Hosting NGO
YSDA ( Youth for Sustainable Development Assembly)
Contact person
Stephen Bryan Bongcaras stephen@ysda.net Tel: 63-(02)5760945
Project Place
Sagbayan, Bohol
Background
Local/ social situation/ needs for the project
A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the Visayas Region of the Philippines last October 15,
2013. Such earthquake’s epicentre was in the Province of Bohol wherein the worst picture of devastation is observed. The disaster left the province with wrecked homes and community infrastructures together with lives lost and livelihood put at risk.
The Boholano people have proven their resilience especially in this in time of crisis. Both the government and the civil society exerted efforts to conduct immediate relief operations for the severely devastated areas. But to help the Boholanos fully recover from the said calamity the rehabilitation phase of the disaster response must be conducted very well. One of the major goals in the rehabilitation phase of the disaster response is the reconstruction of houses, schools and community buildings such as municipal halls and health centers. Currently, vocational trainings on reconstruction are being conducted for free to produce massive human resource to speed up reconstruction in all areas of the province.Despite this initiative, more volunteers are still needed.This year 2014, Youth for Sustainable Development Assembly – Pilipinas (YSDA Pilipinas), in partnership with the Network of Voluntary Development in Asia, will conduct one of its Asian Voluntary Service Projects in the said province to pool volunteers for the reconstruction of schools and community infrastructures.
Name and description of the local host
The Youth for Sustainable Development Assembly – Pilipinas (YSDA Pilipinas) is a
national youth-led and youth-serving organization in the Philippines that support youth
involvement in all aspects and levels of sustainable development, starting with local
communities. We aspire to play a critical role in creating a critical youth base for sustainable development advocacy and environmentalism in the Philippines. Our main thrust is to support young people in the development and implementation of community-based sustainable development demonstration projects, and provide platforms where young people can voice out their concerns.
Aims and expected impact of the project
The Asian Voluntary Service 2014 in the Province of Bohol is expected to do more than
just reconstruction. Through this project, international and local volunteers are given the
chance to learn from each other’s cultures and traditions especially on the aspect of resilience in times of crisis and best practices during disaster response and rehabilitation. Furthermore, this project allows the community of Boholanos to be aware of the existence of YSDA and NVDA alike and encourage them to volunteer in other countries as well through NVDA member organizations. By these outcomes, we aim to create a sustainable, fair and peaceful world where various types of ecologies / cultures / personalities / communities can harmoniously co-exist and be glittered with their own characters beyond limitation of the modern civilizations which have caused too much expansion / competition and huge destruction of nature, traditions and human
relationship.
- Strengthen solidarity and positive peace in Asia
- Improve situations of communities by direct actions
- Promote volunteerism and active citizenship
- Nurture friendship and inter-cultural understanding
- Develop global human resources and capacities
Main voluntary work
They will focus on the reconstruction of community infrastructure such as schools/ health centers and promote volunteerism among local young people
Approximate working hours: 6 hours x 5 days (weekdays) in a week (can be changeable)
Accommodation
Type of building: Traditional Filipino Houses (Kubo)
- Sleeping: Wooden Double Deck Beds and Folding Nylon Beds
- Meals: Volunteers will also do the buying of goods to be cooked at the Kitchen
- Smoking: Smoking is allowed in specific areas of the volunteer quarters
- Internet access: Internet access through broadband stick
Location
Cancatac Elementary School & Philippine Tarsier Foundation Inc. – Corella, Bohol
Terminal
- Nearest international airport: Mactan International Airport, Cebu, Philippines (Meeting Point: Tagbilaran City Seaport. So, vols. have to ride a ferry from Cebu City to Tagbilaran City.)
- Transportation from the capital or other major city:
- Public Utility Vehicles within the Province of Bohol
- Ferry within the Visayas Region
- Plane to National Capital Region
Other activities
- Volunteers (both international and local) will exchange culture, arts and traditions of each country through dialogue and cultural night
- They can also do publicity through social media may continue to expose the situation of the province thus inspiring more people in the international community to help the province by all means
- Promotion of volunteerism programs of NVDA to the local youth through the volunteer caravans
- Team building activities with international and local volunteers
- Intercultural dialogue and presentation of best practices of each country in times of disasters
Qualification for volunteers
- Required: Physically fit. Can endure physical work
- Preferable: Volunteers with experience on disaster rehabilitation
Attraction for volunteers
Through the activities, both international and local volunteers develop leadership,
perseverance and patience (tolerance) thus increasing their competencies as part of the labor force of each of their countries
Financial Condition
- Fee to be paid for the full period: 45,000 Php (993 US$). It covers food, accommodation, local transportation and activity expenses during work camp days. It does not cover expenses during free days, visa processing (if applicable), airfare and transportation to and from the meeting point
- Pocket money to be paid for the full period: None
Meetings
- On arrival training: Apr. 02
- Special care during Project: Courtesy call with local politicians (Provincial Governor, Barangay Officials
- Evaluation meeting: Jun. 28