US, PH Hold Workshop on Volunteerism for Nation-Building

The United States Peace Corps and the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) recently organized a four-day workshop designed to strengthen the Philippine Volunteer Service Program and help foster a culture of volunteerism in the Philippines.

Fifty-two representatives from the government, civil society, and private institutions across the country participated.

The workshop, co-facilitated by experts from the U.S. Peace Corps and PNVSCA, trained participants in assessing the current state of the Philippine volunteerism landscape and developing strategies to boost their volunteer activities, maximize resources through collaborations, and institutionalize volunteerism efforts. 

Volunteer activities, when formalized, mainstreamed, and given institutional support, are seen to have the capacity to increase access to public services, enhance development activities, and reach more vulnerable populations.

“This initiative is one of the many collaborations with the United States and Philippine key stakeholders, including government agencies, academic institutions, and civil society organizations, on volunteerism.  Now, we aim for a more unified and institutionalized approach that will mobilize volunteers towards nation-building,” PNVSCA Executive Director Donald James Gawe said.

During the workshop, participants learned about the best practices and frameworks from the United States’ flagship volunteerism programs: the U.S. Peace Corps, which sends American volunteers abroad, and AmeriCorps, which engages volunteers in service within the United States. 

U.S. Peace Corps Host Country Volunteerism Program Specialist Elizabeth Jung provided examples of volunteerism, national service, and service learning from the United States, which could serve as models to foster the culture of volunteerism in the Philippines.

“We hope that the energy and collaborative spirit we were privileged to witness continues as participants return home,” Ms. Jung commented.

The Philippine Volunteer Service Program is a national initiative led by the PNVSCA that promotes volunteerism as a development strategy for nation-building through the multi-sectoral collaboration of government, non-government organizations, educational institutions, and civil society. 

Stakeholders will implement the strategies developed during the workshop in their respective sectors, with PNVSCA harmonizing these efforts to institutionalize the Philippine Volunteer Service Program.