‘Forest Formers’ Community Action Day (CAD) - Thurs 12th June

Our first CAD was held at the DENR mega-nursery in San Pascual, Ubay. Over 100 young people from 4 youth organisations attended the event which was held outdoors and set against a beautiful backdrop of rolling hills lined by neat rows of saplings. The day began with an introduction from the VSO volunteers and Lilibeth of the Carood Watershed Model Forest Management Council. 

After the importance of forest management to a watershed was made clear it was time for a walk and a talk with a DENR forester to see the nursery’s different plantations. Half an hour later the now sweaty group returned, their attention rewarded by volunteers distributing snacks. The morning progressed with an exciting firefighting talk and display given by the Ubay fire service. Volunteers and the youth got stuck in as they took it in turns to extinguish a burning pyre of dry leaves. Everyone was impressed by the ferocity with which a forest fire can spread and the take home message was well received.

Before lunch the main activity was kindly prepared by the DENR staff. The youth were given an engaging demonstration of tree planting and how a tree nursery works before getting their hands dirty preparing seedlings in small cellophane bags. Everyone gathered excitedly around a large mound of soil each tasked with preparing 10 seedlings. They say many hands make light work and surely enough an hour later thousands of seedlings were ready for planting.

Lunchtime beckoned and, in true Filipino style, was followed by a talent contest. The different youth groups showcased their finest including an all boy dance trio, a medley artist and hosts of excellent singers. The Filipino volunteers were represented by Eden ‘voice of an angel’ Monsanto but the UKVs had nothing to show for themselves. Rumour has it they are forming a dance troupe but we will have to wait and see…

As the hilly vista of the mega nursery became silhouetted by fast approaching thunderclouds it was time to wrap things up. There was time for a large group photo before the heavens opened and the youth clambered to get on the backs of trucks headed for home. All in all it was a great day and as they left, many of the youth were already asking when we were holding the next one!

Discourse Sparked on Team VI 100's First Global Citizenship Day

1st GCD Team started the session
 with an interesting energizer.
 

Kopiko 3 in 1 coffee mix. Quaker oats. Milk in a tetra pack. Battery. The audience has to guess what (COUNTRY) these items were originally produced or manufactured, and whoever gets it correct can keep the item. "Iraq!" "Philippines" "Azerbaijan"  "USA!" "United Kingdom!"... Everybody in the audience answered in chorus. This is easy. Just enumerate all the countries you know and you might get the correct answer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who would have thought that almost half of the items presented are originally produced in Indonesia? This is not a usual guessing game or energiser. It is a reflection of how globalisation and interdependence is pervasive  and embedded in our day to day life. The world has become a big market for all emerging products and commodities and yes, you are a part of it!

1st GCD tackled the issue on Globalisation and Interdependence.

 

The 1st Global Citizenship Day of the Team VI 100 last June 3, 2014, 1:00pm to 3:00pm,  tackled about "Globalisation and Interdependence". It was held in Guindulman Municipal Hall, Training Room. The presenters were, Sha, Jen, Denmark, Susie, Amy, and Sofia.

Sharmaine Lizada, a Filipino Volunteer and a Social Science Area Studies Major, started by presenting the definition of 'globalisation' by going through bulleted phrases and words. It is a process. Scholars and academicians have different definitions of this word. Basically, it means the world is getting smaller and smaller and smaller. And the nations are getting closer and closer and closer to each other. Is it a bad thing or a good thing? One thing is for sure, it's inevitable at this age of capitalism and modernism.

GCD Facilitators asked, "Is it possible to develop globally while preserving the culture and tradition of each nation?" Mind-boggling questions like this had definitely kept the audience thinking and ranting in their minds. Trade partnership and alliance between and among nations are the manifestations of Globalisation.

 

For some people, this gives them excitement and thrill for it could mean endless opportunities, progress and good economic implications. But for some, it is disturbing and alarming to think because of how globalisation could badly affect a nation's identity and origin. And yeah, it could be a bad thing.

An action case study was given to the audience. Three Countries. Where should the supply of water go in these three countries?--The First Country is suffering from drought and no source of water at all. The Second Country has the abundant supply of water. And lastly, the Third country has knowledge on how to use the supply of water effectively.

As this case study was given, the audience on their seats divided into three groups immediately. The first group (Saba, Mitch, Eden, Ana, Kaynat, Felvs, Krissy) answered all countries got the water. "It's a win win, because the Galleon Trade will be used." The second group (Alex, Kathleen, Azra, Harrhy, Josh) answerd the second country. The third group (Faith, Saba, Jude) answered the Third Country! Conflicting views and opinions is evident by the answers of the groups. Discussion had sparked.

 

Here are some pictures during the group discussion on the Action Case Study given by the 1st GCD Team:

 

 

 

There is no definite answer to the case study. What is important is that there was a discourse and exchange of views and ideas. GCD is meant to be this way. Well done, 1st GCD presenters!

 

 

'The 1st GCD TEAM' From the right: Susie, Sha, Sofia, Den, Amy. Jen was also part of the team but she was busy with the MPR meeting and preparation when this photo was taken. :D

VSO-ICS Bohol Team volunteers accepted the challenge – BAYANI (Hero) CHALLENGE 2014!

BOHOL, Philippines – VSO-International Citizen Service Volunteers, Bohol Team VI 100 stood together with a thousands of volunteers and accepted the Bayani Hero Challenge (BC) 2014 – a challenge to rebuild Pilipinas while spreading the spirit of volunteerism, unity and solidarity with the theme, “Walang Iwanan.” (“Leave no one behind".)

“To say that we had fun is an understatement. Bayani Challenge is done to honour everyday heroes; be it a farmer, a politician, a teacher, or even a student. ”~Mich

ICS Volunteers, Michelle Beluso and Alexander Allford, dared to do the rigorous volunteer work of BC in their work placement assignment in the Municipality of Ubay. For Mich, the Bayani Challenge has been the most notable part of their volunteering journey to date. In the duration of the event, they were able to do radio guesting, coastal clean-up, carabao milking and children feeding; get the chance to be involved in the BC team meeting; visited some communities during their MMR Vaccinations and school clean-ups; assisted in the distribution of paints for the boat painting project; and most importantly, executed without hesitation the Unity Dance in as many areas as possible.

Ubay, being a focus municipality of the BC, had a five-day duration of the event from May 19 to 23, 2014. Also included in Ubay’s BC are the following activities: Paraisong Pambata Paradise for Children, Free Books Distribution, Mural Painting, Brigada Eskwela, Operation Tuli (Circumcision), Free Haircut for Senior Citizens and Tricycle Drivers, Youth Orientation Seminars (THQ), and Talaba Culture.

In the Municipality of Alicia, from May 28 to 30, 2014, over 8, 000 volunteers is the target number of national, local and international volunteers who will be participating the BC. It includes the 6 ICS Volunteers, Vincent Paul Ontolan, Sofia Zolghadriha, Susannah Pick, Kaynat Ali, Denmark Garcia, and Felvic Fresco who are assigned in Alicia for their work placement. Their main work in the event was as a support team for the secretariat and program.

Jeff Richard Segumalian of the Pilipinas Natin Movement, who attended the event in Alicia, emphasized the vital part of each one in building a nation. According to him, the task of building a community should not be left over the shoulders of our leaders and so it is a duty of each member of the community to take part in nation-building; to volunteer; and to be of help to one another.

Alicia is a participating municipality of the BC with the volunteering activities such as Tree Planting, Community & River Clean-ups, Medical & Dental Check-up, Feeding Program and School Refurbishing. The event was a massive showcase of volunteerism and the spirit of Bayanihan Helping each other.

“It’s a good start for the Municipality of Candijay, a participating municipality of the BC, in reliving the spirit of Bayanihan, unity and solidarity especially it engages young people to take part in nation building.” This is the thoughts of Faitherlaw Montallana, a Filipino volunteer, about the Bayani Challenge in the Municipality of Candijay. The BC in Candijay ran from May 28 to 31, 2014.

During the event, Harrhy James, UK volunteer, conducted an awareness-raising presentation about the Carood Watershed to a group of Municipal Employees. Both Faitherlaw and Harrhy are assign in the Municipality of Candijay for their work placement. – 21V

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.