MANILA – Three Spanish University Volunteers in Manila are learning that helping others is possible even at a young age. And as they work to help poor communities become self-reliant, their own lives are changed for the better.

“The experiences of these Spanish University Volunteers have reaffirmed that no one is too young or inexperienced to help other people,” says Renaud Meyer, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Director. The UNDP administers the UN Volunteers Programme. “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 the UNV programme 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. There are currently five Spanish University Volunteers assigned in the Philippines 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 MDG goals, and promote volunteerism among Spanish students as a tool for change.

Eye-opener. Recalling her first encounter with the urban poor community in Navotas, Sonia Martin Carrascosa 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.” Sonia is an audio-visual communication major at Polytechnic University of Valencia.

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

Together with Filipino volunteers, Sonia raises funds for building materials for relocation sites to house hundreds of slum dwellers. She also helps 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.”

Language of music. Antonio Cerezuela, fondly called “Cere”, teaches music and arts to young Filipino children. A Psychology major student from University of Murcia, Cere organized weekend workshops to empower the young people in Tondo.

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

According to him, “It is the language of music and arts that brought us to commonly share meanings.” Inspired by his experience, it fuelled his dream of establishing his own NGO in Spain. “I am confident that we can make a big difference in this world,” he continued.

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

“To work with international organizations like the United Nations, it is inevitable to go through some tough decision-making processes,” Carlos said. “I often feel at a loss trying to find answers.” These challenges, however, did not deter him from pursuing his advocacy. “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 added.

For more information, contact:

UNV Country Office in the Philippines
Tel: (02) 889-7550
Email: unvgroup@undp.org
Website: www.unv.org.ph

See also UNV Global site