Australian volunteers to lend their skills to the Philippines
A secondary school teacher, chartered accountant and business management specialist are among nine passionate young Australians who will begin working with local organisations this month through the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) Program.
The AYAD Program is the youth stream of the Australian Volunteers for International Development program, an initiative of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) that deploys skilled volunteers to live and work in developing countries as part of the Australian Government’s overseas aid program.
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell said, “The Australian Government’s development cooperation program aims to help improve lives of Filipinos and we work closely with the Philippine Government to deliver aid where it is most needed and most effective. Australian volunteers contribute to this goal through the sharing of skills and the building of local capacity of our partner Filipino organisations and communities.”
“Volunteering overseas is one way that Australians can make a positive contribution to poverty reduction, sustainable development and cross cultural understanding. They develop a strong understanding of local and cultural issues and build effective professional and personal relationships that help them to share skills and knowledge.”
For the past 12 years, over 200 Australian volunteers have worked with Filipino organisations in the areas of: sustainable agriculture; community development and sustainable livelihoods; education; youth development; persons with disabilities; environmental sustainability; governance; and human trafficking.
Newly arrived Australian volunteer, Marie-Louise Batenburg, is a secondary school teacher who has started work as a Community Education Project Officer based with the Department of Education (DepED) in Tiagon, Camarines Sur. Marie-Louise will be involved in monitoring and evaluating a pilot program to support people of all ages to experience learning outside the formal education system.
Newly arrived Australian Youth Ambassador for Development (AYAD) volunteer, Marie-Louise Batenburg will be involved in monitoring and evaluating a pilot program to support people of all ages to experience learning outside the formal education system.
“The program has the potential to reach people who previously would not have been able to access any form of education. I hope to support the program to be successful and sustainable for the Camarines Sur Region,” Marie-Louise says.
“Though I have only been in living in the Philippines for a short time I have been welcomed with open hearts and homes. The kindness of the Filipinos has made my transition here from Australia so much easier.”
The other volunteers are Tania Groba (Community Education Officer, DepED Calabanga); Kerry Lomas (Education Program Assistant, Gawad Kalinga); Matthew Jones (Financial Support Officer, Unlad Kabayan Migrant Services Foundation, Inc.); Caroline Duyvestyn (Program Support Officer, Unlad Kabayan Migrant Services Foundation, Inc.); Adam Smith (Product Development and Marketing Officer, Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Foundation); Claire Holland (Capacity Development Officer, Panaghugpong sa Gagmayng Bayanihang Grupo sa Oriental); Alexandra Pinti (Business Development Services Officer, Simbag sa Pag-Asenso, Incorporated); Karen Taranto (Policy Development Officer, Local Government Unit of Gubat).
There are currently 23 Australian Volunteers supported by Austraining International in the Philippines, including 16 Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development. AusAID is working in partnership with Austraining, as well as Australian Red Cross and Australian Volunteers International to deliver the Australian Volunteers program.
For more information about Australian Volunteers for International Development, visit the AusAID website.
Press release and photo from Australian Embassy Manila
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