Volunteerism and the Millennial
Published in the online and print version of the Philippine Panorama.
https://newsbits.mb.com.ph/2016/12/18/volunteerism-and-the-millennial/
A PERFECT SOCIETY is one that has no need for volunteers like the one envisioned by Mahatma Mohandas Gandhi, and only has the government to protect all the rights of its people, to give equal opportunity to the deprived, and to tend to those maltreated. Sadly, there are no perfect societies or countries, and certainly there is no such thing as a perfect government—some say it will never be possible, but millions like Gandhi think otherwise.
Last December 5, the world celebrated the annual International Volunteer Day (IVD), which was mandated by the United Nations (UN) since the 1980s. In the Philippines, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) celebrated the occasion at the Luneta Park last December 4. It was attended by various PRC chapters all over the country. Internationally, IVD is primarily celebrated by the United Nations Volunteers, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the International Scout Movement.
The celebration taught the value and importance of volunteerism as one of the key aspects in achieving the millennial goals of the UN. But, how do you give yourself to others? For millions around the world, volunteerism is the most selfless expression of humanity—and the way of giving themselves to others. In this day and age where we often mind our own business, to go out of your way to help a stranger, and to endure the risks that come with it has become more of a burden than a duty; but millions still reach out to give a lending hand to people regardless of the amount of risk to their status or well-being.
Hardship for a twin
Especially to usFilipinos, who, by circumstance or force, have long been subjected to hardships and trying times. When we realize that others are at risk, we become more moved, more compelled to help others. But putting others before ourselves may not often be the case, which is probably why we highlight heroism—it is a lonely virtue nowadays.
Take for example the volunteer movements that were conducted at the height and wake of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” in 2013, which barreled through the Visayas, leaving almost 7,000 dead and $4 billion worth of material damage. Add to that, yearly fires in dense urban spaces, volcanic eruptions, floods, and earthquakes. During these desperate times, when there is often a complete breakdown of government services, there are always widespread incidences of looting, and people taking advantage of the situation to perpetrate other crimes. But there are also those who go out of their way to help in the situation—we will often hear stories of heroism in the community and how they selflessly gave out to others, at the risk or cost of their very lives.
But after every deluge, everyone gets involved in rebuilding—from child to adult, every victim and affected person becomes part of a new community. And this is a highlight not only of Filipinos, but of all societies all over the world. Three years after Yolanda, the devastated cities and towns in the Visayas have recovered, although not fully—burned city blocks have recovered quickly, and inundated areas during flood seasons, even faster. Throughout the years, especially recently, Filipinos have managed to vault over these disasters and circumstances through volunteerism, and have managed to work side-by-side to rebuild the damage, and to smile again.
Today, there are thousands of volunteer societies in the Philippines, ranging from highly organized and financed movements, to non-profit assemblies and small community associations; and these organizations support an array of causes like human rights, health, environmental, and animal protection, and other causes.
Volunteerism in the Philippines
Bayanihan is a term that denotes the community spirit of Filipinos, which continues to this day. Filipinos are known to be community-focused individuals because of their foundation in community-centered and empowered religions like Christianity and Islam; and each Filipino community is very inclusive of its members’ participation—from the organization of fiestas, ligas, and other festivities, to the enactment of barangay ordinances. Indeed, a Filipino life has two sides—his private and family life, and his community and public life.
Which is why many Filipinos are naturally inclined to a sense of community and association. But why do people volunteer? What inspires and impels people to go out of their way to engage in a cause?
According to Versomina Delos Reyes, 22, a volunteer for Good Neighbors International, a non-profit humanitarian organization, Project Pearls, and the Humanitarian Legal Assistance Foundation, more young people are engaged in volunteerism because they are more socially aware about what’s happening around them, thanks to social media.
“Younger people nowadays are much more socially aware—they know how and when issues have a direct impact on society. One effect of this social awareness is the emergence of volunteerism. People no longer wait for the government to take action and that volunteer [societies] have often taken the first step,” said Delos Reyes, who believes that Filipinos are inclined towards causes involving the marginalized sectors like women, children, the elderly and indigenous groups.
“Filipino values have always been inclusive for a sense of volunteerism, like a duty to the community. People, especially the younger generations, should involve themselves further in volunteering—not only is it an experience where you are effecting real change to your cause, it is also another venue for learning new things and meeting new people,” Delos Reyes said.
Likewise, Clark Lopez, 20, a member of the Philippine Red Cross University of Santo Tomas (UST) Chapter, believes that many young people want to volunteer, but they do not know how to begin volunteering.
“I believe that the youth, of which I am a part of, we have the willingness to volunteer, it’s just that we’re not outgoing enough to search for the opportunities for our spirit to volunteer. In the university setting, we [the UST Red Cross Chapter] are always seeking for volunteers who would assist the school in popular and risky events. They are very willing, as I observe it, but you just have to open the opportunities to them—to take it to them, and from them, they will follow their path,” said Lopez.
According to Arvin Gan, 23, a photographer and full-time fire volunteer, volunteerism is a decision based on personal belief, especially when one comes to maturity.
“For me, volunteerism is dependent on the person—if one really wants to help others without an expectation of a reward, you’re already a volunteer, and a hero. That’s the essence of being a volunteer. And it’s not an easy decision to make because you’re setting a time for others, you’re really putting the effort to go out of your way for others, especially if you have other commitments like a regular job. That’s not easy,” said Gan, who is a part of the Quezon City-based New Millennium Fire and Rescue Volunteers Association.
Some volunteer work requires a fair amount of risk to safety. Volunteers from around the world like from the Red Cross Movement and the UN often venture into war-torn areas to provide humanitarian assistance. Often, they get caught in the crossfire—something they have been doing since their formation. The Geneva Convention provides that humanitarian workers are non-combatants who should not be deliberately targeted by any belligerent force. Sadly, since the 1990s there have been almost 1,000 cases of humanitarian aid workers being kidnapped and killed in the line of duty, with almost half of the attacks happening in 2013 alone. What’s more important, said Gan, is to help others and not ponder on the risks.
“If you’re a volunteer, wherever you are, whatever you might be doing, you must know how to leave them because you know what is at stake in what you’ve gotten into. I mean, if you put off ‘the call,’ then what’s the point of being a volunteer? And there are risks, of course, but we don’t really ponder on them because we are the ones who will be helping, not the ones who will be helped, you just have to be thrice as careful, especially in this profession,” said Gan, who has been volunteering as a fireman since his teens.
Gan comes from a family of fire volunteers and have seen action all over Manila, including the San Juan Fire of Christmas 2012.
Key to nation and social building
Some volunteer societies go the extra mile in furthering and extending help to the marginalized beyond war and in times of calamities—in peace time, and this is the most common form of volunteerism in the Philippines. One aspect is environmental protection—many volunteer societies focus on environmental promotion as a method of social action. Various environmental organizations are also present in the Philippines like Greenpeace International, Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE), World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF), and Fostering Education and Environment for Development, Inc. (FEED).
According to FEED Inc. Director for Partnerships Anne-Marie Mananquil Bakker, volunteerism is not only a cultural inclination for Filipinos, but a global mandate that is instrumental in nation building and the improvement of human life.
“Whether understood as tulong (help), pakikipagkapwa-tao (a shared sense of one’s humanity), pagbabahagi (sharing), or paghahandog (offering), volunteerism can bring significant change to individuals and communities in the Philippines and can help nurture and sustain a rich social texture and a strong sense of mutual trust and cohesion essential to the stability of Philippine (democratic) society,” said Bakker.
“In fact, in 2001, the UN passed a Resolution that identified volunteering as ‘an important component of any strategy aimed at poverty reduction, sustainable development, health, disaster prevention and management.’ Given the integrated nature of natural calamities and the Philippines being among the world’s most disaster-prone countries, volunteerism plays a critical role in our country’s responsiveness to all these challenges that cannot be tackled by government, the private sector or NGOs alone. It will take a concerted effort to not only align and act, but to design and deliver sustainable solutions,” Bakker explained.
Bakker also highlights the role of the private sector and corporate businesses as imperative in the conduct and delivery of humanitarian aid, the promotion of the environment and causes, and the protection of human rights.
“The private sector and autonomous volunteer groups are in a unique position to fill the gaps governments cannot, as we are flexible, lean and inspired. We need to take a stand especially on behalf of marginalized communities,” said Bakker.
FEED, Inc. is a non-profit volunteer environmental protection organization aimed at providing scholarships to impoverished students pursuing degrees in Agriculture, Forestry, and various other environmental sciences. Some of the most prominent activities of FEED are tree planting, ecological protection, and education missions.
More young people, especially millennials, are driven to volunteerism, according to Bakker, and are steadily growing in various fields and causes because the causes reflect their options and dispositions. Apart from the willingness to help others, having the feeling of adventure and excitement, one of the major causes for their leaning towards volunteerism are lessons they get from their choice cause or field.
“The Case Foundation’s The Millennial Impact Report, 2015, shared that Millennials do volunteer when it integrates with their whole life and their aspiration, preferring to volunteer in projects that enrich their lives and aid their careers to diversify experiences, practice new skills, and build professional networks. Just as Millennials are seeking to find purpose in their career, they look to find purpose in their giving activities, too,” said Bakker.
An example of this is Pax Mendoza, 21, a Medicine student of UST. Mendoza is a volunteer for Medical Missions, Inc. (MMI), a non-profit organization composed of UST doctors, medical professionals, and students who extend free medical healthcare to impoverished communities in the country.
MMI has involved itself in numerous medical missions throughout the Philippines, imparting free healthcare to far-reaching areas and during calamities. It has distinguished itself during its service for the refugees and survivors of Yolanda.
According to Mendoza, being part of MMI is both an academic and humanitarian experience for her where she fulfills her dreams of helping others while gaining significant academic knowledge, which she can use in her degree.
“There are some people who volunteer because they see a sense of fulfillment, for some people they volunteer because it will add to their repertoire of abilities or because they may be able to use the knowledge gained through volunteerism in their professional lives. Personally, it’s something I really wanted to do since I was younger. My main drive for my volunteer spirit is helping others,” Mendoza said.
Apart from her academic enrichment, Mendoza pursues her voluntary work in MMI because it completes her stay in medical school. Mendoza also believes that more Millennials, especially the younger ones, who are currently teenagers, are now more interested in joining volunteer societies.
“The volunteer work that I do is also a means of catharsis for me—it’s a release from the demands and stress of medical school, especially the load that we have to go through over and over again. So at the end of the day, instead of not being productive, I get to help others,” Mendoza said.
“I think more people should volunteer for causes, I could see that between the generations, if you could take a look at Millennials, they seem to be more interested in going out there and volunteering for something causes that mean something to them in comparison to older people. The, problem, however is that many Millennials, too, don’t go beyond the keyboard and monitor—meaning, they post about causes online but not directly participate in them,” added Mendoza.
Apart from social endeavors and movements, a great many people also participate in artistic, aesthetic, and political movements, according to Kate Villanueva, 25, a Makati-based writer and a volunteer for Compassion and Responsibility of Animals Welfare Philippines (CARA), a non-profit, private animal rehabilitation organization.
“I think Filipinos also endeavor for socio-political and cultural causes. If you look at events like Cultural Center of the Philippines’s (CPP) Pasinaya, rallying against the demolition of culturally significant buildings in Manila, indie film fests, you’ll see a lot of young volunteers. Volunteerism and volunteers are the backbone of non-profit causes. You’ll see in these moments that people let go of their individual lives and live as a community, and I think that’s remarkable, especially in a time when we often keep to ourselves,” said Villanueva.
How do we, Filipinos, lose ourselves in the service of others? We are known for our outward behaviors towards others. Regardless, we are often labeled as an indolent and lazy people; our national hero, if he were here, would attest to that fact, and ever since, maybe we have not changed. This is manifested in a lot of ways—how our government is ran, how our lives are conducted, and what our priorities are. Maybe, in a way, they are right, and Dr. Jose Rizal, too. Maybe the Filipino is are indolent in as far as his private life is concerned. But the Filipino, in the time of peril and challenge, sheds off his private life, risks and lives for others—and this is something truly remarkable about the Filipino spirit, including our positive spirit to smile in the face of adversity. By the number of volunteers growing in various fields, truly, the spirit of volunteerism is alive and well in the Philippines.
“Always consider our society as one big family—no one gets left alone, and everyone is related, everyone has a stake in everyone else. Who will help us? Of course we could rely on other countries, but any kind of help would mean nothing if we do not help ourselves. In the end, we’ll have each other, tayo-tayol ang din naman ang magtutulungan (no one will help us but ourselves),” Lopez said.
