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| Volunteer Corner | |
My Experience as VIDA Volunteer Volunteering work is worth sacrificing and HAPPINESS as well. My Stories Before And During My Time Of Service As A VIDA Volunteer 06/04/09 Volunteer Helps Children Prepare for Disaster 03/13/09 10 January 2009 Very sincerely, 03/12/09 Reflections of a Pax Christi/VIDA Volunteer
As I look at what I have achieved despite it all, I feel awed that we are still here and all my worries and weariness disappear. Seeing the innocent and trusting smiles of the children, gained good reputation in the community…the PCLI standing strong and continuing to grow, giving quality education to indigent children, and knowing fully I am a big part of it, gives me the resolve that poverty is not a hindrance to serving fellow poor Filipinos. Being a VIDA volunteer really gives me this pride no one can ever take, as I join with the rest of heroes I admire in every VIDA around the Philippines. 03/12/09 VIDA Volunteer Assignment My work as a VIDA Volunteer working with the Asset-based Community Development with Equity Foundation (ABCDEF) in Dipolog City is full of challenges and fulfillment. Work with mostly Subanen marginal farmers in far-flung mountains is not your regular 8-hour job for their concerns are varied and their resources meager. I assist in the conduct of capacity-building activities and in seeing to it that inputs such as vegetable seeds, seedlings, farm animals provided by the Foundation would help ensure the improvement of their environment by way of improving their farming system and increase their livelihoods.
VIDA Volunteer May Grace Maboloc My life as a VIDA Volunteer and working with the Wand Foundation in Misamis Oriental is full of challenges. Why? It is because this is my first entry into real fieldwork directly dealing with farmers. The pressure in work is vastly different from school. Working in rural and mountainous areas is not that easy since you need to walk several kilometers just to reach your destination. Sometimes I want to quit but wanting to challenge myself that I can do things on my own and to facilitate change in the local communities especially in the area of natural resources management motivates me to strive and to continue my journey. The smiles of the people I worked with and the satisfaction in their faces showing their improved uplands and local livelihoods helps me to have this feeling of triumph. May Grace Maboloc, VIDA Volunteer, Wand Foundation (formerly Local Empowerment Foundation) Libertad, Misamis Oriental. www.wandphils.org
The best thing about being a volunteer Do you recall Renaldo Lapuz, the Filipino contestant during a recent season of American Idol whose song "We're Brothers Forever" became a YouTube hit? That song, and the passion with which he sang it during his audition, describes very well my experience being a US Peace Corps Volunteer assigned to San Vicente, Camarines Norte, in Bicol. From this unlikely friendship grew a two-and-a-half-year journey of not only personal friendship but professional growth, as well. By Christmastime, 2006, thanks to this guy, I'd become a member of the church choir, had become a member of his barkada, and even attended his family's annual reunion as his guest. He helped me integrate into the community. John shared with me his dreams for the school, for the students, as well as his own professional goals. He had a lot of good ideas, and he thought I could help realize them. By January, 2007, together we attended our first project design and management training offered by the Peace Corps, the result of which was a grand proposal for a school library building with books and a reading program for the school. With the help of the principal and in partnership with the DepEd's iSchools program, our library project became a multimedia center, doubled in size, and gained 21 new computers. I couldn't have-nor would have-done this without my partner John. The Peace Corps recognized John's talents, as well, and on three different occasions invited him to be a co-trainer with me on project design and management trainings for other volunteers and their counterparts, and even once for a group of GPTCA representatives from Mindanao. We didn't stop at the library building, though. We worked together to solicit books, train my English teacher counterpart to become a librarian, and organize a reading program. With my help, John learned how to become more proficient on the computer and how to use the Internet for research. Our next project was to procure sewing machines for the garment technology class and launch a livelihood project that focused on making products from recycled juice packs. John, our principal, and I scoured the province and region together for sewing machines before heading to Manila to buy what we needed. Once we had those, the principal was able to find even more machines for us that needed to be overhauled before we could use them, which we did. Now we have 13 machines in full production as our students master the skills of garment technology, and creatively recycle what used to be trash into income-generating products. Today, John is enrolled in a master's degree program in education administration and has designs to become the next principal of our high school; currently he's the head of the newly-created technical-vocational education department. Through all of this, my friendship with John has grown into one of brotherhood. We're brothers forever now. Of course, there's the library and the sewing machines as physical "legacies" of what we accomplished, and seeing our students voraciously reading in the library and producing all kinds of neat things on their sewing machines is reward in and of itself, but what is really special to me is having found my best friend in the unlikeliest of places, and knowing that we accomplished this together, and that we've both changed each other's lives for the better. That's got to be the best thing about being a volunteer. Volunteer Work with IOM In the past few months, International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been leading the way along with DSWD Region V staff to institutionalize and streamline the work of the Protection Cluster in Bicol. IOM co-hosted a two-day workshop with staff from UNICEF to analyze the function of the protection cluster and to identify gaps in the fulfillment of this function. It was established that the four major areas of Protection concern in Bicol are Child Protection, Rule of Law and Justice, Safety and Human Rights Violations, and Land, Housing and Property Issues. Representatives of all the agencies active in Protection issues participated including Provincial PNP and PSWDO from Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Masbate, Sorsogon and Albay. The workshop provided background knowledge that the term "Protection" encapsulates the assurance of all human rights: physical, social, political and civil. It also created a work plan that DSWD can follow as lead of the cluster to strengthen the capacity of the cluster in the areas which were identified as gaps. IOM has also helped guide the Protection Cluster through contingency planning workshops at both the provincial and regional level. These activities have helped the cluster member agencies to not only address current protection issues occurring but to plan for the possibility of future emergencies. The creation of a Terms of Reference for the Cluster on the Regional level as well as guidelines taken from international standards to be used in an emergency situation have been IOM's contribution to institutionalizing the work of the cluster. The Bicol Protection Cluster is leading the way as a model of how the cluster approach can function on a regional level. Volunteering is an amazing experience "Hey Joe', I hear when passing the banana vendors on my way to work. They call me Joe since they think I am American, because I am not Asian looking. The school kids ask me what soap I use, so they can buy it as well and become white as me. Very funny since I like to be tanned. Since September 2006 I am a VSO volunteer working in the Philippines on the island Mindanao. As organizational development and resource mobilization advisor I work for Kapamagogopa, a Muslim sending volunteer organization. This NGO educates young Muslims with a bachelor degree to become peace weavers. After that they will be working in their own field as a volunteer in NGOs that work for peace and development. Since 5 centuries there is conflict and violence here in Mindanao. A lot of indigenous Muslim tribal groups are excluded of social basic services and development. Because of this and other problems, different rebel organizations have been set up, against which the national government is fighting protracted wars for a very long time. My work is very interesting and my colleagues are very passionate in their work. Integrating is going well, and in case of cultural differences my colleagues and I laugh! Sometimes we have misunderstandings in the language. The word 'yes' is '0 0' or you just move your eyebrows. It took me a while to understand that decisions were made already during meetings, since I was waiting for a 'yes'. Now I look at the non verbal communication and facial expressions. I have learned a lot from the four women I work with: Mari, the executive director, Lalai, the project manager, Bebe, the finance officer and Girlie the finance and administrative assistant. Since the organization is very young, only set up in 2004, it is still looking for funding and publicity. I shared my skills in this field and one of the activities was to write a book on the significant changes made by the Muslim volunteers in the communities where they work. Together with my colleague Lalai I traveled to the communities where the volunteers worked to interview their beneficiaries. Traveling was not always easy, since most communities are in the rural area. They consist mostly of some bamboo huts, surrounded by rice plantations, banana trees and coconut trees. To me coming from Europe where we dream of blue sky with lots of sun and living surrounded by coconut trees, the communities look very idyllic at first. However, the inhabitants suffered from war and natural disasters. Their livelihood consists of selling rice cakes door to door or peel coconuts for richer farmers. To reach the beneficiaries to be interviewed for the book, we walked long distances through nature or sometimes rode a habal habal, the only means of transportation in these areas, a motorcycle that carries up to six people. Sometimes we had to be protected by soldiers, a very strange feeling. In Pantar, a small village, elections were being held, which often evolves in conflict and violence. The inhabitants did not feel safe at that time, so military camps were set up in the area. For our own protection, we walked between military on the way through mud and grass lands to the bean plantation of a farmer that we were going to interview. During our walk I was wearing a head scarf, long sleeves shirt and long pants, to not look too different between the Muslims. It was an interesting experience. The book is finished now and we are all proud of it, of all the changes these volunteers made. My placement is now almost finishing and I feel like a split personality. It is really great of course to go back to the Netherlands and see my friends and family again after such a long time. But I know that I will really miss all the friends I made here, my colleagues, the fresh fruits, the excitement in my work and the beautiful country of the Philippines. Luckily nowadays communication is getting easier worldwide through internet, so I will be still in contact with my friends from here. I am sure that if I am back home, I will always remember my volunteering experience as a very amazing time of my life! If you like to know more about Kapamagogopa Inc. you can look at: www.ki-volunteer.org Thank you Jonathan for that warm introduction. I must admit that as I sat watching those films I did start to wonder
what I could possibly say that would be as eloquent a tribute to VSO as
what we’ve just seen and heard. From Julie Wilson, Laura Marshall and Peter Reid sharing their expertise
to help the people of Nepal improve schooling, all the way from the
classroom to the top levels of government. From James and Faless, learning more about each other’s countries and
cultures. I was particularly struck by James’s comment that thanks to
VSO he sees that our interconnectedness is not just an idea – it’s
real. VSO changed Brendan Barber’s life. And as we saw, by training nurses in
Malawi, VSO is changing the life of
every Malawian treated by those nurses. Today, tomorrow, next week, next
year. The message from each person in those films was the same. Volunteering is
an experience that enriches the lives of everyone involved. 50 years of VSO – from a few volunteers to British institution Margaret Mead, the American anthropologist, once said: “Never doubt
that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the
world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” 50 years ago, Alec and Moira Dickson, with support from the Bishop of Portsmouth
and Inter Church Aid – now Christian Aid – organised for eight young
volunteers to leave the UK for a
year’s service in Ghana, Nigeria,
Zambia and Sarawak. Since that first small group of thoughtful, committed citizens set out to
change the world, almost 33,000 volunteers have worked in over 120
countries under the banner of Voluntary Service Overseas. VSO’s volunteers have changed. Their average age has risen from 18
years old in 1958 to over 40 today. Volunteers come from a range of
countries and from diverse professional, cultural, and social
backgrounds. VSO has changed too. In the last 50 years ago it has grown to become a
great British institution, and a source of national pride. Britain in the world As VSO has changed, so too has Britain’s relationship with the world. In the middle of the 20th century, Britain
was a nation rebuilding itself. Indeed our very venue this evening was
built just over 50 years ago for the Festival of Britain, described by
the man who made it possible, Herbert Morrison, as “a tonic for the
nation”. And the people of Britain needed that
tonic, recovering as they were from the darkest years of the war. Today’s Britain is more confident, more
dynamic, more open. Today’s London is
a city of 300 languages. More than 3 out of every 10 people working in
our capital was born outside the UK. Today, Britain is a nation of global
consumers – from films we watch to the clothes we wear, even the food
we eat. We are a nation of global travellers. And we are increasingly a
nation, and London ever more a city, of
global business. And in this generation, from the Live Aid concert of 1985 to the jubilee
debt campaign and the Make Poverty History movement of three years ago, Britain
has increasingly become a nation that not only cares about global
poverty, but wants to do something about it. VSO in the fight against poverty VSO volunteers have played an important role in turning Britain’s
concern for global poverty into practical action. The scale of the challenge can seem overwhelming: 980 million people
living on less than 50 pence a day; 72 million children out of school;
more than a million people dying from malaria each year. Yet we can each do something to make a difference, as VSO’s volunteers
prove through their actions. The only way to climb a mountain is to take
a first step. Volunteers can also be a great inspiration to others. Simply through
telling your stories, you are powerful advocates for the change we all
want to see in the world. And volunteers are living proof that development is not simply something
that governments do. This government is committed to tackling poverty,
and that is why we will provide more than £9 billion in aid by 2010 –
roughly three times more than in 1997. But governments cannot meet the development challenge alone – no matter
how committed. We need a true partnership for development that involves
governments, the private sector, NGOs and faith groups and individual
citizens. DFID proud to support VSO So this Government is proud to support VSO, and proud of our long
partnership together. The first government grant to VSO was not quite
made 50 years ago, but not far from it – VSO received £9,000 from the
UK government in 1959. As VSO has grown, so too has our support. And so too have our connections. My Ministerial colleague, Gillian Merron, joined the Department for
International Development in January this year. Three years ago she
spent a summer as a VSO volunteer in Guyana,
giving the benefit of her experience to the Guyana
Teachers’ Union. And now she brings the benefit of that experience to
her Ministerial work. VSO started the careers of many of our colleagues in the Department. Some
of them are here tonight, including Nigel Kirby, who helped to bring
clean water to villages in the Solomon Islands
and has been back many times since. And Richard Thomas, whose daughter has now followed in his footsteps and
is serving with VSO in the Gambia. My own experiences of volunteering in a developing country made a deep
impression on me. As a student I spent a short time building classrooms
in Kenya. What I saw there - not just
the poverty, but the immense potential alongside it - was something that
I’d never really experienced before. It was an early and profound lesson to me of our common humanity.
That we are all in it together – no matter the distance or the
difference that sometimes seem to divide us. I want more people in Britain to
have that kind of experience. Some people may not have considered volunteering. Others may have thought
they don’t have the chance to do it. Last month I announced a new scheme to give more young people
the chance to volunteer in developing countries. By living and working
with people from very different backgrounds, facing very different
challenges, they will learn new skills and unlock their own potential. Tonight I’m pleased to announce that the Department for International
Development will also provide £3 million to support a VSO initiative to
encourage more people from diaspora communities in the UK
to volunteer in developing countries. I believe employers should support volunteering, and that’s why I can
also announce tonight that the government will provide a fund of £13
million to ensure that UK public
servants don’t lose out on their pension contributions when they
volunteer overseas. We know the sacrifices that teachers, nurses, fire fighters and police
men and women make every day to help our country. I want to remove one
of the sacrifices they have to make before they can help some of the
poorest countries in the world. Peroration When I was asked to speak here this evening, and I considered the
achievements and the values of VSO, I thought of something that Lester
B Pearson, who went on to become the Canadian Prime Minister,
said on accepting the Nobel Peace Prize
in 1957. He
asked: “How can there be peace without people understanding each
other, and how can this be if they don’t know each other?”. I
wonder if, even as Pearson was speaking on a cold December night in
Oslo, Alec and Moira Dickson were already meeting with their first
volunteers – who left the UK just six months later. I
know for certain that, as you have kindly listened to me tonight, there
are over 1600 VSO volunteers around the world - gaining a better
knowledge and understanding of the people who were once unknown, but are
now their colleagues, neighbours and friends. This
is VSO’s achievement. And it is truly something to celebrate. Thank
you. Conflict
resolution with the help of technology My
placement was organized within a partnership between VSO, the LGU of
Kolambugan and the NGO Ecoweb. One significant change that
occurred during my placement is the project staff being confident in GIS
(Geographical Information Systems). GIS is the software that is
used for mapping. In the Philippines a lot of people still use
paper maps because they are unfamiliar with the software. GIS can
be used not only for displaying maps, but also for storing and analyzing
data. Because of my training sessions, the project staff now has
enough skills to use GIS to continue their projects after I have left.
In order to highlight the significance of GIS for the communities, I
give the example of conflict resolution by making a 3-dimensional map of
barangay Lumbac in the municipality of Kolambugan. A
3-dimensional map is a model of the landscape where you can really see
the mountains and valleys. It is made by cutting out different
layers of styrofor and place them on top pf each other. After the
model is finished, it can be used with communities to discuss different
issues, for example landuse or boundary conflicts. Some of the
advantages of using a 3-dimensional map is that it is very accessible
and easy to interpret (in comparison to a flat paper map) and it can be
used for extensive and remote areas without the need to visit these
places. In order to make a 3-dimensionbal map, you need (apart
from the materials) an elevation map, some skills in GIS in order to
produce a large printed map of the area and some understanding on the
process.
I helped my colleagues with acquiring an elevation map, and with
training. Currently
one of the remote barangays of Kolambugan is evacuated because of a
conflict concerning land. On one hand there are the muslims in the
area who claim the land because of ancestral domain: they have been
using the land since centuries so they are entitled to keep on using
that. On the other hand there are the Christians who have been
tenants of that land since decades. They have titles for this.
The third party are the official land owners who have the papers of
ownership. There is also an armed group from neighbouring
barangays who say that they are protecting the area, but they might have
their own agenda. The conflict is about land and therefore about
the natural resources such as coconut. For the communities owning
or using the land means having a livelihood. The conflict is extra
sensitive by the muslims being opposed to the Christians. This may
reinforce prejudices and might increase the gap between people from
different religions. Recently there have been three people killed
in Lumbac because of the land conflict. In neighbouring
municipalities there are examples from the past that this kind of
conflict can escalate and result in a great number of people being
killed. In order to prevent this from happening, the Mayor of
Kolambugan takes immediate action to start discussions between the
different groups. At
this moment the technical descriptions from the papers of the official
land owners are being plotted in the GIS to visualize the areas.
The 3-dimensional map of Lumbac is just finished, so it can be
used to facilitate the discussions and may be crucial in the immediate
resolution of the conflict. My
Social Work Profession in Relation to my Client Based
on my experience, I can say that social work is an exciting, demanding
and immensely rewarding profession. It requires uncommon dedication to
strive for social reform. The world needs people who are committed to
the needs of others. Social workers attend to those in distress and
identify and remedy the social ills that rob people of their dignity and
prevent them from achieving their full potential. Social work is a
profession for those with a strong desire to improve people’s lives;
help people function the best way they can in their environment; relate
with them to help them solve personal and family problem. Social workers
have a multi-faceted jobs that concern various issues and problems of
society such as unemployment, disease and illness,
inadequate housing, illiteracy, poverty, disability, drug abuse,
unwanted pregnancy, or anti-social behavior. Social workers also assist
families that have serious domestic conflicts, including those suffering
child abuse or wife
battering. Almost 70
percent of the family is disunited merely because of an abusive husband
due to habitual alcoholism, drug addiction and poor spirituality. During psychosocial therapy I conducted during my home visitation, such as group counseling, play therapy and art therapy among children, I found out that the effect of child abuse causes trauma and mild depression. The school performances of these traumatized children suffers significantly in school related activity. It breeds juvenile delinquency. It’s really a great concern for parents because this problem permanently damages the child’s development. The child needs continuous supervision, patience, commitment and dedication to reform a trauma victim. Both parents, on the other hand, should exert effort to understand the child. It is a challenge then to some of the multi- disciplinary team dealing with such problem to seek further effective intervention. By:
Cora Jarales, Social Worker 26
September 2007 UNVs
‘Going Global’: ‘tis possible–Carmen Baugbog, Gender Advisor In January 2007 I received announcements from
DPKO Best Practices about trainings and conferences for
2007. I wrote to four institutions inquiring whether a United Nations
Volunteer can attend these trainings. One did not respond, two responded
by informing me to fill up application forms and go through the due
process for acceptance. The third one responded that I was not selected.
Gratefully, I received full support from the
management in my unit who facilitated my trip by writing a memo to the
DOA’s office requesting Travel Support for my Training. I received
approval from the DOA’s Office after just one day. I also informed the
UNV Programme Manager about my acceptance in both trainings and
requested his support for my travel. He informed me that support for my
travel to Germany would be discussed once I came back from my trip to
Sweden. The “Multi Functional
Cooperation in Peacekeeping” training in Sweden was
focused on the peacekeeping framework, strategies and important skills
necessary for peacekeepers in a multifunctional situation.
We studied vision/value based peacekeeping towards coherence and
complementation of the pillars of peacekeeping where uniformed and
civilians work hand in hand. Principles, contradictions, value systems,
dimensions and strategies were discussed prior to exercises in planning,
reporting, monitoring, crisis management and conflict resolution,
mediation processes, handling media, safety and security and handling
stress. Gender mainstreaming was continuously addressed because as a
Gender Advisor here in UNMIS, I tried to bring attention to this
dimension by asking the resources persons how they mainstreamed gender in their respective areas of
responsibility. The resource persons included policy advisors and senior
managers from UN HQ. The training academy was like a paradise resort
so I did not even mind working hard everyday because the scenery was
breathtaking and the venue was very restful. I even went to the spas
regularly. It was a treat.
The conference in Germany was a high level event
with mostly government and diplomatic heads as participants; including
senior level representatives from civil society and bilateral
organizations. I was humbled and thankful to be in attendance. The
opening ceremony was attended by Frank Walter Steimer – German Foreign
Minister; Sonia Picado – Executive Director from the Inter-American
Institute of Human Rights and Sahrif-Al Zubi – Minister of Justice of
the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The venue was the famous Nuremburg Court where
the Nazi war crimes were tried 60 years ago; this was symbolic as the
conference’s theme was peace and justice.
The 3 days were spent deliberating on
international and indigenous mechanisms to ensure that justice and peace
occur. Preselected best
practices from different institutions were shared in plenary and small
discussion groups. The conference affirmed that peace and justice cannot
be separated and justice is always an element of sustainable peace.
Soon, a Nuremburg Declaration on the Future for Peace and Justice will
be released. I continue to take stock of the lessons learned knowing it
will enrich my work as peace advocate here at UNMIS. For details, go to http://www.peacejustice-conference.info.
In Germany I also visited other provinces,
renewed friendships and visited UNV HQ.
There I met Kevin, Enid, Laurent and many others who all welcomed
me and made me feel a part of the
bigger UNV family. Our time was short (one day) but to me they seemed
very professional and collegial – it was a refreshing environment.
I was invited to a farewell dinner for two interns in Cologne;
discussed the conferences plus my work in Sudan and
even got tips for my Rhine River cruise “Take upstream not
downstream!” The team
asked me to send my best regards and wishes to all the UNVs in Sudan and
tell that they are doing their best to support UNVs in the field. The
4VD section also asked me to encourage UNVs here to share any
interesting stories about their work. I feel very privileged to have met
all of them in person. Now, I’m back in Kahrtoum full of hope and
inspiration from the results of my leap of faith. Now I use these
experiences to remind myself that “I shall overcome”.
by Carmen A. Baugbog 14
September 2007 African
Experience
My
placement in Pakistan entailed a lot of fundraising to support the
pressing demands of the community. Being a community development
adviser, I never expected that I would do a lot of fundraising
activities. I was not used to networking with donors and writing
proposals, but Filipinos are gifted with convincing power, cleverness,
and charisma, and I was able to acquire funding to support the
villagers. Here
in Malawi, a similar thing is happening. Being a Management Adviser does
not only mean that I manage and set up systems in the office, but also
take part in HIV & AIDS-related activities. I am trying to be a
medical staff - checking on malnourished children, providing them
supplements if there are any, and giving referrals when needed.
Although
I am short of money, I am still happy because things are starting to
shape up. Monthly meetings are now being held regularly and everybody is
challenged to preside on a rotation basis. Now, the people know what
activities are to be conducted in the following month without waiting to
be told. With
small victories, also come difficulties. I conducted a Trainer's
Training for the staff, but management has not looked favorably upon my
initiative. Even more difficult is convincing them to release funds for
my activities. But I'm hoping they will see the positive results of what
I have done. Amidst
these challenges, I realized that things have to go on. Would you think
of leaving your volunteering work just because of a few people, when
there are more who appreciate what you are doing and who badly need your
help? It is the determination and hopes of the persons living with AIDS
(PLWA) that keep me here more than anything else. There were only 18 of
them when I organized their support group last November 2006. Now, I
have 44 members who have come into the open to help fight against the
pandemic. At
the end of the day, all the hard work, tears, struggle and frustrations
pay off when you know you have done something good for others. More than
that, it feels overwhelming to meet kids on my way home, chanting my
Malawian name "anambewe" in chorus and adoring me like I am a
god. They would run towards me for a handshake, caressing the azungo's
(white person) hands, smiling and giggling. 7
September 2007
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I am placed as VIDA volunteer at Balay Integrated Rehabilitation Center For Total Human Development, Inc. (BIRTH-DEV, INC.) from 1 September 2006 up to the present. BIRTH-DEV, Inc. is a Non-Government Organization based in lligan City, Lanao Del Norte. In my three years of experience, I could say that I am so blessed given this opportunity to extend my help to the people in the served communities of my host organization of which one of the beneficiaries is my own Barangay Napo, Linamon, Lanao Del Norte. 
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and a servant of my husband and to our two children. Time came that Sr. Patrocinia A. Labordo, BVMC (CHC Former Directress), had visited to our place. There, she was meeting with the indigent family because she wanted to help their children. In wanting of seeing the nun, I left my work for awhile just to meet her. Later on, she said that she was looking for a teacher in Daycare. My neighbor was the one, who introduced me to the nun. Then, the Directress told me that she wanted to see me at 7:00 a.m. in the following day to CHC and also brought the required papers for perusal. So, I started to work my assignment as a teacher in Daycare last 01 August 2006 in CHC. But not yet considered as a VIDA Volunteer. 
"It has been really rewarding to see how the workbooks have evolved over the past couple of months, and it's truly a project that we can be proud of," says Smail, who joined her colleagues in presenting the books at a dedication ceremony in a relocation center for families displaced by the typhoon. 
I believe each one of us has our own mission in this world. As for me, volunteer work started during my 3rd year in college. I was attracted into volunteering as catechist to Grade 6 pupils in a public school under Sto. Niño Parish. Balancing my time between roles of a working student (my parents could not afford sending me due to financial difficulty) and that of a volunteer catechist for two years till I graduated had been surprisingly a very enjoyable part of my life where I proved to myself that I can still serve while working to earn for my studies. I also came to realize that poor as we are, it has never been a hindrance to offer my time and talent to those who need. Little did I know it was a remarkable foreshadowing of what the next phase my life of service would be-- a volunteer teacher and later volunteer principal in the Pax Christi Learning Institute (PCLI). IDEAS helped establish PCLI in year 2000 so that poor children can have access to quality education of which I was one of the proud pioneer teachers (and the only remaining till now). Though neophyte, I braved the challenges of starting a new school with lofty dreams amidst the impoverished rural milieu. Thanks to my previous volunteer work with elementary pupils, my experiences gave me handy learning which helped me cope with my new job. Many challenges (I have learned to call problems as challenges rather than problems because I believe problems are opportunities being opened) have formed me through the years hence making me the stronger and wiser person that I am now—the drive-you-crazy attitude of difficult children whom we later discovered only need the care not given by their families, nagging parents who easily put the blame on us, maximizing our creativity and resourcefulness due to meager budget, stretching the meager allowance I re
ceive to the point of sacrificing myself for my families needs, and even tougher when I later had my own family while I still owe to help my extended family…and then lately, adjusting to my big role as the school principal. In all these trials, I saw the strengthening of my faith that God never abandon me. He has given me buttress through inspiring mentors like Teacher Mina and Mam Babes, my supportive husband, Arnel and cute kids-Lynneth, LJ and Enzo, two of them are already studying in PCLI. 
Before,
you hardly see the office open and no staff or volunteer is around to
attend to office duties, but things have changed since I arrived.
However, my allowance is being exhausted from taking care of everybody's
lunch! They are all local volunteers, which means they are not getting
paid. It would be hard to ask them to bring their own lunch because they
come from far villages and can hardly even provide food for their
families.