Festival of Learning 2012

By Tracy Cruz

All Together In Dignity (ATD) Fourth World Philippines successfully held its Festival Of Learning (FOL) 2012 on the month of April with the three communities of North Cemetery, Ilalim Ng Tulay, and Hilum/Lozada, friends and volunteers.

Communication was the central theme of the festival and the aim was to “stop, look, and listen” to the voice of a child. The festival consisted of story-telling, diverse arts & craft and talent/media workshops, and fun activities such as games, puppet shows, etc. The culminating outing was at GMA Network, Inc Studio  where the kids and facilitators toured the studios and met artists and news personalities.

Yeng Calaguas, ATD friend who conduct a singing workshop  with David Cator, said, "I learned that two children in our workshop didn’t know how to read and had a hard time reading so they were not able to follow the vocalization exercise. With this handicap, they continued on and didn’t leave the group. Later, David was able to have them join the singing of a Tagalog lyrics of which they know and didn’t need to read the lyrics.”

FOL 2012 reached its goal of communicating the children’s situation to strangers. Friends and volunteers were not only able to “stop, look, and listen” but they also acted on the reality of the lives of the residents of the communities which needs to be addressed immediately. 

Children and adults shared  meaningful time together  and it was such a great experience. Talents and knowledge were generously given to the kids and their radiant smiles and eagerness to learn fuelled the passion to serve. Lasting and meaningful relationships were formed. Lives were touched.  

We learned from each other and  gave without expecting anything in return. That is the beauty of unconditional love. That is ATD – preserving and protecting the dignity of the communities through sustainable programs and educating the volunteers about understanding.

To be of service the least of our fellowmen is an honor and a great privilege. ATD gives us the chance to serve our country and to be one with our people. Let us help each other and build a nation with a pure heart.

To volunteer, contact ATD Fourth World Philippines.
E-mail: philippines@atd-fourthworld.org
Anne-Sylvie Laurent: 9089426819
Guy Malfait: 9474237238
ATD House: 025639312

Join the Festival of Learning 2012

Saturday March 17 (2-5 pm): Orientation Meeting at ATD House in Pandacan

The Festival of Learning in the three communities:

see for details the Face Book event page: Festival of Learning Orientation Meeting or http://www.facebook.com/events/405379949478221/

The central theme of this year is ' communication ' or 'Ang Buhay ko, Tingnan at Pakinggan ninyo'

Guy Malfait

Family Day at UP Diliman, March 4

ATD’s United Family Day
By Tracy Cruz

All Together In Dignity (ATD) Fourth World Philippines held its Family Day with the communities of North Cemetery, Ilalim ng Tulay, Hilum, and Lozada, One Voice Communication Forum delegates, volunteers and friends last March 4, 2012 at the Sunken Garden, University of the Phi

lippines, Diliman in Quezon City.
200 participants interacted and basked in the rays of the Sunday sun shaded by century old Acacia trees. Traditional Filipino games spiced up the day which delighted both children and adults. A simple merienda lovingly prepared by volunteers and friends was distributed in an organized manner by community members. The crowd also enjoyed outdoor activities such as kite flying, volleyball, and badminton.
Laughter echoed throughout the park and it was a pleasure to feel the happiness of the group. Strangers openly shared personal stories in an intimate setting of communal mats. Family members were candidly introduced and the children gamely played with each other. Environment conscious participants cleaned up afterwards and tediously disposed the trash in its proper place.

The honesty and simplicity of the event reflected ATD’s ideal of ‘involvement with disadvantaged communities’. Equality and magnanimity were strongly felt by everyone. The unity of the team was palpable. We were one family.
ATD Family Day was a reminder that the best things in life are indeed free. What matters the most is the quality of the relationships that we build, regardless of class, gender, age

and race. It was a speci

al day shared by all without bias and social barriers, like the way it should be in the outside world. May the positive spirit of the event last in our hearts and extend in our everyday lives!

Sponsors for One Voice

Dear ATD Friends,

On March 1 – 5, 2012, ATD Fourth World Philippines is proud to host ONE VOICE, the ATD Asian Communication Forum. It will be conducted in the Cenacle Retreat House and UP Alumni Hostel, both located in Quezon City. A day prior to the forum, February 29, we will also have a formal launch of the Walking Exhibit: Larawan ng Pag-Asa in a venue at UP Diliman.

One Voice aims to enrich the participants not only with new communication tools but to write and tell the ATD story and message to their respective countries, communities, and the public. The Forum will be participated by 20-25 full time volunteers, friends, and community members (ATD families) in Asia. It will entail expenses particularly in the venues and the participants’ meals.

We are looking for sponsors in the following:
1. Food & Beverage Sponsors:
a. Cocktails for the Opening of the Walking Exhibit on February 29, 2012, 3 p.m.
b. Picnic/Merienda Get- Together with ATD Friends, Families and the Forum participants on March 4, 2012 at UP Diliman’s Sunken Garden

2. Monetary Contribution: The budget is P8,000/participant for the entire 4.5 days event. There will be five adults joining from the ATD communities. If you wish to sponsor a community member, you can donate any amount. Every contribution will help defray the total cost.
You can deposit your contribution to this Philippine National Bank (PNB) account:
ATD Fourth World Philippines
Account #: 106784200017
PNB Pandacan branch.
For international, add: PNBMPHMM

Call us at telephone number, 563.9312 or email philippines@atd-fourthworld.org if you have difficulty in depositing in the said account. You may refer also your friends who own restaurants or catering businesses and organizations who are interested in being sponsors for One Voice.

Thank you and looking forward to your support in One Voice!

Sincerely,

ATD Fourth World Philippines Team

A First in Understanding Our People

By Tracy Cruz

Inspired by Channel News Asia’s “Asian of the Year” feature on Robert Alejandro, I attended All Together in Dignity (ATD) Third World Philippines’ Street Library project last January 21, 2012 at the streets of Pandacan, Manila and this experience awakened me to a lot of hopeful realities.

It was my first time to navigate the vibrant alleys of Pandacan and it was a pleasure to meet the community who lives under the bridge, especially the kids. I never really understood the situation of the street children and being inside their neighborhood and connecting with the families gave me a different perspective of the lives that they live.

I will never forget the shame that I felt when a foreign volunteer explained to me the situation of the community who reside under the bridge. He understood, I only knew. He educated me about the people of my own country. How could this be?

Sure, I saw them everyday when they knocked on the doors of the car or when they approached me when I was walking but I never really considered what they are going through. It was so easy to judge or be rude and turn them away but when I saw the condition of their homes and the environment that they thrive in, I understood that they have no choice.

This is where ATD comes in. I admire the organization’s advocacy of giving equal chances to the poorest of the poor. What they give are not hand-outs, they have sustainable programs such as the Street library which promotes education. This is another distinct trait that I love about ATD. Instead of soliciting donations to give to the underprivileged, what they ask from volunteers are their talents.

To be able to share your talents to the needy is a great privilege. It does not cost anything except time and effort. When you feel the enthusiasm of the kids to learn and their hunger for knowledge, you realize that the only difference between the rich and the poor is the chances that we are given.

Dear ATD Friends,

On March 1 -5, 2012, ATD Fourth World Philippines is proud to be hosting the first Asian Communication Forum, One Voice.

The Forum aims to help and support the communication campaign of the different ATD Asian countries. It will be participated by 20 - 25 delegates (full-time volunteers, friends and ATD community members) around Asia and some other regions. The venues are Cenacle Retreat House and UP Alumni Hostel, both located in Quezon City.

During the four and half-days event, we need volunteers to help in conducting the forum. We have formed committees to support the core team.

If you are interested in being part of the committees, kindly indicate below at the reply form your interest.

You do not have to be present every day; we can arrange a convenient schedule for you.

Your support is highly appreciated in making One Voice a success!

Sincerely,

One Voice Core Team

Robert Alejandro, Guy Malfait, Sana Sta. Ana, Gege Sugue & Tisha Timbang

REPLY FORM

Email to philippines@atd-fourthworld.org

Name:

Contact Numbers:

Email Address:

I am interested in joining the following committees:

¨ Fundraising Committee: Soliciting sponsors and helping raise funds for the forum.

¨ Logistics Committee: Setting up the venues (equipment & decorations) and preparing materials.

¨ Food Committee: Coordinating with restaurants/caterers regarding the meals of the participants.

¨ Transportation Committee: Organizing the transport needs of participants (renting or offering vehicles)

¨ Socials Committee: Helping in the welcoming & closing parties, activities (outside the forum) and proposed tours.

Robert Alejandro, Asian of the Year

We are very proud and happy that Robert Alejandro, a long time ATD friend, was chosen by Channel News Asia as one of the Asians of the Year.

Watch how Robert has inspired and help others!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BCPsfI9OS8w