Volunteers chosen by Volunteer Service Overseas to do volunteer work in UK and RP
Quezon City, Philippines, 27 April, 2010 — International development organization Volunteer Service Overseas (VSO) announces the roster of young Filipinos who were picked to join this year’s Global Xchange Programme. The group will represent the country in the United Kingdom-Philippines exchange in their campaign towards social growth and development.
The new batch, dubbed as Team 107, includes: Mark Aethen Agana, South Cotabato; Dionell Chris Batoon, Rizal; Margarita Victoria Caballa, Metro Manila; Joseph Eduard Laraño III, Iloilo; Desiree May Llanos Dee, Metro Manila; April Karnette Maniacup, Pampanga; Karl Benson Molina, Rizal; Christina Lucia Marian Palami, Leyte; and Anthony Ross Zuniga, Rizal.
“I have always been passionate about volunteerism and development work and I am both thrilled and privileged to be a part of a program that will allow me to engage in both at the same time. Global Xchange is a great platform for young people to be involved in communities to address the most pressing social issues and provides a great opportunity to widen our perspective as global citizens,” says Karl Benson Molina who is also the Ambassador Leader of the Global Health Forum, One Young World in the United Kingdom.
Global Xchange, which is an initiative set up by Volunteer Service Overseas (VSO) in partnership with the British Council and VSO Bahaginan, is a volunteer exchange program which gives young people from the Philippines and UK a chance to work together to develop and share valuable skills to make a practical contribution where it is needed in local communities.
Set to work as a team for three months in London, United Kingdom and another three months in Cebu, Philippines, these young FIlipino volunteers will live with local families and work with local community organizations to address the pressing issues on disability, secure livelihood, and environment.
Tessie Bugarin, Team 107’s Project Supervisor, will help them adapt to their new environment and learn as much as possible from their experiences. “I had a hard time choosing the candidates for this batch. Everyone was excellent in his/her field of work. I am confident they will do well in the exchange,” said Bugarin.
Meanwhile, the team is preparing for the soft launch of their campaign The Butterfly Effect Project which aims to mobilize the youth to promote and support volunteerism through Global Xchange. This project seeks to advance the knowledge and awareness of the youth, by encouraging them to participate in meaningful activities to serve as a generative force in human resource development committed to the values of volunteerism, social transformation, equity and diversity.
“I am thrilled and excited about the team’s bright ideas. Their energy and vigor make me feel younger. Truly, the youth is an asset to our organization,” Happy Ballesteros-Raagas. Resource Generation Manager of VSO Bahaginan Foundation, Inc., said.
There is barely a week before they take flight to Hounslow, London—their first community. All is excited but at the same time anxious due to the recent volcanic ash cloud from Iceland that moved to UK’s airspace and disrupted its air travel.
But despite all these, the volunteers are still hopeful that everything will be well. The whole country will be with them on their journey.
About VSO Bahaginan
VSO Bahaginan is a development organization that promotes volunteering. They are committed to fight poverty and disadvantage through a wide range of volunteering development programs. They are the federation member of VSO in Asia and the Pacific. VSO is the world’s leading independent international development charity that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries.
About Global Xchange Programme
The Global Xchange programme is a six-month exchange programme which gives young people from different countries a unique opportunity to work together, to develop and share valuable skills and to make a practical contribution where it is needed in local communities.
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