Face Up Nov5.indd

O ver
€75,000
was
raised in
the south
M ayo area
for the
project.
SERVE
TRIBAL
GATHERING
Bottom: New Houses.
Right: Volunteers hosting a sports day for
the Badjao teenagers in Cebu, Philippines
TRAVELLING TO THE FAR-FLUNG PHILIPPINES AND HELPING
THE BADJAO TRIBE SECURE THEIR FUTURE WAS ALWAYS
GOING TO BE AN EXPERIENCE. WILLIAM BROWNE FROM SERVE
RECOUNTS JUST HOW AMAZING AND REWARDING THE PROJECT
TURNED OUT TO BE.
The next school summer holidays seem
an age away. Do you long to loll on
a sun-lounger by the pool, sipping a
fresh fruit smoothie while you chill
to tunes on your i-Pod? Boring! A
14-strong group of volunteers from
County Mayo had far better plans
for their last vacation. They chose
to spend five weeks working on a
project with the Badjao tribe in the
Philippines.
The tribe, who live in Cebu city,
is one of the most vulnerable in the
region, with a life expectancy of
just 40 years. This was
a chance for the crowd
from Mayo to make a big
difference to the Badjao
people’s lives.
So, SERVE – the Irishbased development
organisation – set the
volunteers a challenge:
to work side-by-side with
the Badjao community,
making bricks and
building their smart new
one-roomed homes.
BEST POSSIBLE
CHANCE
The volunteers lived with host
families during their stay in
the Redemptorist Parish in Cebu.
They were all bowled over by
the hospitality and welcome they
received. One of the volunteers,
Fergal Mohan, described how everyone
in his host family took turns in
cooking and helping out. He got
the impression that hosting the
volunteers wasn’t a burden, but a
great honour for the community.
“I’ve learned how doing activities
together as a community helps
create a great sense of
solidarity, brotherhood
and love for one
another,” he says.
“I met
so many
incredible
people
who I'll
never
forget”
William Browne from SERVE explains
that brick making is part of the
Skills Training Programme that’s up
and running out there. “Each family
does at least 400 hours of voluntary
labour towards construction. But
the project also aims to improve
education and nutrition, as well as
provide skills training too. So the
volunteers supported the teachers
in the pre-school and helped
with a nutrition programme. Both
initiatives give each child the best
possible chance of continuing with
school.”
McGovern, summed up the whole
experience in one word: inspiring.
“I met so many incredible and
inspiring people who I’ll never,
ever forget. I’ve learned to
appreciate everything I have at
home, especially my friends and
family. And that no matter what goes
wrong in my life I should always
have hope and faith.”
The volunteers
hope to use their
experience to for m
a Social Justice
Group in the Robe
Pastoral A rea.
• For more info contact William
Browne at SERVE (Tel: 087 9256958;
email: [email protected]).
A BIG HUG
Andrea Keane, a fellow
volunteer, recalled
a powerful encounter
with a lady from the
Badjao tribe. “I paid a
visit to some houses in
the Badjao community,”
she says. “One lady,
who barely spoke any
English, gave me a hug,
and said, ‘Thank you so
much for helping us!’”
Later on that week Andrea had
the chance to help the woman learn
to write. “I assisted her as she
tussled with the pencil, attempting
– and very much succeeding – to
draw straight lines. It was such
an emotional experience for me,
as I suddenly became aware of how
much I’d taken my own education
for granted. She demonstrated such
determination and strength of mind.
The poignant smile on her face said
it all...”
Another of the volunteers, Majella
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www.faceup.ie
The Fa b 14
(as we now
call the m!)
co m e fro m four
parishes –
Ballinrobe,
Party/
Tour m akeady,
Roundfort/
Rob een a nd
Kil m aine, also
k now n as the
Robe Pastoral
A rea.
Andrea (Middle row, second from left),
Majella (Front row, first on right) and
Fergal (Back row, third from right).
Andrea (Front row, fourth from right), Majella (Front row, first on left), Fergal (Back row, fifth from right).
29
www.faceup.ie
What the
Badjao said
For a community facing
so many challenges,
the visit from the
volunteers meant so
such to the Badjao
tribe. A spokesperson
told how they were
really touched that
communities in the
outside world care for
them and their future:
“We want to thank
the Robe Pastoral Area
for sending us this
group of talented,
skilled and kindhearted people,” they
said. “Their presence
made a difference in
the lives of the Badjao
community, especially
our little ones. They
felt loved, valued and
cared for. The attention
that they got from the
volunteers has boosted
their confidence. It
has allowed them to see
that there’s more to
life than just being
confined in the Badjao
community... that anyone
can dream freely,
regardless of race,
colour and status in
society. Thank you for
walking with us on our
journey.”