CATALYZING CHANGE THROUGH VOLUNTEERING

by Cecile Ventura, Core Team

In September 22, 2009, Volunteer Service Overseas (VSO) Philippines invited Create Abundance Business Community to participate in their Forum & Volunteer Expo entitled “Catalyzing Change Through Volunteering”.

VSO is the world’s leading independent international development organization that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries. VSO's high-impact approach involves bringing people together to share skills, build capabilities, promote international understanding and action, and change lives to make the world a fairer place for all. (you may visit their website: http://www.vsoph.org ).

During the forum, they discussed Republic Act 9418 – the Volunteer Act of 2007, which after 2 years the government finally issued the Implementing Guidelines. The government has recognized the important role of volunteers in national development. RA 9418 committed government to provide a conducive and enabling environment for volunteers and volunteer organizations through the establishment of a mechanism to protect volunteer’s rights and privileges and recognize their vital contributions to society. It has designated its agency, Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA), to implement the act.

PNVSCA aims to inculcate volunteering as a WAY OF LIFE. They recognize that volunteering is “part of the DNA of the Filipinos”. Our forefathers have been volunteering and a lot of volunteer organizations presently exist to help various marginalized sectors of our society. We even have a term for it – Bayanihan, a tradition that is alive and shared by all people. Through RA 9418, they intend to adapt and strengthen the practice of volunteering as a strategy for rural development.

Aside from our group, Create Abundance Business Community, there were several NGO's that attended the forum which represent various sectors of our society such as the disabled people, deaf community, NGO's that provide and assists urban and rural poor through their skills, Muslim volunteer organization, volunteer networks like Hands On Manila, and representatives of various foundations and the academe.

One of the highlights of the event is the participation of the Kenyan Delegation who were here to observe how the Philippines was able to establish volunteering as a means of developing a nation. Their representative said that Kenyans are nowhere near the Filipinos in terms of organized volunteering.

At the end of the forum, there were still a lot of skeptics about the involvement of the government in volunteering. But there is one common goal that unites all the participants – how to improve the way of life of every Filipino.

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Posted via email from Create Abundance 2020 Business Community