamic role, more so in participatory governance and other developmental advocacies as volunteerism move to higher levels of civic engagements. Let us all welcome this challenge and join hands in promoting, nurturing, and sustaining the volunteers' spirit within the academic community.

* Excerpted from the Inspirational Speech on the Occasion of the 16th Inception Anniversary of the U.P. Manila--Ugnayan ng Pahinungod delivered by Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency Executive Director, Joselito De Vera, September 18, 2009.

Philippine Copyright 2010

Spirituality from a volunteer's eyes

2010-03-31T09:58:00.004+08:00

By Nikola Diana Y. Miranda
Walk the Thought, No.6

I appreciate kinabuhi or life. I always have, but not as much as I do now. I volunteered because of wanting to do something for others. I want change. It does not have to be violent or radical. I volunteered because I want to prove that change could come in such a peaceful and happy manner. I volunteered because I want to initiate change – change in myself, in my life, in everything and in everyone around me. I never realized that the Miriam Volunteer Mission of Miriam College would drastically turn me around.

I was assigned to volunteer in Our Lady of Victory Training Center for the Handicapped (OLV-TC) in Davao. I went there expecting nothing except that I enjoy my half-year deployment and hope I serve my purpose. I knew no one when I arrived. I was a stranger to them as they were to me. Without hesitations, without questions and without any doubt that I might forsake them, they opened the doors to let me in.

The training center became my home away from home. It was a place where I virtually stood out because almost everyone was on wheelchair or has scoliosis and I towered when we stood or walked or wheeled together. On weekends, I stayed at the OLV-TC in Samal Island which was as much heaven as Davao. The younger angels on wheelchairs and crutches live there.

It is a place of growth, of love and of hope. It is a place of God. That was the first time when so many people at the same place and moment loved and cared for me as if they knew me at birth. Even though they were not my biological family, they treated me as one of theirs.

Joining the Miriam Volunteer Mission was not a forced decision but an answer to a call that I heard since I was a sophomore. The Mission knew that I had something to offer and that I would not be lonesome being apart from my family and friends. I could leave the convenience of home to experience something new and grow from that experience. I believed that as I grow, the people around me would grow as well.

I believe in a Supreme Being, a God, a Creator or whatever you want to call it. Ever since I knew how to make the sign of the cross I knew that there is a divine power that holds us together. But I used to think that the strongest rope could still snap and drop us or leave us hanging by the thread.

During the mission, something unexpected happened that crushed every inch of me. Yet I coped with the pain in a way I would not have been able to do if I was not in the midst of such beautiful environment and people. I was with the perfect people who made the pain drift away so fast. The pain did not matter anymore.

There was an overpowering feeling of happiness and love from the community that glued all of me back together, creating a new design. Yes, I no longer look like I originally did because I look better. They repaired me to make me stronger. Everything was in the right place and it was right for such tragedy to happen. Everything was aligned, in place – everything simply fit.

Why did this happen? Who made the arrangements? Who laid out the plan? It takes space and distance before we come to realize that there really is Someone capable of drafting our life’s blueprint which we may never fully understand.

Now, I am convinced that the Creator is never evil. The Creator is the Mother and the Father who teaches us what is right and wrong in ways we never thought would allow us to learn. There is a Being who leads us to the path of righteousness and goodwill.

We are all handicapped in one way or another. But our handicap should not stop us from being happy, from loving and living life because there is Someone who will always see us through.

Nikola Diana Y. Miranda is currently working as the Project Development Officer for the QC Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department, QC Hall.

And these are my roots

2010-03-17T13:30:00.009+08:00

by Chaya Erika Go
Volunteering, No. 4

Last summer, I volunteered for Cartwheel Foundation's anniversary concert. I would be there when the cultural dialogue happens, when Music and Art would be the language. I knew it would be a celebration I'd never forgive myself for passing.

My adventure started when I, along with other volunteers, waited at the Victory Bus terminal along EDSA at five a.m. to welcome the musicians from Tinglayan, Kalinga province. There were 15 of them (mostly the menfolks), lugging their sacks of bamboo instruments and gongs. Instantly, it felt like a reunion--a heartfelt meeting among far away friends. Stories were told among those who could speak Tagalog and a bit of English, and smiles were shared with those who couldn't.

My new friends from Kalinga belong to the Ichananaw indigenous group. They had travelled to Manila from their upland community in Brgy. Dananao, which is a three-hour trek on foot from the town proper of Tinglayan. Tinglayan itself is halfway up a very steep mountain slope from a tributary of the Chico River. I could imagine the lack of roads, of access to markets, of employment, and consequently, the lack of education among our Ichananaw brothers and sisters.

Cartwheel's Music and Art Education program, a program that helps communities integrate indigenous music and art into their basic education curriculum, found its way to them. It also responded to the leaders and elders' desire to document their indigenous music, dance and art. But beyond helping the Ichananaws preserve their culture for their youth, the program brought something special to the community last year. The Ichananaws were invited to participate in a cross-cultural musical dialogue with other indigenous groups and with Cultures in Harmony, a young group of American classical musicians too!

From the bus terminal, we took a van (interrupted by a flat tire!) to a Novaliches retreat house where my friends would reside for three nights, meet up with the Tala-Andig and the Umajam of Bukidnon, reunite with their American musician-friends, and ready themselves for the melodious get-together on the grand stage of The Cultural Center of the Philippines.

My volunteer work was simply to look after them, and so I was eager to be assigned backstage to assist all the indigenous groups--it was obviously where all the chatting, costume wearing, and who would have imagined, impromptu cross-tribal group dancing and music playing were going to happen!

I took photos on and off rehearsals, trying to capture the diversity of my Filipino heritage in the Ichananaw of the North, and the Tala-Andig and Umajam of the South. A few minutes before the start of the show, one could clearly feel the energy rising backstage. The Ichananaw elders brought along their ceremonial rice wine, drank among themselves, and started dancing to warm themselves up for the show! To the indigenous peoples who have barely travelled to Manila, a show at the CCP was the ultimate adrenalin rush!

"Reconnecting with Our Roots: A Cultural Exchange," directed by acclaimed stage and TV writer and director Floy Quintos, became a visual tapestry of the authentic cultures I saw for the first time. My most loved part was the final act where our traditional music and the Western classical music blended harmoniously in the six pieces created by the indigenous communities with the Cultures in Harmony. These pieces retold their histories and everyday lives. They were a music of welcome and unity with others, regardless of race or culture.

The show ended with a standing ovation! Many of us were teary eyed--so proud of what has been created and shared with the audience that night. I was elated to have reconnected with my roots, too.

Ka Pablo Oggas, an Ichananaw teacher and participant (2nd photo above, in front), said that being able to share his talents and skills made him feel he was needed and that was one of the happiest (moments) in his life. "The most beautiful memories we had were even before the concert. During the rehearsals, we talked with the other groups and we think, 'So this is how it is to meet others.' And that experience--of meeting those from far away and we've never seen--really struck me that you can be a friend to them, especially when they share their experiences, their lives and themselves."

I am proud to have known Ka Pablo and the Ichananaw and so grateful indeed to have been a part of this cultural program.

(Here's a slideshow of the photos I took backstage and during rehearsals.)

Philippine Copyright 2010

Kaisa sa 0-6: Another common ground

2009-12-17T09:51:00.006+08:00

By Deanie Lyn Ocampo
Volunteer Management, No. 1

It really is quite amazing, this miracle of life and its development. Try to put together something as complicated as a whole person. From a single fertilized cell develops trillions of cells! No wonder this miracle never ceases to amaze parents, scientists, writers and poets.

Parents-to-be wonder whether their unborn child is a boy or girl or whether he or she is going to be healthy. The birth of a child into the family is an unforgettable and mysterious event, a milestone, such that family members continue to tell stories about the birth of their babies long after the children have grown up.

Newborns are not as helpless and passive as we once thought them to be, thanks to new research. From the moment they are born, infants live their active lives. They develop ways of making sense of and organizing the sights, sounds, smells, and tactile sensations everyday—the green park, the purring cats, arroz caldo, mangoes, soft pillows. They begin to understand the world around them and the meaning and function of words. They coordinate eyes and hands in order to grab the ball under the book, to pull themselves up or to cruise along the sofa. They develop ways of interacting with an ever-growing set of family members.

Children become more complex thinkers during early childhood. They communicate better, and ask and answer many interesting questions. Although their thinking is limited and dominated by their own perceptions, it eventually opens up to advanced forms of reasoning and understanding. Children discover there is life outside the family, such as riding tricycles in the neighborhood, finger painting in the preschool, and watching fantastic creatures in television. They build friendship with peers and work untiringly together in settings adults call play.

Oh, how we wish that all children would develop fully in a loving and enriched environment from the womb through the first six years of life! This is the period when the brain develops fastest, essential structures of language and thought are constructed, the foundations of basic attachment, security and confidence are formed, and the growth of physical abilities initiated. It is generally agreed that this early childhood stage is the most influential in a person’s life. Therein lay the significance of the 0-6 years.

In 2000, Republic Act 8980, or the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Act, was passed. It institutionalizes a national system for ECCD in the country that delivers health, nutrition, early education, and psychosocial services to young children, including children with special needs or of different cultural backgrounds. It supports and educates parents and organizes communities to improve the quality of life together. It opens a larger ground for everyone to work together for young children.

During the past five years, the National ECCD Coordinating Council assisted all provincial local government units (LGUs) institutionalize its local ECCD systems. The accomplishments have been expansive but continuing support for these systems is crucial and evident. Government programs on its own would always be an inadequate response to ECCD. In the long term, the amount of work for ECCD in the country requires primarily for more people to share their talent, time and treasure.

As a response, Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran Inc., a non profit composed of Chinese Filipinos, organizes Kaisa Sa 0-6, a national volunteering program for ECCD. The program aims to promote, recruit, field, facilitate, and recognize volunteers and their effort for local ECCD. Kaisa Sa 0-6 also preferentially identifies the local ECCD coordinating committees of LGUs as its local partners and co-volunteer managers.

Kaisa Sa 0-6 sees the potential for ordinary people, whether Tsinoys or other Filipinos, to make a real difference in children’s lives by doing simple but often extraordinary things. The volunteer opportunities are numerous!

To deliver ECCD services, volunteers can accompany pregnant women for their periodic prenatal check-ups. They can conduct the PABASA, an innovative nutrition information education strategy that integrates breastfeeding and complementary feeding. They can clean maternity clinics so that conditions during delivery are optimal for a safe and healthy birth. They can join the roving birth registration team so that parents don’t have to travel to the Local Civil Registrar of the LGU.

To build capabilities, volunteers can train more health workers on Integrated Management of Childhood Illness. They can conduct parent education seminars to improve the quality of care and teaching that young children receive at home. They can develop the curriculum and instructional materials for the day care centers. They can participate in local ECCD planning and manage ECCD programs.

To advocate, network and generate resources, volunteers can design marketing or communication plans to increase public awareness on ECCD. They can link various organizations, local and international, to be involved in the local ECCD system. They can organize fund raisers, develop websites, or publish community newsletters—all for ECCD.

Kaisa Sa 0-6 offers another common ground for Tsinoys and other Filipinos to step in and stand on together. To care for young children and for this nation is the common ground we share, one that is much bigger and nobler than the surname, skin color, physical features, wealth or educational status we differently possess. And no matter how many trillions of cells set us apart and unique from each other, it is the miracle of life and its development we experience that makes us all the same.

Philippine Copyright 2009

Building rainbows of hope

2009-10-31T18:33:00.025+08:00

By Teresita Ang See
Volunteering, No. 3

Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng left behind people picking up the pieces. Many families lost everything they had: their homes, businesses, precious mementos of happier times, even their loved ones.

The thousands of relief packs our organization, Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran, and the Tsinoy community brought to them seemed so little compared to the magnitude of their losses. But in each relief pack were the sweat and hard work of volunteers who filled them one by one and organized their distribution to the most needy, and the largesse of donors who magnanimously shared their resources.

Inefficient local government units were nightmares. In one place, Kaisa had to stop distributing goods and pull out because we were almost mobbed. We also refused to leave the relief goods at the municipal hall, having heard from other organizations that goods left unattended may be used as campaign paraphernalia, or even sold at sari-sari stores. In another area, there were no barangay officials at the evacuation center and no headcount of how many people were actually there.

But there were rainbows of hope when we encountered efficient people’s organizations and parishes.

In San Mateo, Rizal, Ka Nilo of the Buklod Tao was firm that we follow their community processes of surveying and accounting for priority families to which Kaisa was more than happy to oblige!

In San Pedro, Laguna social worker Cathy Gorme of Kanlungan sa Er-ma efficiently coordinated with the municipal councilor regarding yet unserved areas. She and her staff personally visited each house on bancas to give them claim tickets for the relief goods that Kaisa delivered.

In Calamba, Laguna, Kathleen Baez with staff and volunteers of the Southern Tagalog People’s Response Center held a list of all the household heads whose members were staying in each classroom of the school-turned-evacuation center. They called out names of the heads from each class, and everyone lined up like obedient children.

Kaisa board members Baldwin Kho and Charles Ng hired motorized bancas to reach the stricken areas of Bai, Laguna with volunteers from St. Augustine Parish. It was heartrending to see victims wading through waist-deep water to claim the small packs of assistance.

Innovative assistance

In Marikina, scholars of the Charity First Foundation, a third of whom were also affected by Ondoy, organized themselves on a medical mission. They personally washed the feet of those afflicted with fungus caused by the floodwaters. Afterwards, the doctors checked the affliction and prescribed the medication.

The Tzu Chi Foundation volunteers helped clean up people’s houses and gave them food, mats and blankets. Everyday, they visited Nangka, Marikina for two weeks; rented heavy equipment, bulldozers and payloaders; and hired 3,000 workers at P400 each to help clean up the area of mud and debris. The workers asked only for food for work exchange but the Buddhist group thought it was also a good way for them to earn something more.

Volunteer firefighters, busy with rescue operations even at the height of the typhoon, were in great demand to help clean up schools, churches and residential areas; pump out floodwater from buildings and underpasses; and deliver water to afflicted communities.

Ling Nam volunteer firefighters lend their delivery trucks to deliver the relief goods with us. Caloocan volunteer firefighters tied the end of the rope to the top of electric posts, ferried and rescued at least 60 people from the floodwaters until they gave up from sheer exhaustion. Paco volunteer firefighters did the same for Estero de Paco and other areas where floods were several meters deep.

KC Alumni (So Chiat) are giving school bags with pencils, notebooks and pads to about 5,000 students in ravaged areas. World News, Overseas Chinese Alumni Association of the Philippines, Philippine Chinese Chinese Amity Club and Shin Lian Association partnered to raise funds. Kaisa closely coordinated with them and they readily distributed to places Binan and Sta. Cruz in Laguina and Taguig in Rizal. The Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order went with Kaisa on several relief missions and helped procure vehicles for transport to remote areas.

Moving north after Pepeng devastated Northern and Central Luzon, we encountered the hardworking So family of Pangasinan. Setting aside their own submerged warehouse, Richard and Rosendo So immediately gave 1,000 sacks of rice and with the canned goods Kaisa provided, they distributed food to those hardest hit in Rosales and La Union.

The victims in the provinces were more receptive, orderly, and better behaved than those in Metro Manila where people seem to have attitudes of entitlement, as though the world owes them. Many who received relief packs tried to get more. Those who were not in the list of recipients would shout: “If you can’t afford to give to all of us, just go home.”

In Dagupan, the Panda Volunteer Fire Brigade became an impromptu command center for relief distribution. Church, other civic groups, as well as business organizations, coursed their donations through Panda. This streamlined the process so all disaster areas would be equally served. The efficient firemen worked well with the barangay and purok leaders.

This vibrant spirit of sharing and caring helped build rainbows of hope. Despite the seeming lack of governance, our people can help one another and move on.

Philippine Copyright 2009

Adapted from the author's article "Building rainbows of hope and bridges of friendship" Tulay Fortnightly, Oct 20-Nov 2 2009.

In the summer garden

2009-05-10T10:27:00.010+08:00

Walk the thought, 2009 No. 1

My grandfather taught me to pull out the weeds in the garden.

I asked him what makes a plant a weed; he replied that it is any plant that grows where he does not want it to grow. It can be destructive, he explained. Weeds obstruct sunlight, suck up water, and snatch nourishing soil substances from other plants. They shelter insects and diseases that cause damage to others.

He asked me how my volunteer work had been coming along. As my generous donor, he had more rights to honest answers than the convenient “Everything’s great!” I would love to say on a restful Sunday morning. But I opened up and told him I had lost interest volunteering in one organization. Relationships weren’t nurturing and the bicker pulled everyone down.

Grandfather used to be an active member of the sole federation of businessmen in the community. He said there are five other business clubs now, each one believing in the nobility of its vision, taking a share of the membership base.

When you look closer, Grandfather continued, organizations are like you and me. We desire to be heard, sought after, listened to, or followed; otherwise, we become fearful of losing our own worth. We make life difficult for those who threaten us, so relationships bog down. Some of us take flight, search elsewhere, and create something to appease our troubled ego.

Weeds are like our fears. Is there an organization that is free from its own fears? Now I realized why Grandfather takes the garden under his wings. He twisted a weed around his index finger, held it fast with his green thumb, and slowly pulled it out from the ground. Cut deep into the roots because the roots must go.

The warm glow of the morning sun continued to spray upon the weeds, and during those moments when I looked at them intently, they resembled miniscule buds of the baby's breath or the purple daisy-like flowers of the aster. Florists insert these in bouquets of long-stemmed graceful blossoms. I told Grandfather the weeds were creating softness in his garden, too.

Oh yes, of course, he chuckled, stood up and brushed the soil off his hands. With a visual taste for the refined, he stepped back and appreciated the weeds with me. They are pretty indeed. Weeds can be beneficial in some cases, Grandfather said. On empty land, they keep the soil intact. They nourish the birds. Some medicines that relieve pain are even made from weeds.

Then he clarified that a plant may be considered a weed in one place and not in another. The morning-glory is a weed pest in a vegetable field, but it is a lovely flower in a garden. If I find them beautiful, then weeds may become the delicate rosettes in my garden.

Until I have imbibed Grandfather's lessons, I will continue to experience the same fears and discontentment wherever I volunteer in, whatever role I play. To uproot oneself is not always the better answer. My self-esteem can come only from an acceptance of who I am and the cultivation of my inner strengths. Let the subtle beauty of the weeds teach me this. /d/

Copyright 2007-2009

Resources Contents

2008-12-26T15:08:00.004+08:00

Toolkits: Volunteer

Toolkits: Manage volunteers

Policy documents

The IAVE declaration on volunteering
Strengthening volunteerism through the Volunteer Act of 2007 (Republic Act 9418)

Publications

Research reports

30 VOpp: Carpenter

2008-04-21T16:53:00.000+08:00

Keep the building of a government agency serving Filipino children in top condition.

Volunteer as:
CARPENTER
COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN *

: : Beneficiaries
Partner organizations

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 10,800
Organization’s counterpart--Php 4,320

: : Nature
Administration

: : Tasks
To repair building defects or do carpentry/finishing works of the CWC building

: : Expected volunteer output
Carpentry works

: : Qualification
Skilled and well-experienced carpenter

: : Location
Quezon City

: : Schedule
As need arises

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Recognition/award

* The Council for the Welfare of Children is the focal inter-agency body of the Philippine government for children's concerns. It is responsible for coordinating and monitoring the implementation of all laws, programs and services for children according to the Child 21 Framework and the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child.

If you want to volunteer, please contact:
Igmidio Mike C. Conde, Administrative and Finance Division Head
10 Apo St, Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City
T [2] 740.8864 M 0920.8939253 E cwc@info.com.ph

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

29 VOpp: Electrician

2008-04-21T16:49:00.001+08:00

Keep the building of a government agency serving Filipino children in top condition.

Volunteer as:
ELECTRICIAN
COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN *

: : Beneficiaries
Partner organizations

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 10,800
Organization’s counterpart--Php 4,320

: : Nature
Administration

: : Tasks
To undertake repair of electrical facilities of the CWC building

: : Expected volunteer output
Electrical repair--once a month or as need arises

: : Qualification
Skilled and licensed Master Electrician with experience

: : Location
Quezon City

: : Schedule
Once a month or as need arises

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Recognition/award

* The Council for the Welfare of Children is the focal inter-agency body of the Philippine government for children's concerns. It is responsible for coordinating and monitoring the implementation of all laws, programs and services for children according to the Child 21 Framework and the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child.

If you want to volunteer, please contact:
Igmidio Mike C. Conde, Administrative and Finance Division Head
10 Apo St, Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City
T [2] 740.8864 M 0920.8939253 E cwc@info.com.ph

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

The IAVE* declaration on volunteering

2008-04-14T18:19:00.009+08:00

Policy documents, No.1

Preamble

Volunteers, inspired by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989, consider their commitment as a tool for social, cultural, economic and environmental development in a changing world, and believe that "each person has the right to freely assemble and associate for peaceful purposes."

Volunteering

+ Is based on a personal motivation and choice, freely undertaken;
+ Takes the form of individual or group activities generally carried out within the framework of an organization;
+ Is a way of furthering active citizenship and community involvement;
+ Contributes to the vitality of economic life, even creating jobs and new professions;
+ Enhances human potential and quality of daily life, building up human solidarity; and
+ Provides answers for the great challenges of our time, striving for a better and more peaceful world.

Volunteers shall:

+ Encourage the expression of individual commitment through collective movement;
+ Actively seek to strengthen their organizations by being fully informed of and adhering to the organization's goals, objectives and policies;
+ Undertake to carry out the jointly defined tasks, taking into consideration personal aptitude, time available and accepted responsibilities;
+ Undertake training as required;
+ Maintain confidentiality in their activities; and
+ Co-operate in a spirit of mutual understanding and respect with other members of the organization.

Organizations/Volunteer managers shall:

+ Lay down the policies needed for volunteer activity;
+ Define the criteria for volunteer participation;
+ Entrust suitable tasks to each volunteer and ensure that the ascribed functions are observed by all;
+ Provide appropriate training;
+ Provide adequate coverage and protection against risks to volunteers during the exercise of their duties and seek coverage for damages that may be caused to third persons;
+ Facilitate access to volunteering for all by reimbursing expenses;
+ Define the conditions under which the organization or the volunteer can end their commitment; and
+ Conduct regular evaluation and recognition of their work.

Proclamation

Volunteers, gathered at the initiative of IAVE in a world congress, declare their faith in volunteer action as a creative and mediating force:

+ To respect the dignity of all people and their ability to improve their lives and exercise their rights as citizens;
+ To help social and environmental problems; and
+ To build a more humane and just world, furthering international cooperation.

Therefore, they invite governments, international institutions, business and the media to join in partnership with them to create a world-wide environment that promotes and sustains effective volunteering by all people as a symbol of solidarity among peoples and nations.

Paris, 14 September 1990
* International Association of Volunteer Effort

28 VOpp: Nutrition educators

2008-04-10T16:49:00.000+08:00

Improve children's physical and mental development by providing nutritious foods at affordable costs.

Volunteer as:
NUTRITION EDUCATORS
CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL-ABOT KAMAY, INC. *

: : Beneficiaries
Children and youth; women; urban poor

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 2,500/volunteer
Organization’s counterpart--Php 80/volunteer

: : Nature
Education/training; allied health service

: : Tasks
To discuss/train parents of undernourished children about good nutrition using the PABASA module of the Nutrition Center of the Philippines

: : Expected volunteer output
Nutrition education trainings

: : Qualification
Knowledge on good nutrition
Excellent communication skills especially Filipino
Patient, flexible
Sociable; person-oriented
Willing to be trained

: : Location
Metro Manila

: : Schedule
5-8 hours per week
Weekdays, during office hours; Weekends (Saturday)

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Recognition/award
Transportation allowance

If you want to volunteer, please contact:
Myrna Basa, Chief of Programs
7-8 Don Pio St, Don Enrique Heights, Commonwealth, Quezon City
T [2] 952.2629 M 0918.9293035 E mbasa@mla.children.org.ph
Nancy Filio, SAC-Health Coordinator
T [2] 932.7910 loc 407 M 0920.8168674 E nfilio@mla.children.org.ph

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

27 VOpp: Filipino-to-English translators and teachers for letter writing

2008-04-03T16:47:00.000+08:00

Strengthen relationships between foreign and local sponsors and sponsored Filipino children through letter writing.

Volunteer as:
FILIPINO-TO-ENGLISH TRANSLATORS AND TEACHERS FOR LETTER WRITING
CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL-ABOT KAMAY, INC. *

: : Beneficiaries
Children and youth; urban poor

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 6,750/volunteer
Organization’s counterpart--Php 1,000/volunteer

: : Nature
Education/training

: : Tasks
To assist sponsored children and youth in writing letters to their sponsors
To translate Filipino words to English

: : Expected volunteer output
Accomplished letters by the children

: : Qualification
High level of proficiency in Filipino and English language
High interest in teaching
Patient with children and youth
Can easily adapt to poor environmental conditions

: : Location
Metro Manila

: : Schedule
5-8 hours per week
Weekends (Saturday)

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Recognition/award
Transportation allowance

* Abot-Kamay Inc. was organized and incorporated in October 1990 to uplift the lives of children in depressed areas. Its primary beneficiaries (presently numbering 23,000) include children aged 3-19 years residing in 31 poor communities in Metro Manila and Bulacan. Funding is coursed through Children International located in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

If you want to volunteer, please contact:
Myrna Basa, Chief of Programs
7-8 Don Pio St, Don Enrique Heights, Commonwealth, Quezon City
T [2] 952.2629 M 0918.9293035 E mbasa@mla.children.org.ph
Ruth Balasa, Sponsor Relations Assistant
T [2] 952.2551 M 0918.2451491 E rbalasa@mla.children.org.ph

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

March 8 and a book for doctors

2008-03-21T11:40:00.011+08:00

Walk the thought, 2007-08 No. 4

Last March 8, prominent women leaders and women networks organized a march from Welcome Rotunda to Plaza Miranda to celebrate International Women’s Day. I could have added to the collective voice of women seeking for truth, accountability and justice in this country. Instead, I chose to attend a book launch.

It would be as meaningful, I thought, to join Drs. Willie and Anna Liza Ong and Dr. Enrico Paolo Banzuela that day as they launch their book, Survival Guide for Doctors (and Non-Doctors, Too) To Stay or Go Abroad, because in our work to promote the welfare of the very young Filipino children, I have witnessed the ailments of our health care system.

Everyone is aware of the crisis of the medical profession in our country. Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, former secretary of the Department of Health and UP Vice Chancellor for Research, described the exodus of thousands of Filipino doctors who have given up their profession to become nurses in a foreign land "not a brain drain anymore; it's brain hemorrhage."

I told the authors and their guests that by attending the book launch, I was also celebrating the hundred-thousand barangay health workers, barangay nutrition scholars and rural health midwives who are delivering primary health care support in the barangays. All of them are women.

When I go back to the communities, I will share with these women that there are numerous doctors who are still staying on bravely in this country to continue serving the children they immunize, weigh and feed; the mothers they take care from pre-natal, birth and delivery, and post-natal stages; the neighbors they counsel and refer to the health centers and the municipal and provincial halls and hospitals.

I will narrate to them doctors' stories of survival and their collective effort to empower each other through the Movement of Idealistic and Nationalistic Doctors (MIND).

I will pass on to them the authors' tips on public speaking, tips for guesting in their local radio stations, secrets of networking, and how to get Boy Abunda to rally for them as he does for Drs. Willie and Anna Liza and their television program, Makabayang Duktor!

Survival Guide is a book about courage. It is about serving in and helping this country, one step of courage at a time. Its pages invoke powerful messages of action to save the nation's health with the same intensity as E. Rodriguez Avenue was peopled to speak for women's rights and dignity on March 8 and the same perseverance as our country's community health workers toil everyday.

It is a big thing to be a real server of people and a solution-seeker for our ailing systems. Yet, done to the utmost, service comes back sweetly and nourishes the heart of you. Service then allows you to connect to the goodness you have. For the ultimate solutions, as the authors propose, are altruism, faith, respect, compassion and love.

How do we learn to help? The book answers, By being helped yourself.

Acknowledge that people like mentors and role models are also caring for you. Look at others’ faces and find their support touching you. Be a child in spirit--accept a hand shake or a note of goodbye from a colleague with all good wishes. Watch your burdens taken away as God pulls you back to your potential, and feel accomplished yet aware that you have done nothing.

When you are helped this much, then you can help and serve others.

Copyright 2007-2008

What were the instances when you were helped by the same people you intended to help in your volunteer work?

24 VOpp: Team building facilitator

2008-03-19T10:47:00.000+08:00

Assist in the organizational integration and performance improvement of a non-government organization.

Volunteer as:
TEAM BUILDING FACILITATOR
CHARITY FIRST FOUNDATION, INC. *

: : Beneficiaries
Children and youth

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 10,000
Organization’s counterpart--Php 5,000

: : Nature
Institution building

: : Tasks
To conduct a team building activity for CFFI scholars, members and staff

: : Expected volunteer output
One team-building seminar or activity

: : Qualification
Professionally experienced in conducting team building activities

: : Location
Metro Manila, to be set

: : Schedule
Depending on arrangement

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Equipment, supplies, materials
Others, for consideration

* Founded in 2001 by a group of Chinese-Filipino businessmen, Charity First Foundation, Inc. aims to improve the quality of life of marginalized sectors of society by partnering with individuals, groups and institutions in addressing common humanitarian concerns through relevant and responsive programs.

If you want to volunteer, please contact:
Ma. Helen Dabu, E.D., Executive Director
84 Dona Hemady St, New Manila, Quezon City
T [2] 727.4394 M 0920.2239942 E helenbamby@yahoo.com

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

22 VOpp: Database manager

2008-03-16T10:31:00.001+08:00

Systematize the operations of an NGO that works for the education and welfare of our indigenous peoples.

Volunteer as:
DATABASE MANAGER
CARTHWEEL FOUNDATION, INC. *

: : Beneficiaries
Indigenous peoples

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 10,000
Organization’s counterpart--Php 450

: : Nature
Administration

: : Tasks
To develop the database of sponsors and partners of Cartwheel using Access application

: : Expected volunteer output
Programmed database

: : Qualification
Basic knowledge of Access application

: : Location
Mandaluyong City

: : Schedule
More than 8 hours per week
Weekdays, during office hours

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Equipment, supplies, materials
Referrals

* Cartwheel Foundation is a SEC-registered organization whose main thrust is education for and with the indigenous individuals and communities in the Philippines. Its programs include the preschool program, alternative learning session, college scholarship and the Pamulaan College (Indigenous People’s College).

If you want to volunteer, please contact:
Rojean Caharian, Executive Director
Unit F, 218 Malinao St, Brgy Hi-way Hills, Mandaluyong City
T [2] 584.1532 M 0917.7077605 E rojean@cartwheelfoundation.org
Coleen Ramirez, Development and Communications Officer
T [2] 584.1532 E coleen@cartwheelfoundation.org

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

21 Vopp: Tutors

2008-03-15T10:16:00.001+08:00

Contribute in upgrading children's learning processes and enhancing their competencies for school and in the community.

Volunteer as:
TUTORS
KONKOKYO PEACE ACTIVITY CENTER INFORMATION OFFICE, INC. *

: : Beneficiaries
Children and youth; Urban poor

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 6,000
Organization’s counterpart--Php 8,640

: : Nature
Education/training

: : Tasks
To provide in-depth explanation of topics in a particular subject matter (English, Math, Science, Reading, or Pilipino) learned in school
To provide exercises for children to better grasp the subject matter taught in school

: : Expected volunteer output
Brief and concise report on the topics covered, methods used to explain the topics and exercises done with the children

: : Qualification
Genuine concern for the learning of children
Patient and innovative in tutoring chores
Updated in the expected competencies required for chosen subject area (English, Math, Science, Reading, or Pilipino)
Ability to motivate children to read books

: : Location
Metro Manila

: : Schedule
1-4 hours per week
Weekends, once a week only

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Recognition/award

* KPACIO is committed to the growth and development of persons. Its programs and projects include early childhood development, education support, youth formation and micro-project assistance in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao. Its partners include people's and non-government organizations.

If you want to volunteer, please contact:
Harriet E. Escarcha, Office Manager
Unit 204 Casa Malvar Bldg, Singalong cor Gen. Malvar Sts, Malate, Manila
T [2] 536.8565 M 0919.2253336 E kpacio@info.com.ph
Joaquin B. Timogtimog, Jr, Projects Officer
T [2] 536.8565 E kpacio@info.com.ph

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

Demystifying mental illness through poetry

2008-02-20T09:52:00.008+08:00

Julie T. Chan
Volunteering, 2007-08 No. 2

The day arced in, thieves of light,
and no one explained themselves.

The differentia was apparent
(Dave Benson, "The Day Arced In"*)

Back in 2000, I was presented with a unique volunteering opportunity: to assist in managing an e-zine-- Poetry Sz: demystifying mental illness --which would feature the poetry written by people living with mental illness or mental disorders.

I had the experience of taking care of a relative who was suffering from the acute psychotic phases of schizophrenia a few years earlier. I believe this experience is something extraordinary and valuable, and that other people and families might benefit from my sharing of this knowledge.

In addition, I also love to read poetry, short stories and essays. Plus, the tasks involved in the volunteer work can all be done in my own time and pace, since they are internet-based. So I agreed to do the work. Basically, I help by choosing the poems to be featured, promoting the e-zine, and coordinating with the web designer to publish each issue.

i am possessed
i definitely know now that i am possessed
by my
self

we all have to pay eventually
for being on the guest-list
(Steven Dalachinsky, "Possessed"*)

Mental illnesses or mental disorders are generally characterized by some combinations of abnormal thoughts, behaviors and emotions. A person suffering from mental illness, for example, could have hallucinations, delusions or mood disorders which are distressing and disabling. These disrupt a person’s functions of daily living. If left untreated, a patient could become psychotic, or could “lose touch with reality.” Schizophrenia, major depression, bi-polar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, eating disorders are some examples.

Mental disorders are common. According to a major World Health Organization (WHO) report published in 2001, "Mental Health: New Understanding, New Hope," one out of every four people around the world would have experienced mental health problems at some time in their lives, regardless of their age and economic status.

The same report suggests that mental disorders can be treated effectively with better understanding of the various relationships between genetic, biological, social and environmental factors that cause them. However, due to the stigma and discrimination, up to two-thirds of those suffering from them will never seek help.

Poetry Sz aims to educate the public about mental illness by highlighting diverse and excellent work by people who have experienced mental illness, and by showing that in managing their illnesses through effective treatment, they could live a full life and make abundant contributions to society.

No, seriously, why should you
be different for one requiring

a human mirror with hands
and fingertips for eyes

and voice formed of fingerprints?
(Steve Tills, "Helen Keller Series"*)

Poetry conveys the purest thoughts and emotions from the deepest recesses of a person’s soul. Poetry Sz is proud to have been a venue for poets who were just starting out and who went on later to be featured in various literary journals and publications. Indeed, it is heartwarming to know that it has encouraged these new poets in honing their writing talents.

Poetry Sz has also been graced by established poets. There are artists, writers, politicians, film directors, physicians, lawyers, teachers etc featured in the e-zine.

With better understanding of their causes and treatments, mental disorders can be effectively treated. Let us help bring down the barriers to their recovery by removing prejudices and exclusions. Let us do our share and help people living with mental illness lead full, meaningful and abundantly productive lives.

*All poems quoted were previously published in Poetry Sz: demystifying mental illness.

Julie T. Chan is a core team member of iVolunteer.net.ph.

Copyright 2007-2008.

Love, respect, stewardship, I

2008-02-11T15:01:00.003+08:00

Walk the thought, 2007-08 No. 3

If only people knew to love more, give more respect, be more responsible, then we will have a better Philippines--now, that’s commonplace knowledge, you say. Why the cliché?

Because it has grown trite and we (adults?) have grown weary. Desensitized, numbed, by the monotonous yet persistent ration of stories about people who work in public service institutions that fail us, who live in neighborhoods close to ours and betray us, who drive on the same streets we take and harm us. We are learning to mouth the same predictable complaints about anyone and anything in this country. There is even money in news of misfortune! No wonder our lives have become clichéd.

If you had less than five hours to ask 50 University of the Philippines students what three core things are essential to grant them their vision of a better country, what do you think would they say?

“Love, respect and stewardship,” they told me. “And ‘I’ in each, from inside out,” I added.

I will love others without their names and titles and pass their made-up faces or recycled clothes; love them more simply than their achievement or more eloquently than the absence of it; love them more intricately than the dialects they speak and love them farther than the communities they live in or live without.

I can only love that way if I look at myself and each person as a spiritual being created with all of God’s virtues. Rooted in the thought that greed, pride, violence, and hatred were never really part of our nature, I can love them without pretensions and expectations. I will start by loving myself in the same manner.

Once I can love myself that way, then I can live and work with others without desiring recognition, esteem or applause. My self-respect is not found on the externalities of life—the framed certificates, the insulting remarks, the limelight of fame, fluctuating quality of staff work, a seat in the Association, fixed assets on foreign land, or even basketball championships!

My self-respect stands firmly on the consciousness of who I truly am—-a child of God, a soul. I know to whom I belong. No one and nothing else can complete me because I am already full and overflowing with God’s peace, purity, love, bliss and compassion! Then, I will be able to respect others despite their mistakes or my inadequacies, or our ideological and political differences. When I cease to seek for respect, then respect will follow like a shadow.

I will be a steward of the duties assigned to me and perform them with integrity and focus. My courses or work will have a sense of purpose. I have rights I enjoy but also responsibilities to fulfill as a professional, business person, family member, volunteer or citizen.

Without pride or arrogance, I will enthusiastically enjoin others--the street vendors, public school teachers, farmers, or the Aeta families-—to build a better country, believing that they have many worthwhile things to contribute.

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi

Copyright 2007-2008

How are you loving yourself and others? What is your self-respect based on? As a volunteer, how effective have you been as a steward of the tasks and resources in front of you?

20 VOpp: Trainors on health and nutrition

2008-02-06T05:12:00.000+08:00

Increase the awareness of urban poor families within the Archdiocese of Manila about the danger and prevention of malnutrition and common diseases.

Volunteer as:
TRAINORS ON HEALTH AND NUTRITION
CARITAS MANILA *

: : Beneficiaries
Children and youth; urban poor; member organizations

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 8,000
Organization’s counterpart--Php 160,000

: : Nature
Education/training; Medical/allied health service

: : Tasks
To conduct seminars on nutrition, hygiene and common diseases

: : Expected volunteer output
Once-a-month seminar in a parish

: : Qualification
Fluent in English and Tagalog
Has background in any health profession

: : Location
Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Pasay City

: : Schedule
1-2 hours per week per parish
Weekends

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Equipment, supplies and materials
Recognition/award

* For the past 53 years, Caritas Manila has journeyed with “those whom no one else serves,” being transformed from a purely charitable institution to one that seeks to empower communities of people. Caritas is now the Social Services and Development arm of the Archdiocese of Manila.

If you want to volunteer, please contact:
Helen P. Oreto, Operations Head
Caritas Compound, Jesus St., Pandacan, Manila
T [2] 563.9309 M 0918.6020562
Analyn Julian, Program Officer
T [2] 563.9298 M 0927.9096802

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

11 VOpp: Doctors and Dentists

2008-02-05T11:59:00.000+08:00

Sustain the health advocacy for indigent children and families through medical and dental services.

Volunteer as:
DOCTOR OR DENTIST
KONKOKYO PEACE ACTIVITY CENTER INFORMATION OFFICE, INC. *

: : Beneficiaries
Children and youth; urban poor

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 157,500 (900 beneficiaries)
Organization’s counterpart--Php 67,500 (900 beneficiaries)

: : Nature
Advocacy; education/training; medical/allied health service

: : Tasks
To conduct medical check-up, give advice
To conduct tooth extraction, give fluoride treatment

: : Expected volunteer output
Medical diagnosis and advice to children
Extraction, fluoride treatment and dental advice to children

: : Qualification
Licensed general practitioner/pediatrician
Licensed dentist
Can conduct lectures or demonstration

: : Location
Brgy Putrero, Malabon; Brgy NBBS, Navotas

: : Schedule
Once a month in each area
Weekdays, during office hours

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Recognition/award

* KPACIO is committed to the growth and development of persons. Its programs and projects include early childhood development, education support, youth formation and micro-project assistance in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao. Its partners include people's and non-government organizations.

Please contact:
Harriet Escarcha, Office Manager
Unit 204, Casa Malvar Bldg., Singalong cor. Gen. Malvar Sts., Malate, Manila
T [2] 536.8565 M 0919.2253336 E kpacio@info.com.ph
Joaquin B. Timogtimog Jr, Projects Officer
T [2] 536.8565 E kpacio@info.com.ph

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

15 VOpp: Sports and arts program team

2008-01-28T16:17:00.000+08:00

Create a memorable summer for urban poor children through a summer sports and arts program called "Talon, Takbo, Likha."

Volunteer as:
Sports and Arts Program Team
UNANG HAKBANG FOUNDATION *

: : Beneficiaries
Children and youth; urban poor

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 100,000
Organization’s counterpart--Php 50,000

: : Nature
Community or sectoral organizing

: : Tasks
To plan, execute and manage a 6-week summer sports and arts program (Talon, Takbo, Likha) for poor urban children (Jan-May)
To recruit teachers and coaches
To sign up sponsors
To organize community and logistics

: : Expected volunteer output
1,000 children participate in TTL
100 students, professionals or retirees involved as teachers, coaches or assistants

: : Qualification
Sports-oriented with strong organizational and networking skills
Creative and focused

: : Location
Mandaluyong City

: : Schedule
January-May; staggered
1-4 hours per week
No preference as to day

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Recognition/award

* Unang Hakbang Foundation is an organization that helps children on the streets and in poor urban communities. It has two main programs: Aral Kalinga, a mentoring and tutorial program for in-school children whose average grade is 78% and below, and Buhay Kalinga, a mentoring program for out-of-school children and youth.

Please contact:
Olie Lucas, President
39 Calbayog St., Brgy. Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City
T [2] 531.3474 M 0920.9244623 E olie.lucas@gmail.com
Fe Climcosa, Program Coordinator
T [2] 531.3474 M 0916.3360445 E uhf_philippines@yahoo.com
Nicolas Best, AYAD Volunteer
T [2] 531.3474 E uhf_philippines@yahoo.com

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

Going beyond philanthropy

2008-01-18T22:49:00.000+08:00

Volunteering, 2007-08 No.1

Time is money. Sometimes, time and talent are worth more than money. Especially when it’s corporate time and talent offered to community organizations that need additional human resources.

In this era of corporate responsibility, the new buzzwords “social equity investment” means just that: to invest business talent for social development.

Business philanthropy is going beyond material handouts. Leaders of the Philippine Business for Social Progress agree that donating business skills, not financial resources, is the more important contribution companies can make. And corporate volunteers come loaded with that.

Why bother? Corporate leadership should consider volunteerism as a tool to fulfill social responsibility or achieve organizational goals. Its employees may well see it as a means to actualize personal values and pursue interests. As well, it builds employee morale and job satisfaction.

Cielito Presas, Human Resource Manager of ICT Marketing Services, Inc., recalls a company employee who wanted to quit her job. “She wanted to resign sometime ago. I’ve met employees like her who do not find working in the corporate world meaningful anymore. I told her, ‘Hinde, mag-volunteer ka! Sumama ka sa akin sa Exchange Arena.’ She signed up for two VOpps (volunteer opportunities), came up to me happily and said she would not resign anymore!”

The Exchange Arena project in 2006 was like a marketplace where corporate volunteers searched for VOpps “sold” by NGOs, cooperatives, foundations, churches and public schools.

The project tagline was Just 1%. Just one percent of the company’s annual employee time. One percent of an employee’s time in a year is three days. The message: that’s all it takes for corporate volunteerism to make a difference. To be part of the solution for poverty alleviation, education, health and environment concerns.

Through their own initiatives, 11 organizations have taken the ball and run with it, pushing the Exchange Arena’s concept in their own corporate networks.“With so much value added in this project, what company or organization would say ‘No’?” asked Sylvan Monzon, director of Ortigas Foundation.

Indeed, by the end of that year, 13 companies had committed 1,200 employee-volunteering days and 40 recipient organizations submitted 148 VOpps.

Nurturing employees to become “good corporate citizens” is a long-term investment Philippine Seven Corporation is making. The corporate mission’s champion: Chairman Vicente Paterno, who advocates the relevance of employee volunteerism. Recently, the company launched its employee volunteer circle with full support from the administration.

“We would like our employees to continuously engage in community work by giving them various VOpps to choose from,” said Ronnie Turla, Personnel Administration Section manager. The employees have started volunteering for Caritas Manila’s projects. “Our 7-Eleven stores operate in 289 communities. We want to give back to these communities, to walk the extra mile as their friendly neighborhood stores.”

Similarly, The CenTRe8, headed by Alexey Cajilig, volunteered for more projects than their commitment required. “We saw how relevant our skills are, how much more we can give, and the effects of our contribution to these organizations and its advocacies,” he said, after volunteering for Unang Hakbang Foundation, Kilus Pag-asa Cooperative and the government's Council for the Welfare of Children.

The year-long Exchange Arena project in 2006 advocated to more than 2,000 NCR-based companies, government institutions, and civil society groups that employee volunteering and volunteer management can be organized to make the positive difference for development in this country. May this initial thrust bear abundant fruit!

Exchange Arena is an adaptation of Netherlands’ Marketplace, an innovative concept in fundraising and partnership-building developed 10 years ago by the National Volunteer Center of the Netherlands.

Copyright 2007-2008

12 VOpp: Physical/Occupational Therapist

2008-01-13T09:07:00.000+08:00

Extend proper diagnosis and therapy to children with special needs, making these services readily available to them.

Volunteer as:
PHYSICAL/OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
PHILIPPINE ASSOCIATION FOR CITIZENS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL AND LEARNING DISABILITIES, INC. *

: : Beneficiaries
Children and youth; persons with disability

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 50,000
Organization’s counterpart--Php 30,000

: : Nature
Education/training; Allied health service

: : Tasks
To assess and diagnose
To prepare occupation and physical therapy plans/activities
To train parents how to do the activities

: : Expected volunteer output
Children properly diagnosed
Children given appropriate therapy
Parents trained

: : Qualification
Developmental pediatrician
Occupational and physical therapist
Has background in health or early detection and intervention education

: : Location
Quezon City

: : Schedule
1-4 hours per week
Weekends

: : Support/benefits
Food/snacks
Equipment, supplies, materials
Recognition/award

* PACDLD is an NGO registered with SEC in 2002 which envisions all children with disabilities (CWDs) to live a life free from inequality and discrimination. It seeks to empower CWDs and their parents through programs, projects, advocacy and participation in policy making to promote their rights.

Please contact:
Felicite Jean Gonzalez, Projects Coordinator
69 Ermin Garcia St., Cubao, Quezon City
T [2] 410.6848 M 0919.7836494 E pacdld@tri-isys.com

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

Time again*

2008-01-06T19:16:00.000+08:00

Walk the thought, 2007-08 No. 2

On New Year's Day, I declare: I am going to have a great time volunteering with Time this year!

First, I will leave the past where it belongs--in the past. After all, Time moves forward, not backward. Disappointment and old sorrows about others (including volunteers) took up space in the consciousness. To have a joy-full time this year, I am going to switch my mind off those dusty files in a second! Empty the Recycle Bin with a single click. God’s compassion enables me to do just that.

Second, I will not be enslaved to the future. Worrying is fear in disguise; being anxious is false forward-looking. I chased after the next desirable help I could do and burned myself out soon enough. To have a ball this year, I am going to focus on making changes in the present instead. Tag along faith and determination. That is the sure recipe to shape the future. God’s love gives me the courage to do that.

Third, I will do things now. Who knows what will happen the next moment? The only gift that Time always brings is the present. To have happy experiences this year, I am going to volunteer with all accounts settled, all duties done, all things completed. How fulfilling! God’s ever-present company reminds me to do just that.

Fourth, I will respect Time. As I learn to value my own time, I am going to give regard to the time of others. It is said that promptness and punctuality are the practices of the royalty. Wow. Lovingly show tolerance to young people who have only had a little time, and patience to older ones whose bodies have served them a long time. God does the same.

Fifth, I will save Time. Not by multi-tasking or cramming, sorry. I am going to create extra moments by not spending time on trivial, wasteful thoughts or in careless words and harmful actions that distract me, return to cause me regret and demand payment one day. God gives me the power to make a full stop!

Lastly, I will spend more time in silence. My alma mater taught me Ora Et Labora, Prayer and Work. The more I go into volunteer action, the more I need to be silent. In silence, I can create more space to listen to God’s touches. His remembrance makes a light-as-a-leap year.

I think these are the best ways to have a great Time this year!

Copyright 2007-2008

*Adapted from “The Gift of Time,” Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.

When was the last time you had a wonderful volunteering or volunteer management experience? What lessons did it teach you for 2008? How did Time help you? Tell us about it!

9 VOpp: Data Encoder

2008-01-03T07:59:00.000+08:00

Safekeep information regarding children's concerns, laws, programs and projects for the Philippine government.

Volunteer as:
DATA ENCODER
COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN *

: : Beneficiaries
Children and youth; member or partner organizations

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 8,000 per month
Organization’s counterpart--Php 3,600 per month

: : Nature
Administration

: : Tasks
To encode data and records for safekeeping in the MIS Section

: : Expected volunteer output
Data and records encoded for safekeeping

: : Qualification
Graduate of B.S. Computer Science or Computer Secretarial course
Experience in basic computer trouble shooting and maintenance

: : Location
Quezon City

: : Schedule
2-4 hours per week
Weekdays, during office hours

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Recognition/award

* The Council for the Welfare of Children is the focal inter-agency body of the Philippine government for children's concerns. It is responsible for coordinating and monitoring the implementation of all laws, programs and services for children according to the Child 21 Framework and the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Please contact:
Igmidio Mike C. Conde, Administrative and Finance Division Head
CWC Bldg., 10 Apo St., Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City
T [2] 740.8864 M 0920.8939253 E cwc@info.com.ph, cwc@cwc.gov.ph

Any comments, questions, or stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

Begin the work of Christmas

2007-12-25T16:17:00.000+08:00

Walk the thought, 2007-08 No. 1

Today is Christmas Day. Howard Thurman’s well-loved Christmas poem echoed resoundingly to me this dawn, as if bent on being remembered. When the star in the sky is gone, when Kings and Princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flocks, the work of Christmas begins.

Christmas is not just a feel-good occasion; eloquence is not its only pleasure. Christmas is about working, performing deeds, making effort.

We can start with ourselves. Look back at 2007, rummage through the mess we might’ve made, and pick up the pieces. I’m sure we have dropped something nice here and there—an insight, a blessing, or even a virtue! We can forgive ourselves and be freed from bondages of kept regret or guilt.

That way we shall be able to love inclusively and our work of Christmas can go beyond and deservedly to others. To find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations, to make music in the heart.

Perhaps it is to promote the same lifework that December is National Volunteer Month in our country. By volunteering we can begin the work of Christmas and realize bits of our dream to create a better world for self and others.

Imagine the value of a volunteer who counsels and provides personal care to indigent people with cancer. A volunteer’s commitment for human rights campaign uplifts torture survivors. The little ones of the indigenous peoples enjoy a volunteer’s creativity and the toys he makes for them. Volunteers extend legal services to ease the burden of urban poor families.

The volunteer’s spirit is much-needed inspiration on the long, rough road of life. It is full of hope and optimism!

Volunteers market and sell Christmas cards to help farmers own the land they till. Volunteers design websites of organizations that promote the welfare of the physically disabled. They act as museum guides and tell the stories of minority groups. They develop databases for alternative health care programs. They organize resource centers and abstract works on women’s issues or children’s rights.

Volunteering creates. It is about people who make ripples and move in positive cycles with others. They clean up the bays and build nurseries. They nurture the soil with organic farming, manage coastal and marine resources, and fight fire to save lives. They monitor the livelihood projects of the mothers and map ancestral domains with the Lumads.

Volunteering draws us into worlds we have ignored, those of the lost and hungry. Or into our inner world where we lay broken and enslaved. But wherever it is, let the work of Christmas begin today.

Copyright 2007

Celebrating volunteers of peace

2007-12-20T13:43:00.000+08:00

iV corner, December 2007

“Let us imagine peace that begins in the minds, that extends to families, to communities, and to the nations.” This was a challenge posed to volunteers all over the world in 2006.

The iVolunteer volunteerism portal and community took the challenge to heart on December 5, 2007 when it organized a simple and reflective celebration of International Volunteer Day and National Volunteer Month this year.

“Volunteers of peace respect diversity,” Ms. Corazon Alma de Leon, our guest speaker, began her message of encouragement. "Neither gender nor background should constrain volunteering," she explained. "Even age must not matter."

Like an affirmation of that key principle, 80 volunteer leaders and managers from age 12 to 70 years filled the Harmony Hall of the Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center in Makati that afternoon! They represented various non-government organizations, government institutions, companies, public schools, media, local networks and international organizations.

Volunteers of peace have big hearts that serve others in their full capacity. Ms. de Leon is an inspiring model on this. Her life stories—as a student leader of University of the Philippines, a volunteer advocate for the Correctional Institution for Women, then as Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, as Civil Service Commissioner, and, presently, as Secretary-General of the Philippine National Red Cross—are stories of great service, courage and perseverance.

Indeed, the commitment to serve others and to expect nothing in return comes from the beautiful nature inside each volunteer. It is the nature of peace. Volunteers need to discover and anchor on this individual peace.

And so the volunteers played the VirtueScope! Ms. Becky Ortega, Deputy National Coordinator of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (BKWSU Philippines), facilitated this game.

The VirtueScope is a fun way for a volunteer to identify at least six key virtues to focus on and apply in life throughout next year. The virtues (written in virtue cards) that he picks are unique to him, offering him an individualized map to recreate the very best in himself for his volunteer work and every aspect of his life.

The volunteers had a hearty time as the virtue cards affirmed their inner strengths or revealed a positive trait they weren't aware of. Some were amazed at the accuracy of the virtues, which came out like answers for a need of the moment or reminders for things unresolved in their life.

Gentleness, faith, creativity, humility and tolerance are examples of volunteers' virtues for 2008.

In the busywork of serving others, volunteers need to regularly pause--in prayer or meditation--to look into their individual peace and virtues. This way, they can create positive thoughts, pure feelings, and good wishes.

Then they can look outward once again, serve and carry on with their advocacies with courage, purpose and meaning.

Volunteers of peace are at peace with their selves, in their relationships, and with the world. It is peace within and powered by God. When volunteers put their faith in this peace, then the world becomes a much better place for all.

Peace must begin with each one of us. Through quiet and serious reflection on its meaning, new and creative ways can be found to foster understanding, friendships, and co-operation among all peoples. (Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, Secretary-General of the United Nations, September 1986)

Thanks to the following iVolunteers: Chaya Go, Shayne Merioles, Christy Planco, and Sheilan Villafranca. Thanks to the BKWSU Philippines for co-hosting the celebration and to the United Nations Volunteers Philippines for the blue and white balloons.

Want to view more photos of the event? :: yes ::
Want to find out what your 2008 VirtueScope is? :: yes yes! ::

The irony of volunteering

2007-12-16T06:39:00.000+08:00

Issues, 2007-08 No. 1

On top of an old van, a group of Muslim and Christian women traversed across Maguindanao. Other women waited at midday by the open-air ferry terminal in Northern Samar. Some trekked mountain trails or crossed murky rivers in the hinterlands. Their mission: to administer the oral polio vaccine to children and bring the Balik Patak, Kontra Polio campaign closest to the households.

They are not medical professionals in medical missions or overseas Filipinos in outreach programs. They are barangay health workers, christened “everyday heroines” and “foot soldiers” in the battle against the mutant polio virus.

These health workers and the community-based barangay nutrition scholars and day care workers are considered barangay volunteers in our country.

Their activities fall within the defining characteristics of volunteering. Their work is not undertaken primarily for financial reward though token payment is given. It is undertaken voluntarily, and it benefits others or society at large. At least 70,000 barangay volunteers give national pride when we proclaim their number in international exchanges and say that volunteerism has always been a cultural tradition we call bayanihan.

But the problem of poverty and the immense task of delivering quality services present a different picture.

Barangay volunteers confirm that they do not view their work as volunteer effort. Realities beckon: their work is additional income for their families, however meager the honorarium. Consistently, their concerns have been the overdue allowances, out-of-their-pocket expenses, or insecurity of their tenure.

The average barangay volunteer works for 20 years, sustaining the delivery of services in our country for at least 40 years now. The reach of their work is more expansive and bears more impact than any service delivery institution as they help Filipino families meet minimum basic needs: health and nutrition of its members, and early education of the very young.

Volunteering has thus become rudimentary for the survival of Filipino individuals and this nation. Such is the irony.

As we celebrate National Volunteer Month this December, we enjoin local governments to realize a key concept and principle in volunteering: Volunteers are key actors and their nurturance is crucial in continuing volunteer work. How well have we taken care of our barangay volunteers?

Copyright 2007

7 VOpp: Letter reviewer or critic

2007-12-05T08:19:00.001+08:00

Strengthen sponsored children's relationships with their local and foreign sponsors through letter writing.

Volunteer as:
LETTER REVIEWER/CRITIC
CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL-ABOT KAMAY, INC. *

: : Beneficiaries
Youth and children; urban poor

: : Estimated Valuation(no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 950 per day
Organization’s counterpart--Php 80 per day

: : Nature
Education/training

: : Tasks
To review content and grammar of children’s letters
To make minor revisions on the letters written by the sponsored children and youth

: : Expected volunteer output
Reviewed letters of the children

: : Qualification
High level of proficiency in Filipino and English language
High interest in readings and the arts
Patient in making revisions with the letters

: : Location
Quezon City

: : Schedule
5-8 hours per week
Weekdays, during office hours

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Recognition/award
Transportation allowance

*Abot-Kamay Inc. was organized and incorporated in October 1990 by a group of Filipinos who shared the common goal of uplifting the lives of children in depressed areas. Its primary beneficiaries (presently numbering 23,000) include children aged 3-19 years residing in 31 poor communities in Metro Manila and Bulacan. Funding is coursed through Children International located in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

Please contact:
Ruth Balasa, Sponsor Relations Assistant
7 & 8 Don Pio St., Don Enrique Heights, Commonwealth, Quezon City
T [2] 952.2551 M 0918.2451491 E rbalasa@mla.children.org.ph
Joseph Cubar, Sponsor Relations Manager
T [2] 952.2551 M 0917.2776145 E jcubar@mla.children.org.ph

Comments, questions, stories to tell regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

6 VOpp: Consultant for product design, development and management

2007-12-05T08:19:00.000+08:00

Improve the sustainability of entrepreneurial ventures and livelihood programs for the urban poor.

Volunteer as:
CONSULTANT FOR PRODUCT DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT & MANAGEMENT
CHARITY FIRST FOUNDATION, INC. *

: : Beneficiaries
Urban poor

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 12,000 per month
Organization’s counterpart--Php 2,000 per month

: : Nature
Business advising; livelihood

: : Tasks
To create product design, development and management plans for CFFI’s livelihood program and other possible entrepreneurial ventures

: : Expected volunteer output
Product design, development and management plans

: : Qualification
Professionally experienced in product design, development and management

: : Location
Quezon City

: : Schedule
Two Wednesdays in a month; 1-4 hours per week
Weekdays, during office hours

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Recognition/award
Others, for consideration

*Founded in 2001 by a group of Chinese-Filipino businessmen, Charity First Foundation, Inc. aims to improve the quality of life of marginalized sectors of society by partnering with individuals, groups and institutions in addressing common humanitarian concerns through relevant and responsive programs.

Please contact:
Ma. Helen Dabu, Executive Director
84 Hemady St., New Manila, Quezon City
T [2] 727.4394 M 0920.2239942 E helenbamby@yahoo.com

Comments, questions, stories to tell regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

4 VOpp: Video editor

2007-12-05T07:12:00.001+08:00

Inform the public about the successes and challenges of an NGO's programs and advocacy for the indigenous peoples.

Volunteer as:
VIDEO EDITOR
CARTHWEEL FOUNDATION *

: : Beneficiaries
Indigenous peoples

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 20,000
Organization's counterpart--Php 450

: : Nature
Institution building; project management; administration

: : Tasks
To design and produce the videos of Cartwheel

: : Expected volunteer output
Video production

: : Qualification
Knowledge in video editing

: : Location
Mandaluyong City

: : Schedule
More than 8 hours per week
Weekdays, during office hours

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Equipment, supplies, materials
Referrals

*Cartwheel Foundation is a SEC-registered organization whose main thrust is education for and with the indigenous individuals and communities in the Philippines. Its programs include the preschool program, alternative learning session, college scholarship and Pamulaan College (Indigenous People's College).

Please contact:
Coleen Ramirez, Executive Director
218-F Malinao St., Brgy Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City
T [2] 584.1532 E coleen@cartwheelfoundation.org

Any comments, questions, stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

3 VOpp: Trainors on livelihood

2007-12-05T06:58:00.000+08:00

Enable at least 50% of urban poor families in Metro Manila start up small businesses and access various resources.

Volunteer as:
TRAINORS ON LIVELIHOOD
CARITAS MANILA*

: : Beneficiaries
Women; urban poor; elderly

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 97,200
Organization's counterpart--Php 810,000

: : Nature
Education/training; livelihood

: : Tasks
To conduct training on various sources of livelihood for the parishes

: : Expected volunteer output
Trainings in different parishes of Manila

: : Qualification
Have the knowledge in various livelihood skills
Have strong communication skills in English and Tagalog
Have experiences in handling group discussion
Have good interpersonal skills

: : Location
Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Pasay

: : Schedule
4x a year, one Saturday or Sunday per quarter
Weekends, 2–4 hours per session

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Equipment, supplies and materials
Recognition/award

*For the past 53 years, Caritas Manila has journeyed with "those whom no one else serves," being transformed from a purely charitable institution to one that seeks to empower communities of people. Caritas is now the Social Services and Development arm of the Archdiocese of Manila.

Please contact:
Helen P. Oreto, Operations Head
Caritas Compound, Jesus St., Pandacan, Manila
T [2] 563.9309 M 0918.6020562
Analyn Julian, Program Officer
T [2] 563.9298 M 0927.9096802

Any comments, questions, stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

1 VOpp: Pediatrician

2007-12-05T06:04:00.000+08:00

Regularly monitor the health status of children who live in a child care institution.

Volunteer as :
PEDIATRICIAN
ASILO DE SAN VICENTE DE PAUL *

: : Beneficiaries
Youth and children

: : Estimated Valuation (no cash involved)
Volunteer work--Php 18,000 per week
Organization’s counterpart--Php 4,800 per week

: : Nature
Medical and allied health service

: : Tasks
To conduct medical check-up for 60 children

: : Expected volunteer output
Medical check-up of children

: : Qualification
Licensed medical doctor or practitioner

: : Location
Manila

: : Schedule
Every Tuesday, 5-8 hours per week
Weekdays, during office hours

: : Support/benefits from the organization
Food/snacks
Recognition/award

*Asilo de San Vicente de Paul was founded in 1885 by Sister Asuncion Ventura, a Daughter of Charity. It is a SEC-registered and DSWD-licensed child-caring institution that dynamically and continuously responds with quality service to a growing number of children in crisis.

Please contact:
Sr. Lorna Madrazo, DC, Health Services In-charge
1148 United Nations Avenue, Paco, Manila
T [2] 523.3829, [2] 523.1460 E asilomla@yahoo.com

Any comments, questions, stories regarding this VOpp? Please post them here.

Celebration to creation

2007-12-04T22:20:00.000+08:00

Story 3 of 3

From 2001 to 2005, iVolunteer celebrated everyday heroes—-people who shared themselves to make life more humane for others. One didn’t have to be smart, rich or famous to serve, or to be dead to inspire. Perseverance, discernment and courage were all they needed. People remained undaunted to make positive changes in our country. We celebrated this humanity!

iVolunteer has grown a lot and learned a hundred lessons (literally) during the quiet 2006 and 2007 when we strove to be constructive and forward-looking despite the hurdles of rebuilding this portal and helping run a country.

It feels great to be six years old this year!

iVolunteer.net.ph now says, “We make everyday heroes.” Not arrogantly spoken, but wisely. We are more definitive of what we can offer and how, of what we cannot offer yet contented in the benefits of limitations, and of what we want to offer tomorrow.

We flex our muscles to improve and maintain this portal. You see, iVolunteer.net.ph is 100% operated by a core group of volunteers. From web design, editorial ‘structuring’, writing, editing and publishing, to social marketing, communications, networking and resource generation, everything is volunteer effort.

We live out our values of commitment, stewardship and respect. That way, iVolunteer.net.ph can build a community of volunteers and volunteer managers who are cooperative, supportive and reliable. Truly, a community of everyday heroes.

We offer this portal to our country this December, our National Volunteer Month; to the world on International Volunteer Day; and to God/de, the Source of virtues and greatness in each of us.

December 5, 2007
Metro Manila, Philippines

Story 1 of 3: About this portal
Story 2 of 3: A stream of firsts

A stream of firsts

2007-12-04T22:15:00.000+08:00

Story 2 of 3

In 2003, the original portal was recognized as a finalist--Best Website category of the Catholic Mass Media Awards. It was a surprise-filled message that prodded us, “You’re on the right track. Move on, farther, better!”

We also realized that we couldn’t stay online all the time. Not with the digital divide in the country. And not with the host of challenges that kept presenting themselves to us!

In 2004, our first Volunteer Experience Essay Writing Contest churned six winning essays about volunteering for Bulacan’s children, Metro Manila’s street kids, children with leukemia, the coasts of Calatagan Bay in Batangas, Davao’s paraplegics, and Laguna’s San Cristobal River.

We chilled out with 250 volunteers in two iV Evenings: at Café Papemelroti with artist Robert Alejandro, at Conspiracy Bar with singer Noel Cabangon. In December, we celebrated our national month in Intramuros’ Clamshell with 300 plus volunteers and organizations!

During the 18th World Volunteer Conference organizaed by the International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE), we also participated in the advocacy work of the Volunteer Family in the World Summit on the Information Society convened by the United Nations.

In 2005-06, we convened the first ever Exchange Arena, a project that aimed to facilitate partnership building among the business sector, government and civil society through employee volunteerism.

We piloted a model of institutionalizing a volunteer management system in the municipality of Libon in Albay. Another pioneering work.

Story 1 of 3: About the portal
Story 3 of 3: Celebration to creation

Our partners

2007-12-04T20:39:00.001+08:00

Forming partnership is important. iVolunteer.net.ph can’t do it alone. So we reach out to the government, non-government, corporate, academic, and youth sectors to share the advocacy with us. Both nationally and internationally.

The following institutions have helped us in ways unnumbered. They inspire us to keep on keeping on. We thank them dearly.

Bluethumb Graphics

Caucus of Development Non-government Organizations (CODE-NGO)

Foundation for Communication Initiatives (FOCI)

Intel Involved and Intel Philippines

International Association for Volunteer Effort, Philippines

International Movement of Development Managers (IMDM)

Jesuit Volunteers Philippines Foundation Inc. (JVPFI)

Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran, Inc.

Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan

League of Corporate Foundations (LCF)

Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)

Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA)

Volunteer Organizations Information Coordination And Exchange, Inc. (VOICE)

Volunteer Service Organization (VSO) Bahaginan, and

United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Philippines

About this portal

2007-12-04T17:21:00.000+08:00

Story 1 of 3

iVolunteer.net.ph? Sounds familiar...
www.ivolunteer.net.ph is the Philippines' first volunteerism portal, a redesigned edition of the original one we created in 2001.

It aims to serve as a positive ICT powerhub for you--volunteers and volunteer managers--and your participation in local and national development in the country. It is vibrant with enthusiasm and energy for volunteerism as a response to and resource for the spiritual/moral, economic, political, social and cultural issues that affect us today.

It harvests from the inherent altruistic desire of people like you to volunteer and give—the sharing of time, resources and talents--for the improvement of the lives of marginalized Filipinos. It also harvests from the rich experiences of your organizations and institutions whose mission is to contribute to the betterment of Philippine society.

How do we do that?
Let’s utilize the best of the Internet and ICTs, we said. So now, iVolunteer.net.ph has two major features:

Online menu of volunteer opportunities
Through this feature, you can browse several volunteer opportunities (VOpps, for short) posted by organizations all over the country. That is to say, the portal is like a “speed matching” venue though we’ll leave it up to you and your chosen organization to actually get the volunteer work managed and done. With commitment.

If you are working for an organization that needs volunteers, you may use iVolunteer.net.ph to announce your VOpps for FREE. Simply email iVolunteernetph@gmail.com or text us at 0917.8273124, and we’ll send you an easy-to-fill-up form regarding your VOpp. That’s all.

Information and resources on volunteerism
Need to learn about the works of volunteering and volunteer management in the country? iVolunteer.net.ph provides news and events, feature articles, technical papers, modules and other resources to grow with! You can also join the iVolunteer e-group for the exchange of ideas and insights.

That’s technology for people and development.

Story 2 of 3: A stream of firsts
Story 3 of 3: Celebration to creation