Day 8: Work Placements

It's 2 days left before we finish our In- Country Orientation then we will be having to live with our host homes for the next 11 weeks of the ICS Program here in Cebu City, Philippines.

We were given an overview about the work placements which has 8 specific assignments. The partner organizations who came were the Cebu Association of the Deaf (CAD) which was represented by Michelle Gabisan (CAD, Adviser) and the Gualandi Volunteer Service Programme, Inc (GVSP) which was represented by John Paul Maunes ( GVSP, Program Supervisor).

CAD is an all deaf organization which aims to increase knowledge of Deaf Rights, Deaf Culture and to promote the Filipino Sign Language. There were about 200 active and inactive members of CAD and their mission is to support the deaf community in Cebu Province through community organizing and interaction , non-formal education, information on Jobs and livelihood opportunities.

GVSP is an all hearing organization which aims to support the deaf community. They started from 10 people who had seen the need for hearing volunteers to advocate in the promotion and awareness of Deaf Rights and Deaf Culture.

In the afternoon, we had an interview on which work placement we wanted to be assigned. These were the programs to choose to:

1. Cebu Association for the Deaf where volunteers can help in writing proposals, organizing trainings CAD events and fundraising initiatives. Also, we can work closely with CAD members in organizing Young Adult Health Education (YAHE) and Basic Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Lessons.
2. Gualandi Volunteer Service Programme Inc. where volunteers were divided into 3 subteams to work on their different programs.
   a. Sub-Team 1 will work on Information and Advocacy Materials for the Break The Silence (BTS) Program. BTS is an advocacy for the prevention of Deaf Child Sexual Abuse.
   b. Sub-team 2 will work on video materials, activities for the BTS and other GVSP projects.
   c. Sub-team 3 will work on coordinating with BTS stakeholders, potential sponsors, event planners, etc.in generating support for the event while raising awareness about BTS on the scheduled fun run on April. Also, to organize and become an admin support as well as coordinate involvement of other International Citizens Service and GVSP program volunteers.
3. Enhancing Skills , Access,Opportunities – Deaf Mapping and Profiling ( ESAO- DMP) wherein volunteers do mapping and profiling of deaf communities and individuals in the 8 mountain baranggays in partnership with Share a Child foundation.
4. Enhancing Skills, Access, Opportunties – Voters' Education and Volunteer Monbilisation (ESAO-VEVM) wherein the project focuses on the conduct of Basic Filipino Sign Language (FSL)/Communication Skills/Deaf Sensitivity Trainings for Volunteer Assistors and ,as well as, developing multimedia resources for news sign language interpreting (local signs and election related).
5. Fully Abled Nation (FAN) is a three year program to increase Persons with Disability (PWD) in the 2013 elections. Volunteers are to work on 30 case studies about the experience reflecting the project from the 10 FAN project sites. They also will manageme the Social Media components of the program and assist in organising and conducting Post Volunteer Management System (VMS) trainings.

Our British Supervisor asked me about the project placement I am very interested to take part with. I said that I want to work with CAD simply because I really want to learn the Filipino Sign Language. It is a life skill for me that I can share to my hometown. Also, I am just hopeful that maybe I can contribute to the possibility that we can actually make an enterprise that will empower CAD and the deaf community. I am indeed a dreamer.

Wherever I may be placed, I will do my best to contribute something. It may be big or small but surely, with my all, I will fill it with great love and passion.