When teen Alexandra Madrigal Eduque first stepped on the floor of gravel and cement on a building site four years ago; they thought she wouldn't last. But she did; and at 18, helped hundreds of fellow Filipinos build new homes and ultimately, new lives.

"Volunteerism is something that can't be forced, it has to be fuelled by the passion to work." Alex says, pouring cement in a hollow block molder. She is currently working for Habitat's site in Bernardo Compound, part of the underdeveloped areas in Brgy. Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City, a district of southeast Metro Manila, the Philippine capital. In the past, she also helped build houses in the community of Baseco Bagong Buhay Village in Tondo, also one of the least developed parts of northwest Manila.

Alex is cheerful, vibrant and energetic - everything a normal teenager should be. But she has achieved beyond the normal. In 2008, Alex won the Habitat International Nehemiah Award, winning a $10,000 donation towards building a community in her name, the 'Alex Village'. She's also the current Youth Ambassador for the organisation Habitat for Humanity which aims to help the homeless by assisting them in funding and constructing new homes.

Her passion for volunteering is infectious. Alex makes volunteering fun and encourages her friends and family to get involved. "This is a good outlet for stress and at the same time, you also get to bond with your friends." In fact, Alex says building houses gives you a great work-out.

Inspired, Alex is still able to manage her time for the builds. After all, she is still a high school student in the International School in Manila and an active member of the Honor Society and Student Council. "I believe that if there's a will, there's a way. If you really want to do something, no matter how busy you are, you will always find time to do it."

Alex says the experience has helped her make a change for the better, and changed her in return. "Through volunteering, I was able to see the progress of the country first-hand. It opened my eyes to what poverty meant, to what hard work meant."

She already feels that she has found her place in the world. "Volunteering, in an existentialist sense, helped me in finding a meaning in life - the fulfillment of your goals in life."

And she has also given inspiration to older students. Alex is joined on the Pasig build by students from Southville Foreign University.

Gwen Ruais, a youth volunteer believes volunteering can be an alternative to the traditional summer holiday. "If you have energy to have fun with your friends this summer, like going to the beach, why don't you just build instead? Magpapagod ka rin naman, eh di just volunteer to have fun. (You would be exerting the same effort as well, so just volunteer to have fun.)"

Because she can't imagine life without sharing her time and energy, Alex will continue volunteering when she moves to New York on August this year to study Political Science and Psychology in Barnard University.

"To live an enriched and valuable life, one must learn to face fear, battle challenges and experience everything from the bottom, working your way up. Because this ensures that you truly find happiness in your success."

Indeed, the spirit of volunteerism is built to last in Alex, together with the homes she has helped create.

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Interviewed and written by Caren Mercado, UNV Communications Intern
Edited by Alice Castle, Online Volunteer