David Urieta, an International Service-Learning student from College of Mount Saint Vincent, New York, USA fulfills Urban Missionaries of the Philippines' (UM) long-time dream - having their own website.
UM's first ever Website:
Ma. Lourdes M. Berin, Executive Trustee of UM, shares her appreciation for David's work:
David is a graduate student from College of Mount Saint Vincent in New York. As part of his M.S. in International Development and Service Program, he took up courses at De La Salle University's College of Liberal Arts (CLA) and completed service hours at UM.
He was placed at UM because of his expressed interest in labor, migration and informal economies.
The program is part of De La Salle University's continuing goal of expanding international partnerships for service-learning.
Center for Social Concern and Action
Rm. 202, Br. Andrew Gonzalez Hall De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila Telefax: (632) 524-4611 to 19 Locals 417, 147
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De La Salle University through its Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA) hosted the 6th Service-Learning Asia Network (SLAN) Meeting last June 8, 2018 at the Br. Andrew Gonzalez Multipurpose Hall.
A total of forty (40) faculty members and university personnel from various Asian countries participated and shared their experiences and accomplishments in service-learning.
SLAN Members Present
Symposium Participants
De La Salle - Lipa De La Salle Araneta University De La Salle University - Dasmariñas
The SLAN Members were joined in the afternoon by seventy-two (72) FIlipino faculty members and university personnel for a symposium on the theme "Service-Learning in Asia: Models and Best Practices in Course Design and Evaluation."
The keynote speaker for the symposium, Dr. Carol Ma Hok Ka from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) gave an overview of service-learning models and practices in Asia. She emphasized that the best service-learning model is the one that aligns with an institution's Vision and Mission.
"There is no single best service-learning model, only the best model within a university. The best model is the one that aligns with the university's vision and mission."
During the panel discussion, Dr. Thera Chui , Vice Dean of Taipei Medical University presented the mobile application they developed for service-learning. The app helps provide faculty members and students with online and real-time information for monitoring, scheduling and evaluation of service-learning activities.
Asst. Prof. Deborah Mae Salem of Siliman University meanwhile shared her institution's SL journey from having only a handful of champions to its current 20+ academic units implementing service-learning.
Last but not the least, Dr. Meen Sheng Yap, Service-Learning Director of Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and former Asst. Director of the Ministry of Education, discussed the evolution of Service-Learning in Singapore and its transformation in SUSS.
Symposium Presentations
The SLAN Meeting and Symposium is part of De La Salle University's week-long University Vision-Mission Week Celebration.
Center for Social Concern and Action
Rm. 202, Br. Andrew Gonzalez Hall De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila Telefax: (632) 524-4611 to 19 Locals 417, 147 DLSU Representatives pose for a photo during the 6th Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Service-Learning (APRCSL). From Left: Ms. Ma. Lourdes Melegrito, COSCA Director; Dr. Marlon Era, Faculty Member from the Behavioral Sciences Department (BSD); and Ms. Marietta Guanzon, Manager of COSCA's Service-Learning Program. Dr. Marlon Era of the Behavioral Sciences Department (BSD) and Ms. Marietta Guanzon of the Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA) presented their respective papers on service-learning during the 6th Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Service-Learning (APRCSL) held last May 29 to June 2, 2017 at Petra Christian University, Surabaya, Indonesia. DLSU's service-learning initiatives were also presented by Ms. Ma. Lourdes Melegrito - COSCA Director, during the Service-Learning Asia Network (SLAN) meeting held on Day 1 of the conference. Two hundred sixty-nine (269) participants (faculty, partner organizations, and student representatives) from seventy-nine (79) higher education institutions in 19 Asia-Pacific countries who participated in the conference. To learn more about service-learning, send us a message at: Center for Social Concern and Action
2nd Floor, Br. Andrew Gonzalez Hall (NSTP and CE) and Rm. 115, Miguel Bldg. (Service-Learning) De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila Telefax: (632) 524-4611 to 19 Locals 417, 147 & 568 De La Salle University's Community-Based Coastal Resource Management (CBCRM) Project in Lian, Batangas received a "Highly Commended" Distinction during the Global Universities Partnership on Environment and Sustainability (GUPES) Green Gown Awards last September 14, 2016. With the support of the Campus Sustainability Office (CSO), the Office for Strategic Communications (STRATCOM), Br. Alfred Shields FSC Ocean Research Center (SHORE), the Lian Fisherfolk Organization and the Local Government of Lian Batangas, the entry entitled "Local Fishers protecting Nemo and Friends: an effort in Coastal Resource Management of Talim Bay" successfully highlighted the project's multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach in ensuring the integrity of Talim Bay's marine ecosystem. (See actual entry below.)
As recipient of the "Highly Commended" Distinction, the project's sustainability excellence and the lessons learned from it, will be shared to the tertiary education sector worldwide through the network's events, case studies and videos. The GUPES Green Gown Awards are the most prestigious recognition of environmental and sustainability best practice within the further and higher education sectors. The Awards provide the sector with benchmarks for excellence and are respected by Government, funding councils, senior management, academics and students. The GUPES Green Gown Awards are supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Universities Partnership on Environment and Sustainability (GUPES). Center for Social Concern and Action
2nd Floor, Br. Connon Hall, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila Telefax: (632) 523-4143 De La Salle University through the Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA) partnered with the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (National University of Malaysia), the University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila University for the ASEAN Youth Volunteer Program (AYVP) 2016. AYVP is a youth community leadership program that mobilizes volunteers aged 18 to 30 from across the 10 ASEAN member states. AYVP works with communities to develop innovative solutions to the social, cultural, economic and environmental challenges of the region while forging a sense of ASEAN identity. With the theme, “The Development of ASEAN Youth DRR-Leaders through Volunteerism and Community Engagement,” 50 ASEAN volunteers or AYVP DRR-Leaders embarked on a 4 week knowledge-driven, volunteerism journey in Metro Manila from August 1 to 26, 2016.
The 1st week involved Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) training aimed at preparing volunteers for their fieldwork. DLSU experts from various disciplines provided vital input on disaster risk reduction. Dr. Marlon Era from DLSU’s Behavioral Sciences Department provided an overview of the DRR situation in the Philippines. He also discussed salient points of Republic Act 10121 (RA 10121) or the Philippines’ Disaster Risk Reduction Management Law, together with several DRR best practices in the country. Mr. Carl Fernandez, COSCA Program Manager also facilitated a session on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support during disasters. He provided participants with examples of how to care for the socio-emotional needs of both survivors and care givers during disasters. Practical DRRM knowledge and skills were also provided by leading DLSU Civil Society Partners such as the Center for Disaster Preparedness and Buklod Tao Inc. (BT), a Peoples’ Organization based in San Mateo, Rizal. For the next two weeks, the DRR leaders were deployed in local communities implementing disaster risk reduction programs. Twenty-five (25) of these participants were assigned to Buklod Tao’s Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Project along the vulnerable areas of the Banaba River (tributary of the Marikina River) in the Municipality of San Mateo, Rizal. As volunteers of the organization, the DRR leaders participated in various activities including community hazard mapping, ASEAN Awareness Orientation, soil composting, paddle making, development and posting of emergency preparedness materials, among others. To know more about AYVP 2016, check out its webpage at http://www.ayvpukm.com.my/. For more information on COSCA's programs for the environment, you may contact Ms. Terteen Gail Omana at the: Center for Social Concern and Action
2nd Floor, Br. Connon Hall, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila Telefax: (632) 523-4143 carl fernandez“I want to come back and volunteer with my friends. I will recommend this program to my friends”, said Sohui Kim from South Korea. As part of her school's four-week field training and internship program, Kim - a Police Administration major from Sun Moon University in Asan-si, ChungNam, recently served as intern for the Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA) from June 30 to July 27, 2016. Her exposure started with an intensive orientation and “meet and greet” activity together with selected partner organizations. Subsequently, she immersed in various partner communities of COSCA starting with the Parent Support of God’s Grace Child Development Center Inc. (PSGGCDCI) in Payatas, Quezon City, followed by the Concerned Parents for Community Development Inc. (CPCD) in Tondo, Manila. She also spent time serving *Kababayan Samahan ng Bagong Barrio, Caloocan Inc. (KSBB), **Kababaihang Yumayabong, tungo sa Kagalingan (KAYUMANGGI) in Apolonio Samson, Quezon City, ***Samahan Kababaihan ng San Roque Navotas (SAMAKASANA), and the Leveriza barangays in the vicinity of De La Salle University. She participated in different organizational activities, kids' tutorials, interaction with local leaders and host families, site tour and Korean food preparation, among others. The program ended with an evaluation meeting and culminating activity with Kim and the participating organizations. At the closure of the internship, Ms. Ma. Lourdes F. Melegrito (COSCA Director) emphasized the important role of the participating organizations in molding not only Lasallian students but visiting foreign faculty and students as well. Given the university’s thrust on internationalization and the mandate of the ASEAN integration, it is expected that higher education institutions must become strong partners in addressing social problems and issues globally and locally. Kim's internship is part of the Collaborative Opportunities and Network-building towards Volunteerism, Engagement, Research and Glocal Education (CONVERGE) program developed by COSCA in 2015. CONVERGE intends to enhance global linkages and promotes global civic engagement and solidarity building among universities and colleges through the international exchange of students and faculty. The offering is open to all visiting foreign students, faculty members, school practitioners, and school administrators from various higher education institutions and schools worldwide. It provides a cross-cultural opportunity for participants to have a meaningful learning experience in a developing country such as the Philippines. Center for Social Concern and Action 2nd Floor, Br. Connon Hall, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila Telefax: (632) 523-4143 *Countrymen Organization in Bagong Barrio, Caloocan Inc.
**Women Flourishing towards Wellness ***Women's Organization of San Roque, Navotas City Photos courtesy of Enrique Roa and UMAP FB Page. The Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA), Culture and Arts Office (CAO), Campus Sustainability Office (CSO) and the External Relations and Internationalization Office (ERIO) hosted participants of the University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific's (UMAP) Discovery Camp 2016 at De La Salle University from July 31 - August 2, 2016. Students from various universities in Asia and the Pacific took part in the DLSU leg of the camp which focused on Building Environmental and Cultural Awareness towards Climate Resiliency. During the first day at DLSU, Norby Salonga, COSCA Development Specialist, presented the objectives and framework for the conference. He also facilitated and synthesized the workshop focusing on how ASEAN youth can influence others to become more environmentally aware and resilient amidst all natural and human-made hazards in the region. On the succeeding day, participants visited COSCA's Talim Bay Coastal Resource Management (CBCRM) Project in Lian, Batangas to get a firsthand look at how it has successfully helped the community transition from destructive fishing practices to their present culture of marine protection and care. They also got a taste of the community's cuisine during the solidarity lunch they had with officers and members of the Fisherfolk Associaiton. The Talim Bay Coastal Resource Management Program (CBCRM) is part of the Lasallian Environmental Sustainability and Governance Component (L-EnviSage) of COSCA's SDG Localization Project. To know more about how you can be part of this project, you may contact Terteen Gail Omana, L-EnviSage Development Specialist at [email protected]. Center for Social Concern and Action
2nd Floor, Br. Connon Hall, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila Telefax: (632) 523-4143 |