A young Filipino-American girl recently spent part of her summer vacation in the Philippines doing volunteer work for CCT. Here are her reflections on what she says was time well spent:
My name is Taryn
and I am visiting from the States. This summer I decided to volunteer at CCT to
help some kids who need financial support to have a good education. Growing up
in the U.S., I have learned that there are many people in the world that need
our help. But it was not until I came to the Philippines when I discovered
first-hand what the lives of these people are like. I always thought that
hundreds of other people would help the poor and that would be sufficient. Now
I realize that there are organizations such as CCT which many people do not
know about that genuinely seek support to better the lives of children living
in poor communities. It is only with your help that CCT will be able to aid
those in need. I have learned that one should not rely on another in a case
where other’s lives are involved. You should take charge and help in every way
possible!
During my time with CCT I distributed food to the poor, visited a community
center in Manila ,
went to fellowship meetings, visited a school founded by CCT, and met many
wonderful people. Distributing food made me aware of the poverty of the street dwellers
live with.
Visiting a CCT community center, I
saw how the organization offered certain facilities such as a tailoring room, a
printing room, a weaving room, and a water station. All of which are fully
equipped with the necessary tools and instruments. These facilities help
promote the street dwellers to either make items and sell them or perform
certain services for a price. Thus, they can have a steady income.
On my third day, I went to two
fellowship meetings. I was able to participate in a few of their songs and gain
valuable insight on the mindset and thoughts of the fellowship members. The
members welcomed me into their homes like we were old friends which made me
very comfortable. They continued to discuss about how to be salt in the
community and came up with many great ideas. Near the end, they all agreed to
spread the word of God and introduce CCT to their neighbors and friends.
Yesterday, I visited the school in Magdalena, Laguna about two hours from Manila by car. I was
taken in by many admirable teachers who shared personal accounts of their lives
teaching and guiding the students. All the elementary school students attending
came from the streets where many of them did not get the shelter, food, and
love that they needed.
There are also many older kids
attending the high school course. Once past a certain academic level, they are
able to choose between four in-depth courses that the school offers: masonry,
electrical, carpentry, and plumbing. After graduating, they will find jobs
pertaining to their course.
While I was there, I was able to
sit in on a science class with students ranging from 14-18 years old. They were
all very friendly and seemed excited to see me, which made my day J In their science class, they were
learning about vitamins and minerals; Useful everyday information that even I
haven’t gone over in school. I really wanted to stay longer and I’m sure to
come back in the future.
Last but not least, I worked in the
CCT office where I updated spreadsheets, did a bit of paper work and more.
Before coming to volunteer, I always thought that the course of action in all
community service organizations was very simple. I never gave a thought of how
many people were needed and how extensive the process was. I was able to really
understand all the thought and work behind an organization such as CCT. The
hard working and enjoyable people here make a great difference in society. It
was Ate Keren, Ate Michelle, and Ate Tin who have inspired me to give more of
myself to the community. They have shown me the behind-the-scenes part of CCT
and I have personally experienced the effects. All in all, I have learned that
one person’s decisions can lead to a great difference and that everyone in the
world deserves a fair and equal chance at life.
Sincerely,
Taryn
Taryn
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