08 April 2010

Manila, the Philippines: Spanish University Volunteers in Manila help poor communities become self-reliant, while changing their own lives for the better.

“The experiences of these Spanish University Volunteers have reaffirmed that no one is too young to help other people,” says Renaud Meyer, UNDP Country Director. “They often think outside the box, and pioneer unique approaches to development challenges,” he added.

Funded by AECID (Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation), local governments, and universities in Spain, the University Volunteer programme is jointly administered by UNV and the Autonomous University of Madrid, which coordinates the University Volunteer Network of 27 universities across Spain. To date, nearly 200 Spanish students have been deployed to developing countries.

This year, a total of 43 students are deployed for their six-month assignment in various fields, such as education, health, environment, and information technology. The programme is designed to pursue the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, and promote volunteerism among Spanish students as a tool for change.

There are currently five Spanish University Volunteers assigned in the Philippines. Sonia Martin Carrascosa is an audio-visual communication major at the Polytechnic University of Valencia. Recalling her first encounter with the community in Navotas, she said, “I found it overwhelmingly challenging to see people living in such substandard conditions, yet I admire the way many Filipinos help each other and share whatever little they have. I believe this is what volunteerism is all about.”

For the past six months, Ms. Martin Carrascosa has been working as Community Development Volunteer for Zone One Tondo Organization (ZOTO), a Manila-based NGO providing a wide range of assistance for the urban poor.

Together with Filipino volunteers, she raises funds for building materials to house hundreds of slum dwellers. She also helped create the NGO’s website (www.smzoto.org.ph). “Working with the Filipino people is an eye-opener to me, deepening my understanding about their culture and traditions, increasing tolerance for our differences. This experience has enabled me to grow as a person.”

Antonio Cerezuela, fondly nicknamed ‘Cere’, teaches music and arts to young Filipino children.  A psychology student at the University of Murcia, he organized weekend workshops to empower the young people in Tondo.

“Educating young people is a huge responsibility,” he remarks, citing the language barrier. “The children can hardly speak in English, while I can only utter a few Tagalog words.”

Mr. Cerezuela adds, “It is the language of music and arts that brought us to commonly share meanings.” His volunteering experience has fuelled his dream of establishing his own NGO in Spain. “I am confident that we can make a big difference in this world,” he says.

Carlos Ruano Sanchez is an Advocacy and Communications Volunteer with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). A computer engineering student of the University of Salamanca, Carlos’ tasks include designing advocacy tools, and constructing databases to monitor UNFPA projects.

“To work with international organizations like the United Nations, it is inevitable to go through some tough decision-making processes,” says Mr. Ruano Sanchez. “I often feel at a loss trying to find answers.”

These challenges, however, did not deter him from pursuing his advocacy activities. “I’ve come to learn how best I can present my ideas while being a good listener to others. It’s a valuable opportunity for me to be exposed to actual development field work,” he adds.