Not Forgotten
“But the needy will not always be forgotten…” Psalm 9:18
When the CSR class decided that the Service Learning (SL) would be at the Tahanang Walang Hagdanan (TWH), I realize that it will be my first community service for the people with disabilities (PWDs). Although I have had several encounters with differently-abled in the past and visited some communities with active PWDs as a guest, our service learning at TWH is a hands-on experience for me.
During my active involvement in conceptualizing and planning for our SL activity, I realize that for more than three decades, people here and abroad are supporting TWH commitment to the paraplegics. Our disabled kababayan may seem to suffer from physical paralyses—physically challenged—but they are loaded with gifts and special abilities that make them extraordinary. I saw a video of TWH residents compete in ballroom dancing. It was astonishing. I can’t even dance—how much more in a wheelchair! Last Sunday, I saw their talents in woodcrafts, metal works, and paintings. They were amazing! One can never tell if people with missing legs or arms made them! I even stumbled upon an episode in Korina Sanchez’s show featuring TWH. This means that people are interested in the treasures at TWH.
However, I recognized that TWH needs packaging—not their products but organization itself. Yes, some organizations are also helping them when it comes to facilities, advocacy, business opportunities, and funding; nevertheless, the need to repackage TWH is necessary.
I think Tourism must come in. Trade and Industry should extend extra help. If TWH can be packaged as an interesting tourist destination in Metro Manila with a nice showroom of its products then it could be included as part of the must-see places for local and international tourists. Vietnam did it with their Agent Orange victims; it created a special industry for them by promoting handicrafts made by handicaps.
For our SL, we desire to help TWH with its products designs by linking them with Philippine Design Center. Through this network, the design experts can assists TWH by orienting them with the trendy and marketable designs as well as how to package its products.
As I get more involved in the project, I become more aware of the PWDs situation, but what also moved me is the need of the children (both handicaps and children of PWDs) to be valued and to be reaffirmed. So I volunteered to conceptualize an activity for the kids since I can tap my friend who owns an international preschool in Ortigas to help our class with children’s workshop and activities. I believe that children are the hope of the future; they are the hope of their parents. Children should find their place in the community especially in an environment like the TWH.
Along the way, I realize that doing CSR SL that is short term has many benefits as well as challenges. First among its benefits, the class is able to work together as team and synergize our talents and resources. Second, the class is able to apply the concepts and principles discussed and covered in the classroom. Third, the class is given exposure to communities like TWH. For the challenges, I believe that the time is really short to formulate a more sustainable plan. First, we need to come up with a plan and work around an achievable-to-raise budget. Second, we have to get more inputs from our classmates, which we are having difficulties right now. But given some of the encounters we have had, I believe that we can still do better in the coming days as we prepare for the SL activity.
Tonight, we were able to improve our plans and promote our SL to two classes where we got some support and commitments. The video that I created as part of our promotion greatly helped in giving the other students an idea about TWH and our SL.
Working on the SL for TWH is a great experience for me. I know that we will have a good and meaningful time on November 22. We just need to be reminded of our purpose and our calling: to help other people at all times. We must not forget our responsibility to others. One day, we, too, will realize that we need other people’s help.
Moreover, I think we should reaffirm their concern and love to the needy, to the PWDs. Beyond their physical and financial needs, I realize that they need social support—to let them know that they are not forgotten.
Reference:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cainta-Philippines/TAHANANG-WALANG-HAGDANAN-INC/181091870037?ref=ts
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