After we communicate with you about your academic background, personal interests, and professional goals, we will pair you up with a fellow classmate and give you a praxis site in a local Filipino community. You will accompany this community two full days each week for the entire semester. Through this learning environment, you will become more aware of and sensitive to the realities of those who are struggling to end social injustices while working to promote human dignity. You will become part of this Filipino community, not as a volunteer, but as a learner.
Fall 2013
1.
Tahanang Walang Hagdanan (House without Steps)
Tahanang Walang Hagdanan (TWH) is an NGO that was founded in 1973 by Belgian nuns to assist individuals with disabilities. The organization provides a variety of services for people of varying levels of ability. Employment opportunities at TWH include production lines in the following areas: sewing, wood shop, metal craft, silk screening, and pharmacy. Other services include a health clinic, physical therapy, and vocational training. There is also an educational program for kids with special learning needs and a daycare center for the children of employees at TWH. The work environment is inclusive of individuals with various levels of ability, with about 70% of the employees living with some form of physical disability. Independent living, productivity, and empowerment are the guiding values of TWH's mission. In addition to the main center in Metro Manila, there are three other centers in the provinces.
Role of Students: Students will have the opportunity to participate in the many daily functions of TWH, depending on the interest of students and needs of the organization. In addition, students can spend time visiting the homes of employees of TWH in the nearby community. Lastly, Casa students will have the opportunity to visit the other centers in the provinces.
2. Sitio Payong:
Located at the outskirts of Quezon City, this is a small farming community that has no access to potable water or electricity. They do not own the land where they live and run the constant risk of being forced off the land. There are existing laws that prohibit members of the community from bringing in any materials to improve their homes, so construction is limited and homes are made of a variety of materials ranging from blocks, to wood, to metal, to cardboard, to plastic. The local parish, St. Peter, is very active in the community and sponsors a number of programs. A food program for children and a pre-school are among such programs.
Role of Students: Students will assist in the activities of the food program, preschool and offer a variety of tutoring programs to the children in the community. They will also participate in daily living of the community, including some farming.
3. Lingap Pangkabataan (Care of children):
This is an NGO that focuses on advocacy for street children (defined in the Philippines as any child who spends 4+ hours a day on the streets) as well as a micro-lending program. In the child program, much emphasis is put into reaching the community through community-based education. At the main office, there is a preschool that provides a learning environment that supports children to develop skills necessary to construct their own knowledge, prepare them for their next school environment and encourage them to become life-long learners. The school believes that the Filipino child is a unique creation of God, hence, innately good and special. The micro-lending program reaches out to small-scale business people and offers not only low-interest loans, but also training and workshops to equip people to run a successful business.
Role of Casa Student: Students will participate in the variety of programs that are offered to street children. There may be some opportunity to learn about the micro-lending program as well. In addition, students will spend time in the nearby community, learning about the daily realities there.
4. Kapit Bisig/ ANCOP Central:
This is a small urban community (about 140 families) that has a history with Couples for Christ. CFC is committed to working for the renewal of families that will serve God and build generations of Christian leaders and pursuing Christian liberation through social justice, respect for life, and work with the poor. ANCOP programs aim to address and provide basic needs through its programs on the following aspects: health, education, livelihood and community development. Ancop Central is a well-organized community and its members are very active in the local homeowners association, civic-oriented and church related activities.
Role of Casa Student: Students will be involved in the activities at both the community center and the preschool. Time will be spent with the families of this community, learning about their reality and sharing in daily tasks.
5. Tribu - Gawad Kalinga
Gawad Kalinga is a Filipino based NGO that focuses on providing dignified housing to ‘squatter’ communities and, at the same time, providing values formation to the community members. There is a strong emphasis on 'kapwa' or the common good and the work of the community is done together (for example people take turns building each other's homes). There is an ongoing commitment and requirement of community members to be contributors to community life, serving not only in their community but also in other GK communities. Tribu is a community of about 90 families. To date, about half of the homes have been constructed. Currently two homes are under constructions.
Role of Casa Students: Depending on the building phase of the GK community, students may be involved in the constructions of some homes. In addition, students will participate in the activities in the community (ranging from urban gardening, to tutoring, to values formation). A large amount of time will be spent accompanying community members to get a sense of the reality in which they live.
