 |
| Sir Tats of RAFI gave us stories as to how hard it was to organize the urban poor in the area and how they eventually became responsible people by taking care of their newly constructed roads, community facilities and participating in the livelihood and character building programs of RAFI. |
On our second day, the RAFI community remodeling for the urban poor site in Canduman gave us a very positive vibe that change could really happen in the most marvelous of ways when people actually start to care for their community without thinking of getting something from it. How RAFI taught them to unite, impose discipline and engage in life enriching activities such as livelihood programs perfected to the infrastructures they were implementing. We also got the chance to hear the testimonials of the people living in the site and how their lives has changed for good.
 | |
| Since the 70's University of San Carlos' Water Resources Center and MCWD has been monitoring the salt water intrusion and how the rising number of water pumps and people's lifestyle has led to the crisis. |
Our YMA Class Adviser, Sir Mel Yan, then gave this water problem talk that has plagued our province for quite some time now and it deals with salt water intrusion and I didn’t know there was such a thing so it was very informative in a lot of ways.
We then trekked all the way to the top of Tisa to see how RAFI not only placed a patubig project but as well as teamed up with an NGO who would also help the community change for the good. The water project is handled by KAPAI-COREDROPS which got its funding from the international partner of RAFI.
This is me and fellow scholars at the top of the water reservoir which overlooks Cebu City.
It was really great to know a lot from someone who has an unlimited participation in the success of their May Pera Sa Basura project which I have heard to have gained awards and was really talked about in the EPLC. The world could only praise Brgy. Luz so much. They boast of land area that is less than 20 hectares but was able to give a lot of opportunities for their constituents through a dynamic system of earning from recyclables, household landfilling and garbage processing by incorporating it as a reward system through cash or through hassle-free payments to their cooperative. It was interesting to note how a simple garbage segregation policy, and selling of recyclables gave way for more projects such as microfinancing, cooperative, vermiculturing, handicrafts, ALS and so much more.
Some of their products:
Earrings from paper
Gift item from paper
Me promoting this belt from paper
Meeting Fr. John of Bethlehem Day Care Center was quite motivating since someone actually took the initiative to come to a place they are so foreign from and help the kids of the landfill as if they were his own. This also goes to the Jamaican missionaries in the Missionaries of the Poor.
The ending of the YMA Season 5 Thematic Sessions Community Visits module was definitely a blast and I meant that in various ways: the scent, the experience and everything in between. It was nice seeing people live happily in the Inayawan Landfill area especially the children.
I felt so troubled with their community as to how morbid the place was and the most disgusting smell when we went to the landfill was very traumatic.
I think this is the worst case scenario about poverty: to be able to live where you have limited or no choice at all as what Sir Mel had told us when we went back to EADSC.
Fellow scholars having a great time at the landfill which actually looks like a vast wasteland disguised as a plain and mountains.
My team, Team CPMPC, poses.
I told all my friends about our experience and my family was amused of my stories as I showed them the pictures at the same time. People from the workplace could not imagine how horrible the life of others has become and here they are complaining about theirs which was reinforcing in my part to see them realize that. That is why I am still in the process of prepping up my blog posts chronicling the experiences I have with YMA so far. This two day made us excited for our second community visit and immersion.
YMA Cebu Thematic Sessions:
Day 1 in Lorega Gawad Kalinga Site, Badjao Community in Mambaling, Missionaries of the Poor home for special children and the elderly
Day 2 in RAFI Community in Brgy. Kobe Canduman, Water Project in Tisa, World-renowned May Pera sa Basura Project in Brgy. Luz and Inayawan Landfill Community
Day 3 in Communities in Busay, SOS Philippines Children's Village, Cordova
Day 4 in Cordova Community Mapping, Albert Schweitzer Foundation
For more awesome stuff, keep reading through http://jayseeblabs.blogspot.com
