Passion to serve needed in community dev’t work

After completing a degree in computer science, Jenny Tan could have worked in an information technology company where the pay and career growth are promising.

But Tan went a different way. She works for a foundation as program coordinator.

“After graduation, I was discerning where my heart is, where I will be happy. I know community development is where I belong. I decided to apply as a program assistant at Dilaab Foundation,” Tan said in Cebuano.

Dilaab Foundation is a volunteer-driven, Church-based movement for a transformed Filipino nation through heroic Christian citizenship.

As one of the guests of Pagtuki radio program of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) last March 31, Tan cited her passion in community building why she has been involved in social development for the past three years.

Pagtuki is aired every Saturday at dyLA AM from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

“My friends asked me why I am still at Dilaab Foundation. It is because I feel the sense of belongingness in a way that I belong to a community I help. Each time I witness the impact of our projects, I feel a sense of fulfillment. This is the thing I would like to do for the rest of my life,” she said.

Mileesa Lumanog, recruitment in-charge of human resource team of RAFI, said the interest and passion to serve are very important factors in working in community development.

Aside from skills and competencies, she said they would also consider the character of an applicant.

“If one has skills, but has no commitment, he or she may not be able to last in community work,” she said.

Lumanog added that social development is also a good venue for personal and professional growth because of in-depth exposure in community work.