Through the lens of a kaleidoscope
An Australian volunteer in Manila
by Maggie Lee
“I came to the Philippines knowing the country well in theory only… so, I stayed eight months in Manila watching theory come to life”
I came to Manila, and specifically to TAO-Pilipinas and the Institutional Network for Social Action (INSA), to learn about the community development process and to witness how these two incredible organizations worked with informal settlement communities to help them improve their quality of life.
I am a masteral student, with a focus on environmental and social issues in cities in developing countries. I came to the Philippines knowing the country well in theory only, having chosen to focus on the Philippines and its housing policies as part of my masteral studies. So, I stayed eight months in Manila watching theory come to life. Unlike many other international volunteer placements which are organized through an agency, my placement was self organized, partly through an association with my home university Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) and Miriam College. The advantage of taking this path was that I was able to create my own experience, by approaching organizations that interested me, and who would give me the experience and knowledge that I was seeking.
Shaping my own volunteer experience had its advantages – I didn’t have a fixed role or duties, so in a sense, I was free to do what I pleased. And its disadvantages – as an international volunteer with a limited command of Filipino, there was only so much I could do, and had to continually rely on using my initiative to look for and create work. During my time I visited several different communities in Metro Manila, attended community consultation meetings, built relationships with the community members, performed research and helped my organizations where I could. This ad hoc approach has blessed me with a kaleidoscope of experiences.
My reflection, I feel is best seen through the lenses I wore throughout my Philippine experience: Intern, Researcher and Observer-Learner.
