Volunteers' First Task: Baseline Data Gathering

"Many of the young people who participated in the survey from all municipalities showed at least some awareness of environmental issues, but often the responses were vague and sentimental. It seemed that most felt obliged to respond to the survey with an answer. Although some were knowledgeable of the Carood Watershed, many were not but were clearly keen to learn more about how they could help. Some youths could list the environmental issues, particularly ones that affect their particular municipality, but were unaware of how to reduce the impacts."

This was the report of the TEAM VI 100's Monitoring and Evaluation Committee on the baseline data  gathering they conducted last May 8-19, 2014 in all 6 Municipalities situated in the Carood Watershed.

The baseline data gathering is the first task of the volunteers when they were deployed to their different work placements in the Carood Region. It is a survey that will serve as a reference to measure the impact of the volunteers in raising awareness about the Carood Watershed and the issues and problems affecting it.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Committee added some remarks,

"The survey was often misleading and some young people struggled with the idea that they did not have to know about the Carood Watershed for their answers to still be valid. This may not have been clearly communicated to them, but the large majority of the survey was based on the assumption they had prior knowledge or were already involved in some way with the Carood Watershed."

Youth of Candijay participated the survey for the VSO-ICS Baseline Data Gathering.

From churches to mountainous parts of Guindulman, volunteers managed to get respondents for the baseline data gathering.

Volunteers, Amy, Den, and Felvs, had to ride on a habal-habal in conducting the baseline data gathering.

Local communities especially Barangays had shown support in assisting the volunteers to get respondents.

Schools are an easy venue to get respondents for the survey that targets 15 to 25-year olds, a good strategy reckoned by volunteers, Saba, Faith and Alex.

 Whilst doing their task, volunteers, Kaynat, Sofia, Vince and Susie, were treated to a bountiful coconut snack by the local community leaders.