Irish youth volunteers visited Cebu recently and stayed with the Badjao community in sitio Puntod, barangay Alaska-Mambaling, Cebu City.
During their three-week immersion program with the Badjaos, the 13 Irish youth, accompanied by three adult leaders from the group SERVE, a community service organization based in Ireland, assisted in the fabrication of inter-locking compressed earth blocks for the housing walls and in holding classes for preschoolers and the feeding program.
They also shared their country’s culture through sports and other interactive activities.
“I find the first day in the Badjao community the highlight of our entire five-week stay in the Philippines. The children warmly welcomed us with smiles. The short program that was organized in the school for us that day was incredible,” said a woman Irish volunteer.
“We couldn’t imagine anything more wonderful, and we are so grateful. The heartfelt welcome given to us during our immersion program last August will be always treasured in our hearts,” she added.
SERVE focuses on programs and projects that help marginalized communities in developing countries, including the Badjao community, which is under the care of the Bajau Integrated Area Development Project (BIAD-P) of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.
BIAD-P is currently building 33 more houses to provide the poor Badjao families better settlements. The project is in collaboration with the Cebu City government, Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the University of San Carlos.