1st Returned Volunteers Conference

01/02/2010 11:54:00

This February, 60 young people from all over the Philippines, will be converging in Cebu for the 1st Returned Volunteers Conference. These participants have previously given their time and skills to be volunteers for peace and development through projects based in Mindanao.

Over the three days, there will be a learning exchange between partners and returned volunteers about youth leadership and participation and peacebuilding. The participants will also be designing a strategy for continuing engagement of returned volunteers.

The conference organized by Kapamagogopa Inc and Global Xchange through Voluntary Services Overseas(VSO) Bahaginan with the support of the Canadian International Development Agency and CUSO-VSO (Canada) is dubbed as “Ang Pagtatagpo” and will  be held in Mactan Island, Cebu on February 19 to 21, 2010.

The three day event will provide returned volunteers with a platform for continuing engagement in such areas as recruitment and fundraising and to assist Kapamagogopa and VSO Bahaginan in the promotion of volunteering for development.

On the last day, there will be a community action day to boost the spirit of volunteerism already present among returned volunteers together with a local environmental campaign in Olango Island, home of the largest concentration of migratory birds from Siberia, Northern China and Japan. The participants will be planting mangrove trees and conducting a cleanup of some of the beaches. The opportunity will also serve as a reunion gathering for Kapamagogopa and Global Xchange returned volunteers for the first time.