WORK CAMPS OF INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY IN THE PHILIPPINES JULY AUGUST 2014

Transcription

1 WORK CAMPS OF INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY IN THE PHILIPPINES JULY AUGUST 2014

2 INTRODUCTION France Volontaires, through its 26 Volunteer Spaces, offers support and services to the actors of volunteering for International Solidarity and Interaction. France Volontaires also promotes these commitments. Visiting the work camps of international solidarity is part os this mission. Far from the idea of control or assessment, these visits aim to get a better understanding and knowledge of the actors, their practices and thus to be able to promote valuable actions. At the heart of these work camps of international solidarity, several criteria are recurring such as the educational dimension, intercultural exchange, including the work camp in a more global action, the partnership relation. For the second consecutive year, the Volunteer Space Philippines met the volunteers involved in these work camps. Though in 2013, it was possible to meet only one team, in 2014, it has been possible to meet 10 teams and their host organizations. Out of them, 9 were met directly during their project. Thank you to all organizations for the warm welcome! 2

3 ACRONYMS ASMAE : Sister Emmanuelle Association (member of France Volontaires) SGdF : Scouts and Guides of France (member of France Volontaires) VSI: Volunteering for International Solidarity (French program for long-term volunteers) WIS : Work Camp of International Solidarity 3

4 GENERAL INFORMATION AND TYPOLOGY Country of implementation of work camps: Philippines Number of work camps organized with French volunteers (as far as France Volontaires knows): 11 Number of work camps visited: 9 Number of teams met: 10 (one team was met upon arrival in the Philippines, but has not been visited on the field, another visit was planned but the visit had to be canceled at the last minute) Out of the 11 work camps organized this year in the Philippines, 10 of them were organized under the Scouts and Guides of France (SGDF). A project was organized by ASMAE association. These two organizations regularly organize work camps and are part of France Volontaires. Among the 8 host organizations, most of them (7) are used to work regularly with French and/or foreign volunteers. 4

5 THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE WORK CAMPS The teams met accounted for 55 participants (+4) who volunteered in one of the 10 work camps considered. Among these participants, there were 41 French volunteers (+4), 10 local participants (beneficiaries or trainees) and 4 volunteers of other nationalities. These participants were between 17 and 24 years old, with the majority of the SGDF (39 (+4) of 41 French volunteers) who were between 18 and 20 years. French volunteers were divided almost equally with 22 (+1) for 19 (+3). This distribution is more unequal among the local participants(3 7 ) and among the volunteers of other nationalities (4 ) *Figures in parentheses (+4) correspond to the participants of a project that was to be visited but the visit of which had to be canceled at the last moment. However, the work camp has taken place. These volunteers / participants were assisted in their task by eight French supervisors - who are actually French longterm volunteers (VSI or others) or French leaders of the host organizations. The volunteers were also supported and coached in their mission by 16 local supervisors. All organizations have delegated at least one person - French or local - to guide and supervise volunteers of WIS in their mission. Almost all of the French participants (38 of 41) were having their first experience of international solidarity. SGDF teams members usually know each other for many years, while other participants (French, local or international) come by themselves and do not necessarily meet the other participants before the work camp. Also, no team has reported having had s contacts with other participants (local or international) before the work camp. SGDF teams' members meet or communicate by Internet or telephone at least once a month for the preparation of the project. 5

6 FUNDING OF THE WORK CAMPS Funding for work camps is varied, but there is still a contribution from participants. For SGDF, the volunteers raise funds for their overall project for one to two years before the project by applying for grants, selling cakes, t-shirts, organizing events, etc. The budgets for the projects of SGdF range from less than 5,000 to about 13,000 depending on the project and the number of participants. Among the major expenses paid by SGDF are: -Airfare of the participants -Vaccinations -Participation in housing and food in the host organization -The purchase of material needed for the project (when they have clearly raised funds for this purpose) -A week of tourism Participants in ASMAE work camp contribute up to approximately 1300 euros corresponding to: -Administrative Expenses (insurance - medical expenses, repatriation and civil liability -, membership, administrative management) -Transportation costs, which vary according to destinations and periods -Accommodation and food costs 6

7 CROSS-CULTURAL EXCHANGE Preparing for intercultural exchange begins with the participation in a pre-departure training. This training is mandatory for SGdF, and takes place on two weekends. In the context of ASMAE work camps, the organization in France organized a weekend of joint preparation with the participants of different work camps going to the Philippines (Easter and Summer work camps ) and to Madagascar. When local participants or of other nationalities are also involved on the work camp, there is usually no prior exchange with French volunteers. This is probably due to the fact that volunteers inform, in groups or individually, the structure about their willingness to participate in a work camp, but the host organization does not necessarily think to link the different groups of volunteers with each other before the project. Only five teams have received formal presentation of the local situation. In other cases cross-cultural exchange is more through informal discussions during meals, answers to spontaneous questions etc. Intercultural exchange takes also place during the evaluation time of the action during the work camp. These special exchange time with the local staff is an opportunity for volunteers to share their questions or their misunderstandings, and vice versa. All teams had at least one evaluation during their work camp. In addition, all work camps include a time of discovery of local heritage. For SGdF work camps this is a week dedicated to the discovery after the project, or more rarely before the project. This discovery is generally between French volunteers. ASMAE volunteers were able to visit some places near Manila during rest days (4 days out of the 3 weeks of work camp). 7

8 HOST ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR MISSIONS Out of the 7 host organizations visited, only 2 of them were receiving French participants to a work camp for the first time. 8

9 KANLUNGAN SA ER-MA MINISTRY The host organization Founded in 1988, Kanlungan sa ER-MA Ministry Inc. is a non-profit organization, licensed by the DSWD to operate as a child-caring agency and is registered with SEC. KSEM aims to serve, protect and develop children in need of special protection and their families through a holistic approach and Christian care to improve their quality of life and well-being. KSEM is a partner of ASMAE, a member organization of France Volontaires. The work camp(s) SGdF Annecy Number of participants : 5 including 2 3 Place: Alfonso, Cavite Mission : Building a part of a wall; activities with children SGdF Bretigny sur Orge Number of participants : 3 Local participants: 7 (beneficiaries of the organization) Place: Alfonso, Cavite Mission : Building a compost ; activities with children ASMAE Number of participants : 2 Local participants : 2 (stagiaires) Place: Malate, Metro Manila Mission : Creating a show of awareness against drugs 9

10 KALOOB The host organization Kaloob is a foundation created by the Philippine Delegation of the Augustinians of the Assumption. It supports solidarity programs in various areas, giving priority to the formation of leaders within the communities where services are rendered. The organization supports scholarship programs, rehabilitation and relocation programs for the victims of disasters, emergency relief. The organization also runs a language center. The work camp SGdF St-Dié-des-Vosges Number of participants : 4 including 2 2 Place: Piat, Tuguegarao Mission : Construction of a drainage channel; activities with children Other local partner involved in the work camp: Children of Mekong 10

11 BAHAY TULUYAN The host organization Bahay Tuluyan is a children s rights organization which is SEC registered, DSWD licensed and accredited to work towards a society where every child s rights are respected, protected and fulfilled. Founded in 1987 in response to the growing number of street children in the Malate area of Manila, Bahay Tuluyan began as a drop in center, where children could go to have a bath, rest, eat or play. Looking for new and effective ways to reach out to children on the street, Bahay Tuluyan developed its alternative education program, using a 'Child-to-Child Approach'. The work camp Number of participants : 4 including 2 2 Other participants : 1 german Place: Calauan, Laguna Compagnons SGdF de Val d Orge Mission : Building a puppet theater; organizing a camp for the children of the association 11

12 VIRLANIE The host organization Celebrating its 22nd anniversary this year, Virlanie Foundation is a private, non-profit organization reaching out to street children in the Philippines. Virlanie has been helping children who come from difficult situation to become a responsible and independent adult with the hope of a brighter future. It s motto is to give back the smile to street children through shelter programs and outreach programs such as mobil unit, open day center, action in the Reception and Action Center (RAC) and many more programs. The work camp(s) SGdF Mulhouse Number of participants : 4 including 3 1 Other participants : 2 Spanish Place: Cadiz, Bacolod Mission : Construction of houses and septic tanks; activities with children Other local partner involved in the work camp: Kalipay Negrense Foundation Inc. SGdF Sceaux Number of participants : 5 including 4 1 Other participants : 1 Belgium Place: Makati / Manila, Metro Manila Mission : Painting of Reception and Action Center 12

13 LIFE PROJECT 4 YOUTH The host organization Life Project 4 Youth s mission is to facilitate the social and professional insertion of excluded Young Adults living in extreme poverty, anywhere in the world. LP4Y is also working in Vietnam and Indonesia. The association identifies Young Adults in distress in order to help them develop their professional and social Life Project. Life Project 4 Youth accompanies these Young Adults throughout the learning process, enabling them to become independent, until they in turn can contribute to the development of their communities. LP4Y helps the Young Adults develop the foundations of their Life Projects. The work camp Number of participants : 4 including 2 2 Place: Calauan, Laguna SGdF Tours Mission : Trainings on hygiene and security 13

14 THE DAUGHTERS OF WISDOM The host organization The Daughters of Wisdom is a catholic congregation. Their mission focuses on children and their needs. In Calajo-an, Minglanilla, the sisters run a kindergarten for disadvantaged children called Tuburan sa Gugma (literally Fountain of Love ). This school is accredited by the Department of Education of the Philippines. The work camp SGdF Vincennes Number of participants : 4 including 1 3 Place: Minglanilla, Cebu ; Daan Bantayan Mission : Painting a mural with the children of the school; post-typhoon building 14

15 CAMELEON The host organization CAMELEON is a nonprofit association that helps children victims of sexual abuse and disadvantaged children and their families. Using an innovative approach, particularly through learning circus arts, Caméléon association works since 1997 for the protection, rehabilitation and reintegration of children victims of sexual abuse. Number of participants : 6 including 3 3 The work camp SGdF Lyon Local paricipants: 3 (stagiaires) Place: Passi, Panay Mission : Evaluation of post-typhoon reconstruction program implemented by the organization Other local partners: 22 Barangays where the beneficiaries live

16 CONGREGATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT The host organization The Congregation of the Holy Spirit is a missionary Congregation of Priests and Brothers, founded on the pentecost Sunday, 27th may, 1703 in France. Spiritans look for opportunities for action within his grasp in order to become the voice of the voiceless, especially to the homeless, landless, unemployed, victims of ethnic strife and corruption. In Iligan, the community set up a learning center for children, a farm, a clinic, dialogue with muslims and programs with prisoners. The work camp Number of participants : 4 including 3 1 Place: Iligan, Mindanao SGdF Hazebrouck Mission : Unfortunately the visit of this work camp had to be canceled at the last moment. Participants in this project are therefore not included in the results of the visits. However, the organization of this work camp by SGdF and the Spiritans is no less important in terms of the promotion of work camps of international solidarity by France Volontaires. 16

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18 CONCLUSION All participants of the work camps were extremely satisfied with their experience and the welcome given by their host organizations. Some improvements could, however, be considered: Integrate local volunteers in the work camps Create opportunities for exchange between French volunteers and local volunteers and / or other international volunteers prior to the work camp Formalize exchanges on the experiences encountered both by French volunteers but also by local volunteers and beneficiaries for more intercultural exchanges