Finding my inspiration in Child Friendly Spaces :)

As part of the University Student Government, one of our Community Development Projects for the year is focused on the Child Friendly Spaces project, a reconstruction of a particular space in the community where children will have a safe place to play, study and learn within a conducive environment. Since our batch government unit is under the Community Development Department of the Activities Assembly, we have been closely working with COSCA and the Community Development department in reconstructing a Child Friendly Space in one of the community partners of COSCA, Barangay 704 in Manila. Ever since first term, we have been working with the LGU of the barangay with raising funds and starting with the construction work for the said space. Every now and then, we would visit the barangay to check on the things needed for the said space. Since last 2nd term we were on OJT and Thesis, we were only able to go to the community on weekends. And this January, we are nearing the end of the construction phase for the said project. Last Saturday, we went to the community to finish the painting of the walls. Since we had more volunteers this day compared to our previous visits and had limited materials, I helped out in brainstorming on the concept or idea for the documentation and video presentation for the project.

Child Friendly Spaces Slogan

                             

 Since part of what we were to include in the video were children, we asked one of the barangay councilors if we could borrow children whom we will be including in the video (with permission, of course). In a short span of time, the barangay was able to bring 5 children whom we can include for the filming. Since we were not yet done with our concept, we asked the children to stay put first so we can start filming as soon as possible. While we were finishing up, the children waited for us in the site and since they were children, they were up and about running around the room like it was their playground. Before we started filming, we asked them their names and ages. Their names were Mark, JD, Hexene, Clovie and Nicolette whose ages range from 6 to 8 years old (about grade one). This is where I found out that majority of the children in the barangay were about the same age. While my other companions were filming the children, I stayed with those who waited for their turn. I was able to get to know them more, as they were sharing while we were playing. All of them were still innocent, and had simple aspirations in life. It made me realize how simple life may be. I admire how these children can smile and be happy even without wanting so much in life. For them, it was pretty much enough that they had their own families and they get to play on a weekend. One of the children even told me that she recently joined a spelling contest, while another was preparing for one. It was such a pleasure and honor to meet these children--just thinking about our plans for the area (the daycare, mini library, computer room, and study area) I know that we will be able to help these children reach and even surpass their dreams in the future.

I would have to say that this probably was one of the visits I have had in the community which had an impact on me. As I was going home from the barangay, I realized that my experience today helped me become all the more inspired to work even harder for the project. It dawned to me that amidst all the challenges and trials we are encountering to complete this project, I know that all these hardwork shall be worth it, as we see the priceless smiles of these children playing, learning to read and write, and learning to use the computer in the Child Friendly Space area we have made for them.

The Inconvenient Truth: Simple Ways to Help Mother Earth

Last week, DLSU celebrated and institutionalized its first ever Environment Week as a form of its awareness campaign on how we could and should take care of our environment. There were several activities being held around the campus, including an exhibit of the solar-powered car by the College of Engineering, as well as the Lasallian Green Conference, a convention for Lasallian leaders from all over the country gathering and discussing ways on how the youth can save the environment and avoid the mistakes we have committed from the past. For our COSORES class this week, our professor showed us the film, "An Inconvenient Truth" which was about the different ways on how we are becoming harmful to the environment. It presented facts and statistics as to what is already happening to our environment--explaining how we are contributing to this endangered status our environment is already in. After watching the film, she asked us to list down some of the ways in which we can help lessen CO2 emissions. Here is my own personal list:

1.) Practice the reduce, reuse, recycle and proper waste segregation at home.

This may sound like a cliché, but more often than not, this may be one of the simplest and most practical way with which we can help reduce the CO2 emissions. We simply have to ensure that we identify the reusable materials and utilize them. At the same time, it would also be cost-efficient since you will not be purchasing anything again.

2.) Minimize the use of electricity at home whenever possible.

Turn off the lights and use sunlight in the morning, minimize the use of air conditioners, opening the windows instead of using electric fans, turning off the TV and other appliances when they are not in use, investing more on activities which require less electricity such as reading novels or playing sports. These actions may seem to be contributing very little to reducing CO2 emission, but if these are practiced by everyone, then this greatly impacts and will have a positive effect in helping out the environment.

3.) Reduce the use of plastic as much as possible.

Reducing the use of plastic will lead to less non-recyclable wastes, which will in turn lessen our trash. Plastic may be considered as one of the top non-biodegradable wastes men produce which is greatly used in various industries (packaging of food and beverage, packaging for grocery items, etc.). If we start reducing our use of plastic, then it will definitely decrease our emissions of CO2.

4.) Purchase locally-made products as much as possible.

According to Brook (2008), by supporting locally-made products, we are helping out not only our country economically, but it also has implications on the environment. Locally-made products use less CO2, since it would take less time to deliver the goods to their local customers (use of less transportation for delivery, etc.).

5.) Whenever possible, walk or ride a bicycle when going to your destination

This alternative has two good effects. First, walking or riding a bicycle would entail the use of less vehicles on the road. Less vehicles also means that there is less use of energy and gas, which is a great contributor in pollution. Second, it would also entail that there will be less traffic, and less traffic would entail that more people will get to their destinations faster, which leads again to less use of energy and gas through means of transportation (vehicles, trucks, etc.).

6.) Do online meetings and conferences if there is no need to leave your homes and go to school or work.

This alternative is related to the previous one. Utilizing online meetings and conferences when possible would entail less traffic, and thus less use of gas which would lead to less pollution, which greatly affects CO2 emissions.

7.) Buy energy-saving appliances for your home.

As mentioned earlier, buying energy-saving appliances for your home will help lessen the emission of CO2. Since the appliances are energy-saving, we can expect that it will use less electricity in our homes.

8.) Support and participate in CSR activities available—be it in the community, the school or even the office.

Corporate Social Responsibility is already a very much talked-about issue in our society. Various companies have seen the need to practice CSR not only for their own good, but also because this will affect the communities and various stakeholders they are dealing with. Due to its popular demand, they are numerous CSR programs available to us. As responsible citizens of this country, we are encouraged to support and participate in these CSR activities. There is no need to go far, in the university, several practices have been institutionalized to promote less pollution such as zero-plastic project of the USG the Scratch Paper Initiative where the use of scratch paper among students and faculty is highly encouraged.

Seeing Things Differently

Last week, our professor asked us to rate our priorities by answering the Research Value Survey which contained two lists of values, first would be the "Terminal Values" which talk about the one's priorities in life. A few examples under this list would be Family Security, True Friendship, Freedom, Equality, Mature Love, Pleasure, A Comfortable Life, etc. The second list is the "Instrumental Values" which includes one's values in life such as being "ambitious, forgiving, helpful, logical, loving, obedient, polite, responsible". After rating the each list according to one's values or priorities, we were then asks to form into groups and compare our list to other group members and formulate the top 5 for our group. At first, we found it a little difficult, since each group member had a different top list as their priority. However we were able to formulate the top 5 which we think are the most applicable values to all the members of the group. After the doing the activity, I realized that each individual had a different or unique perspective on things. Applying this activity to our lesson on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), this may be the reason why each individual or organization would have a different perspective on what they see as a socially responsible activity. This would be a good basis as to how we can evaluate a company's CSR strategy and see if the activities have an impact to the other stakeholders of the company.

A New Perspective

For one of my elective subjects for the term, specifically on my Corporate Social Responsibility subject, we are asked to make a journal which will contain our insights on the topics discussed in lectures and activities done in class. This blog spot website will be where I will be posting my experiences and insights. So you can expect that most of my blog entries will contain blogs about communities and socio-civic activities. This will probably be my first time to be using this account again after ages! :)) As you guys can see, my last blog was 4 years ago =)) Anyhoo, I finally found a good use for this blog website. As mentioned in my previous blog, I'm kinda new to this 'blogging' thing. Forgive my randomness at times :)) Enjoy reading through this blog! :) And I hope I get to inspire you also!