|
|
|
About Volunteer
for the Visayans |
|
| |
|
Volunteer
for the Visayans is a non-profit, established
Non-Government Organization, CN200427692, that focuses on
community development and international education. We are
proud of our unique Asian culture and we invite the rest
of the world to experience life from a Filipino’s perspective
and experience living in a country burdened by economic hardships,
yet still optimistic about the country’s existence!
Our international volunteers immerse themselves in a culture
foreign to their own, while educating the local community
about the western world.
In addition to
placing foreign volunteers in community projects, Volunteer
for the Visayans is also dedicated to raising funds for local
projects. Currently, we are focused on working with the City
Social Welfare Office and helping to support a new facility
under construction which will be used to house the street
children. We collect donations and basic necessities such
as used clothing, to distribute to these children. Volunteer
for the Visayans collects educational resources to distribute
to rural schools where basic books and school supplies are
not available. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
People Behind Volunteer For The Visayans |
|
| |
|
|
|
Director
Aldous B. Moro is a graduate of Sacred Heart Seminary in Palo, Leyte with a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. After college, he left the seminary and enrolled in a computer school where his career as a computer instructor started. He taught computer courses in different schools and colleges in the region including one of the country's leading computer universities and prestigious international business schools. His outstanding track record in the academe earned him various awards and recognitions in teaching excellence. A humanitarian in his own right, Aldous has been involved in different volunteer works sponsored by the Archdiocese of Palo. During his final year in the seminary, he was sent to a year-long apostulate work in the Archbishop Residence where he worked as secretary to the Bishop. Aldous is a hardworking, creative and positive person. He is committed and dedicated in achieving the organization's goals by developing the best programs that would meet the highest standard of community welfare. He is prolific in ideas on how to help people in their best interests.
|
|
| |
|
|
Coordinator
Helena Claire F. Arong, fondly called as Wimwim, is a graduate of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas with a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences major in Economics, and earned her Masters in Business Administration at the International Academy for Economics and Management. During her final year in college she volunteered as a research and training assistant for an NGO and after graduation served as the Research and Training Specialist for Micro-Enterprise Development while working as their Administrative and Finance Officer for the same NGO. Wimwim is the director of the community center at Bliss. She overseas all programs and offerings at the center. Wimwim has recently initiated a new project working with the youth at the garbage dump site north of Tacloban.
|
|
| |
|
|
Coordinator
Leoma Godinez, a Registered Social Worker, is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Social Work at Leyte Normal University. During her Third year in College, she practiced Casework and Group Work in handling clients in DSWD Home for Girls where she was assigned. During her Fourth year, they had their Community Immersion and she was assigned in Pastrana, Leyte under the supervision of the Municipal Social Welfare Officer wherein she practiced Community Organizing. She organized a Children's Organization in the community and she conducted community surveys, orientation for the whole community about a certain legislation and also Parent Effectiveness Seminar. Towards the end of her practicum, she helped the community where she was assigned, in coming up with a Community Development Plan, addressing the problems of the said community. Prior in working with Volunteer for the Visayans, she worked as an enumerator at Department of Social Welfare and Development.
|
|
| |
|
Founder and Benefactor
Jason Coppage is the CTO of GoAbroad.com and one of the directors of the charitable GoAbroad Foundation. Jason grew up in Denver, Colorado in the US where he worked for the Travel Channel and produced local travel programming. He is one of the original founders of GoAbroad.com, the largest alternative travel directory on the internet. He currently resides in Thailand and regularly visits the Visayans. He has volunteered in Leyte over the years including work with local schools and the street children projects. The GoAbroad Foundation was created specifically to support grass roots community projects like the Volunteer for the Visayans.
|
 |
| |
|
Founder and Benefactor
Troy Peden is the Editor of GoAbroad.com and one of the directors of the charitable GoAbroad Foundation. Troy is one of the original founders of GoAbroad.com, the largest alternative travel directory on the internet. He currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida where he is the director of study abroad at Jacksonville University. Troy helped found this project bringing volunteers and relief to this community for the first time in 1992. Troy has worked with all facets of the projects since the organization's original inception over a decade ago. Troy continues to support the ongoing work of Volunteer for the Visayans through the GoAbroad Foundation.
|
 |
| |
|
US Volunteer Coordinator
Meredith Barnes grew up in Connecticut and is a graduate of Bucknell University in Pennsylvania
with a BA in Economics. Her passion for travel started at Bucknell where she spent several
terms abroad. Her study abroad experience includes a semester in Sevilla, Spain, a semester
at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia and an Economics program in Barbados.
After a trip to Nicaragua in January of 2000 with the Bucknell Brigade, a student group that
does community service projects in Nueva Vida, Nicaragua, she developed an interest in volunteer
work and community service in developing nations. She returned again to Nicaragua as a student
leader in January 2002. After graduation, Meredith worked for VolunteerAbroad.com, the leading
online directory for volunteer programs overseas. From that experience, she learned about the
most effective volunteer programs in developing countries which she was able to apply to the
programs in the Philippines. Having lived in the Philippines for six months she has volunteered
in various local community organizations. Meredith helped develop Volunteer for the Visayans
to reach out to more international volunteers and educate them about Filipino culture, while
making a difference in the community.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
