Activities on the fourth week of Summer Learning Experience 2016 (July 11 - July 15)

July 11, 2016

The interns were given one whole day of rest after their trip from Kawit, Medellin Cebu. During this day, I transferred all the documentation I took from my tablet to my laptop and finished my self-assessment report. I went out to reflect a little bit about my whole trip and experience in our two-day activity.  

I’ve learned how ECCD projects are put into application. We focused on the arts and crafts area during our internship with which we taught the youth participants, how to do several handicrafts that they could use, innovate and sell in order to earn additional income for their families. On the second day, a basic book keeping orientation was held to teach the youth with how the financial records should be kept and its processes. In partnership with the ACT or Asian Community Trust, the two-day event has been able to educate, train and build new friendships amongst the youth participants, the NAKASAMA members, the interns and the WRCV staff. Events such as this enlightens a mind of a naïve child, towards a more responsible, more thinking individual in the future; a resourceful, organized leader and member of the youth. The presence of the youth seems to represent me in my days where there is hunger for knowledge. As we fill in their curiosities and discomforts, I realized that it takes a whole lot of trying for learning to be obtained. Creating a change in this world starts from the fingertips of one, passing the idea to others that therefore creates a more vivid view of a more developed, more sufficient place to live in. 

The activity made it sure that they have learned something. The WRCV is very open for recommendations in order to make projects like this better and more conducive for learning every time.  It is always one their priorities to help women and children cope up with their basic needs through the livelihood projects that are available and can be made available for them.

July 12, 2016

We had our assessment with the WRCV staff with regards to our activities from the past week. They gave us positive remarks about our arts and crafts activity held at Kevin’s Beach Resort. We also shared our best and fun experiences there; the things we have learned and the things we think we should improve about our performances. We have learned what was really expected from us; what was expected from the activity itself. I am so glad we have done our part well enough to please the staff. I hope we continue the good job on our remaining days as interns in this organization. 

After our short and brief assessment, we also helped rearrange the office into a more structured room with a conference area. We enjoyed pushing and carrying the heavy cabinets and boxes as we joke around, dusting off some of the things untouched for a very long time in the office. We were able to practice our skills for interior designing and used up some muscle strength! It was one fun and productive day indeed.There was also free dinner after the office transformation that indeed made it so rewarding. 

July 13, 2016

Photographed by Evan John Ostan

We have been planning to begin with our final outputs and presentation. We tried to review the outputs of other interns that once worked for WRCV and adopted some of their templates. After we distributed the assignments of among ourselves, I made an outline for the flow of our final output. 

July 14, 2016

We came at the office late for another data gathering session. We followed up some questions to our staff and jotted down notes for the completion of our final output. This information will help us to complete our written articles and statistical data. 

July 15, 2016

We came to visit, interview and observe the shop where our grassroots women sell their goods for export. We were able to ask questions, hold the items and taste some of their delicacies all in one visit in Cebu’s fair trade shop. 

We learned that there is only one fair trade shop in Cebu. This shop buys the products of women from the grassroots organizations in which they name their desired prices for their products. They export products such as dried mangoes and VCO oil to countries like Korea and Germany. The fair trade shop has helped not only those who make the products, but also those who consume or use it since healthy organic goods are being sold in the fair trade. They seek for better publicity to encourage more buyers. They sought for more financial support to achieve their desired goals of providing better lives for their constituents and beneficiaries. 

The activity made me understand and appreciate more the efforts our dear NGOs, such as the WRCV do in order to help our women and children in the best way they can. The fair trade shop is one way to cater the products born out of resourcefulness, perseverance and skill of our grassroots sector. There should be many other opportunities for everyone, more established shops for their goods to be exported.