Volunteer for the Visayans
http://www.visayans.org
In 2006 it was estimated that approximately 28 million people in the Philippines were living below the countries poverty threshold; this accounts for about 33% or one third of the total country's population. As a result many Filipino families lack the necessary funding for basic living requirements. Many families live in sub-standard housing with lack of electricity and/or running water, have little or no access to affordable healthcare, are malnourished and lack the necessary funding to complete education.
Volunteer for the Visayans (“VFV”) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Tacloban City, Leyte. VFV began in 1993 as the brainchild of international volunteers who had come here on their own initiative to help with humanitarian projects. VFV registered as an official non-profit in 2004.
Over recent years Volunteer For The Visayans have made great strides to improve the lives of many people in the local communities, but desperately need a constant flow of volunteers and donors to achieve their goals.
Volunteers can reach out in many different ways from working as an intern in a Health Clinic, to becoming a teachers assistant or working at an orphanage.
In 2006 it was estimated that approximately 28 million people in the Philippines were living below the countries poverty threshold; this accounts for about 33% or one third of the total country's population. As a result many Filipino families lack the necessary funding for basic living requirements. Many families live in sub-standard housing with lack of electricity and/or running water, have little or no access to affordable healthcare, are malnourished and lack the necessary funding to complete education.
Volunteer for the Visayans (“VFV”) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Tacloban City, Leyte. VFV began in 1993 as the brainchild of international volunteers who had come here on their own initiative to help with humanitarian projects. VFV registered as an official non-profit in 2004.
Over recent years Volunteer For The Visayans have made great strides to improve the lives of many people in the local communities, but desperately need a constant flow of volunteers and donors to achieve their goals.
Volunteers can reach out in many different ways from working as an intern in a Health Clinic, to becoming a teachers assistant or working at an orphanage.
Testimonials
Dance in the Visayans
Dancing is a popular pastime for the children of Bliss. With or without music, one would notice kids doing a few dance steps just for fun and laughs. School occasions are never without a dance presentation. However, most of these kids have never felt the comfort of wearing leotards and tights, have never seen jazz dance, nor felt the fine floors of a dance studio. With the talent present but the resources missing, Volunteer for the Visayans wants to inculcate in their the love for dancing and give them the chance to further explore dance as an art, and for the children to develop a passion, learn discipline, and be out of the streets.
In addition, learning the discipline of dance encourages children to be apart of a group, discourages them from getting involved in crime or gangs. Furthermore all dancers are required to be enrolled in school if they wish to perform, thus contributing to our ongoing commitment to education.
Chelsea, a 2007 VFV volunteer, initially taught a few eager children some simple dance steps and just two months after, what used to be a simple past time has turned into a daily dance activity. VFV saw a rapid growth in the number of dances and performances. With the help of another volunteer, Stephanie, who also led various dance workshops at the VFV Center, it became obvious that the children's dance group is really dedicated - that it caught the organization's interest for further development.
In addition, learning the discipline of dance encourages children to be apart of a group, discourages them from getting involved in crime or gangs. Furthermore all dancers are required to be enrolled in school if they wish to perform, thus contributing to our ongoing commitment to education.
Chelsea, a 2007 VFV volunteer, initially taught a few eager children some simple dance steps and just two months after, what used to be a simple past time has turned into a daily dance activity. VFV saw a rapid growth in the number of dances and performances. With the help of another volunteer, Stephanie, who also led various dance workshops at the VFV Center, it became obvious that the children's dance group is really dedicated - that it caught the organization's interest for further development.
Hip Hop Dance Project
It all began back when a member of the Volunteer For The Visayans Staff was approached by local boys in the community who requested the opportunity to represent VFV as its hip-hop dance team.
These boys were mixed members of the local community, including one boy from their child sponsership programme and three out-of-school youths.
A staff member agreed that the boys could receive the support of VFV, so long as the out-of-school youths enrolled back in school and continued to attend.
To date, the boys are performing well and are even winning some of their competitions. From time to time the boys perform for our volunteers and for our special guests. The boys are continued to be monitored by a member of VFV staff and encouraged to perform well in school.
These boys were mixed members of the local community, including one boy from their child sponsership programme and three out-of-school youths.
A staff member agreed that the boys could receive the support of VFV, so long as the out-of-school youths enrolled back in school and continued to attend.
To date, the boys are performing well and are even winning some of their competitions. From time to time the boys perform for our volunteers and for our special guests. The boys are continued to be monitored by a member of VFV staff and encouraged to perform well in school.
