Global Poomashi in the Philippines Advances Youth Volunteerism

in Alllights Village Communities

Thirty-nine Korean and twenty-nine Filipino student volunteers joined together for a week-long exchange program of the first Global Poomashi in the Philippines on July 4-9, 2012 with the theme, “Enhancing Global Citizenship : Transforming the World by Building Bridges of Friendship through International and Intercultural Cooperation.”

​

The Global Poomashi project was created by Global Peace Youth Corps (GPYC) Korea in order to pursue the vision, “One Family under God,” by sending Korean youths to other countries where they work together with local youths addressing social issues, and eventually recognizing each other’s value as members of the same human family. This altruistic effort has been extended to Kenya, Nepal, Mongolia, and now the Philippines. “Poomashi” is a Korean word which means “exchange of work.”

​

The week-long exchange program engaged the volunteers in community service projects, skills training, intercultural dialogue, academic exchange, and recreational activities.

​

Brotherhood and sisterhood ceremony, skills training and ecobag-painting

On July 4, the Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) – Quezon City Campus, a leading school in the fields of engineering and information and communication technology, sponsored the welcoming program for the student volunteers and staffs. Engr. Jaypy Tenerife, assistant quality assurance manager of TIP, gave the welcome remarks. Special messages were also given by Edmon Pacson, GPYC-Philippines national president; Sally Quimson, GPFF-Philippines executive director; and Kevin Kang, GPYC-Korea Global Poomashi Project Director.

Korean and Filipino volunteers were then paired for the Brotherhood and Sisterhood Ceremony. Through this ceremony, the Korean and Filipino volunteers will form bonds of friendship and brotherhood/sisterhood – transcending racial, cultural, religious and national walls – that would last for a lifetime. This is the initial step in putting the vision “One Family under God” into action.

“I volunteered to join because I hope to enhance my potential as a young leader, reach out to people from other countries, and reach out to our local communities,” shares Mary Jane Samson, volunteer and student leader from Araullo University in Nueva Ecija. “I am also glad to see young leaders from another country who are willing to share the same experiences and be part of the change they wish to see in the world.”

In the afternoon, the volunteers met with the young leaders of AIESEC, the world’s largest student-run organization that has a chapter in the Philippines, for the creative skills and project outlining training. During the training, the volunteers actively participated in the discussions and responded to the situations given to enhance their critical and creative thinking skills. Part of the training also includes outlining project proposals and determining its feasibility to the community through partnerships. Three groups presented their sample outlines on projects and issues that have similar situations or challenges in Korea and Philippines.

Towards the end of the day, the volunteers gathered at SM City Manila Activity Center for the Ecobag Design Event where the volunteers personally designed and painted the bags for the young children in the Alllights Village communities in Nueva Ecija. SM Cares, through the Youth and Children’s Welfare Committee, donated 50 eco-bags for the beneficiaries.
“In behalf of Mr. Royston Cabuñag, our project director, the committee wishes to extend our support to Global Poomashi in its advocacy to help the children of Nueva Ecija,” says Ms. Lea Casamayor, project head of SM Cares Youth and Children’s Welfare Committee and assistant mall manager of SM City Manila. “We hope that the outcome of this Ecobag Design Event with the young delegates from Korea and Philippines can bring joy to the children in the villages,” she added.

Community service in Alllights Villages and “Dream Bus, Dream Box” project at Nueva Ecija.

On July 5, Global Poomashi team traveled 3 hours to Nueva Ecija for the community service and immersion project in three Alllights Village communities in the province. (Alllights Village communities are isolated communities that have no electricity and previously use kerosene lamps before they were replaced by safer, less expensive, healthier and more environmental-friendly solar lanterns. The solar lanterns were provided by Korean donors through the Global Peace Leadership Exchange program between Korea and Philippines.)

The delegates and staffs were welcomed by the officers of the Provincial Youth Development Council (PYDC) of the Provincial Government of Nueva Ecija and community officials of the three Alllights Villages in the Capitol Building in Palayan City.  PYDC Vice-Chairman Billy Jay B. Guanzing gave a heart-warming welcoming remark addressing the 1st Global Poomashi Project overall theme of fostering friendship through international and intercultural exchange in connection with the Millennium Development Goals Item #1 – Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger.

Jocelyn Remigio, Alllights Village project manager, gave an orientation on the Alllights Village project in the province and the overall scenario of the service projects that will be conducted the next day in the selected far-flung communities. This helped the volunteers understand and gain insight on the importance of the project and the kind of services that they will have to render to the communities. Subsequently, the volunteers were divided into groups for the three project sites.

“I’m excited about Alllights Village Project since I haven’t seen a village with no lights and I can’t imagine a place without electricity,” tells Kyung Ae Lim from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies who also previously volunteered in countries as far as Dominican Republic and Mongolia.

For three days, the Korean and Filipino volunteers worked together to help finish multi-purpose halls in three different villages by constructing benches and walls out of bamboos and other native materials. A simple ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in the multi-purpose halls to mark the commencement of its opening as a venue of gathering for the children and adults in the village.

​“Korea and Philippines may have different economic situations yet we experience the same difficulties since we are all the same human beings,” adds Kyung Ae. “If we work together, our actions can contribute to a better world.”

​

Another activity in the community is the “Dream Bus, Dream Box” project, where the volunteers eagerly handed their personally-designed SM ecobags to the children (who will be using them as schoolbags). Along with the ecobags are sport shoes that they can use every day to school or to play sports. The volunteers even taught the kids in the villages how to play soccer. Selected students from Camp General Tiñio High School, the host school for the activity, presented an Arnis demonstration. Arnis or armed stick fighting is the Philippine’s indigenous martial arts.

The volunteers also visited the homes of some families in the community. They get to ride on carabaos and learned the traditional Filipino dance, Tinikling (a dance that involves beating and tapping bamboo poles to the ground). At the closing program, the local leaders and residents of the villages thanked the organizers and the volunteers of Global Poomashi for their contribution to their communities.

The 1st Global Poomashi in the Philippines concluded with a refreshing plunge at the One Laiya Beach Resort in San Juan, Batangas, a resort located in the central-eastern beachfront of the country. The Korean volunteers revelled at the oceanic treasures through snorkelling the depths of the Philippine waters and beholding its natural wonders while refreshing themselves from a week of community outreach.