Written by Lawrence Agustin
In a spirit of shared purpose and community engagement, Vamos y Man Volunteer: The SUGPAT Volunteers Summit concluded with success at the Faustino W. Saavedra Building, Eusebio Salvador Campus, Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) from December 10 to 12, 2023.
The summit aimed to shed light on the importance of volunteerism and empower young individuals to become active contributors to positive change in their communities. The theme, “Igniting Volunteer-Led Innovation for Future Growth and Social Transformation,” encapsulated the essence of the three-day event.
On the first day of the summit, the participants were welcomed by AdZU President Fr. Anthony Guillrey Andal, SJ’s opening remarks. It was followed by an inspirational message given by UNICEF Philippines’ Adolescent Skills Development Programme Coordinator, Ave Mejia, Jr., and the rationale and message by Ateneo Learning and Teaching Excellence Center’s (ALTEC) Director, Rogin Christ Eribal.
The main event of day one was the talks given by three distinguished speakers who provided insights into the significance of National Volunteers Month. The first speaker was Donald James Gawe, the Executive Director of Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency, Meryl Resoor, the Assistant Principal of AdZU Senior High School’s Formation and
Community Extension, and Raffy Magno, the Executive Director of Angat Pinas, Inc. Each of them offered unique perspectives on the matter at hand and the participants actively engaged with them by asking questions regarding the different aspects of volunteerism, starting with the government’s stance on volunteerism, followed by personal journeys and motivations for volunteering, and hearing success stories born from mobilizing volunteer-led initiatives.
In the afternoon, the partner volunteer organizations of ALTEC from Kids Who Farm, Educational Development Center – Zamboanga City (EDC), and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Divisoria took center stage, introducing their advocacies and programs. Participants of the summit had the opportunity to go deeper during breakout sessions, aligning their interests with specific volunteer activities. These sessions were an orientation for day two’s hands-on volunteer activities.
The second day of the summit was dedicated to volunteer initiatives, with partner organizations organizing simultaneous activities such as Lakbay Edukasyon, facilitated by SK Divisoria; Project RIO, facilitated by EDC – Zamboanga, in partnership with SK Mercedes; Tarpot Making, facilitated by Kids Who Farm; and Garden Attack, facilitated by Kids Who Farm in partnership with the Association of Tulungatung Innovative Women Agripreneurs (ATIWA). The activities prepared were led by the participants, fueled by the insights gained from day one. They actively engaged in volunteer work, putting theory into practice. The range of activities
showcased the impact of collective volunteer efforts, emphasizing the theme’s core message of social transformation through active participation.
The summit’s closing program on the third day was a reflective culmination of all the activities. The participants shared their experiences, insights, and the tangible impact of their volunteer activities with the traditional SUGPAT Strings as the closer, where the participants give their gratitude to people whom they are grateful for in this event. The platform allowed a synthesis of collective efforts, creating a shared narrative of positive change. Ultimately, the summit provided a unique opportunity for young people to connect with like-minded individuals, partner organizations, and public figures passionate about making a difference. The simplicity of the message – that individual actions, no matter how small, contribute to broader social transformation – resonated throughout the event.
As the curtain fell on Vamos y Man Volunteer: The SUGPAT Volunteers Summit, the echoes of shared experiences, insights gained, and connections forged lingered, leaving a lasting impact on the participants and reinforcing the commitment to a culture of volunteerism and active citizenship.
