Posts Tagged ‘WE International’

Summer Training for WE College Sponsored Students by ExcelAsia

Posted By abee on 05.04.2010 • (0) 

ExcelAsia kindly provided our student sponsorship program college students the opportunity to participate in its 10-day extensive training geared towards helping job-seekers gain the confidence and skills needed to find employment.  Training was conducted by Jamie Wilson, a well-known and well-respected person in the Philippine music and theatre industries. The training was initially geared towards helping jobseekers gain employment but is also designed the training to be as “life-skills-oriented” as it was employment-centered: his approach was to inspire each participant to be a support resource for their fellow trainees.

The training included modules on how to handle job-interviews -- preparing the job-seeker with exercises on how to answer commonly-asked questions during interviews, and simulating different kinds of interviews; including those that involve 'difficult' interviewers: and how to best handle them; how best to answer difficult questions. Also included were debates and critical-thinking exercises as well as modules on how to effectively communicate.

Joi, the Coordinator for College Student Sponsorship, noticed that “when we first entered the training room, the students were apprehensive and nervous, especially after the first activity where they had to introduce themselves is English. They were shy and nervous. Two of the students actually cried because they were so nervous and scared, but after the first activity they were okay. It really helped that Kuya Jaime shared with them, and encouraged the students. At the end of the training, the change in the girls who had cried on their first day was unbelievably positive – they were so much more confident, and they had even developed the confidence to argue in English!”

WE would like to deeply thank Rita Ugarte, Luz Gonzales, Jamie Wilson and the whole ExcelAsia Team; as well as Chukri Prieto of RACKS, Maria Aguila, Annie Lim, Gisela Tiongson-Velasco of Jollibee Foundation, Diana Tan of Deli France, and Martin Garcia for sponsoring the meals for the students throughout the training. This event has had a tremendously positive impact on our students!

Tagged As: ExcelAsia, Nonprofit, Philippines, Poverty, Smokey Mountain, Sponsored Students, WE International, WE International Philippines, Youth

Posted In: News

Smokey Mountain Scholars Fly to Boracay

Posted By abee on 01.25.2010 • (0) 

WE saw this experience as an opportunity for the students to experience activities that they have never before dreamed would be possible. As they took time out to reflect on their thoughts and feelings about their experiences on this trip, the students expressed joy and gratitude for this opportunity, and awe at the beauty of nature and the goodness of God. WE expresses many thanks to our kind friends and partners that helped to make this team-building adventure a reality. This trip helped build the students self esteem, and allowed them to realize that with consistent hard work, great things can indeed happen. They have since returned to the Smokey Mountain community and have served to encourage their other fellow students to continue to work hard as well. Our students are beginning to have the hope to dream.

It was the first time for the students to fly in a plane, and their initial anxiety about flying was quickly replaced by excitement. On arrival in Boracay, the students were treated to new swimwear, beach games, a sunset sail on a paraw, paddle-surfing lessons and meals sponsored by supportive local business owners. On White Beach, the students met with Karen Cabrera and some members of Boracay’s Frisbee team, the Boracay Dragons, who volunteered to host a frisbee clinic for the students. Fire Dancers also entertained the students at dusk and they were in awe of the wealth of activities available to them on the island, including live music. Fireworks topped off the night which represented an unexpected exclamation to our weekend filled with ‘firsts’!

WE saw this experience as an opportunity for the students to experience activities that they have never had before dreamed would be possible. As they took time out to reflect on their thoughts and feelings about their experiences on this trip, the students expressed joy and gratitude for this opportunity, and awe at the beauty of nature and the blessings that life has to offer. WE expresses many thanks to our kind friends and partners that helped to make this team-building adventure a reality. This trip helped build the students self esteem, and allowed them to realize that with consistent hard work, great things can indeed happen. They have since returned to the Smokey Mountain community and have served to encourage their other fellow students to continue to work hard as well. Our students self-confidence is growing right before our very eyes and it is a pleasure to see them dare to dream.

Tagged As: Boracay, Nami, Nothing But Water, Poverty, SEAAIR, Smokey Mountain, TOMS, WE International, WE International Philippines

Posted In: News

WE International Philippines Relief Operations

Posted By abee on 10.15.2009 • (0) 

Two major typhoons hit the Philippines within the last three (3) weeks. The first one, Ketsana (Ondoy), dumped three (3) times more rain in Metro Manila than Hurricane Katrina in just six (6) hours causing devastating and fatal floods. And Parma (Pepeng), occurring just days after Ketsana, caused deadly landslides in the northern part of the country swallowing up to 80% of Pangasinan, the 3^rd largest rice-producing province in the country, rendering major thoroughfares impassable and leaving areas like Baguio and Benguet – where Igorot tribes still reside in mountains – completely cut-off without power, fuel and unable to receive relief goods, medicines and assistance.

In response to the sudden and great need that resulted from the damage and destruction caused by Ketsana and Parma, members of our team coordinated with and participated in relief operations throughout the metropolis.  Thanks to the generosity of our friends from all over the world, we were able to buy much needed water and food to donate.  The team also organized a unique and environmentally conscious relief operation wherein relief goods were packed in reusable blankets, pillow-cases, towels and bed sheets. The relief bags were distributed to Marikina, Paranaque, Pasig, San Juan, and, with the help of LBC in Rizal – even as some of these areas remained flooded.

Despite the damage, grief and sorrow typhoons Ketsana and Parma caused, they also brought out such awe-inspiring selflessness and generosity in everyone – friends, family and strangers from within the Philippines and abroad.  Amongst the most inspiring, WE International Philippines’ sponsored students and out-of-school youth from Smokey Mountain voiced out their desire to help and joined the WE team in packing and distributing relief bags to the victims of the typhoons as well.

* On Friday, 16 October, South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR), will be doing a missionary flight with the WE International Philippines Team at 6am to Baguio to bring medicines and relief goods: flashlights/batteries, candles/matches, soap, blankets, clothes/underwear, rice, cooking/eating utensils, water purification tablets.  WE will be hiking up to parts of Baguio and Benguet to bring relief and first aid to the people who have been and remain unreachable.

Tagged As: Baguio, Ketsana, Manila, Ondoy, Parma, Pepeng, Relief, Smokey Mountain, WE International, WE International Philippines

Posted In: News

Raising Hope: Music, Art, and Community

Posted By abee on 10.08.2009 • (0) 

COST: Only $10 at the door. Please donate more if you would like to and if you can....

FYI - This is what a little over $10 can do according to dear friend and Director of Development for WE INTL. PHILIPPINES, Geni Psinakis :
A little over $10 = one LARGE relief bag with:

4 kilos rice 
10 assorted canned goods 
8 bottled water (500mL each) 
8 packs of noodles 
4 cans milk (317m

L per can) 
1 bar of soap 
4 packs of crackers 

A relief bag of this size will last one family of 4-5 members for 2 days! Think of what $20 or more can do!

For those who cannot make it but would like to donate, please go to:

http://www.weinternational.org.ph/typhoon-ondoy/

Also, the seriousness of Climate Change will be addressed. Most know what it is, but many still do not realize its severity...especially in developing countries wherein there is a lack of understanding due to the lack of educational support for the poor and language gaps of understanding. This lack of awareness needs to change today. Help make green education and proper sustainable urban planning and design development a reality in developing countries to enable adapting to the climate changes that the earth has already begun to experience.

****************************************************

WHO: Every one who wants to know how they can help the typhoon victims and support a global cause...

WHERE: Temple Nightclub, 540 Howard St. @ 2nd st., San Francisco, CA (www.templesf.com)

WHY:
To be socially responsible and conscious and to come as one, unite and give unselfishly

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 14th from 7 pm-1 am

So far these are the DJ's who are donating their time and talent:

PAUL HEMMING (TMG)
http://www.templesf.com/residents

DJ M3 (Green gorilla Lounge)
http://www.greengorillalounge.com/artists.php

DJ MFR (Transport Recordings)
http://www.myspace.com/djmfr

JULIUS PAPP (NeoDisco Music)
http://www.juliuspapp.com/

BRIAN SALAZAR (Temple, Meow, End Up, Lifesf)
http://www.myspace.com/djbriansalazar

FRANKY BOISSY
http://www.myspace.com/frankyboissy

ROUZBEH
http://www.back2basics-sf.com/index.swf

MEI-LWUN
http://www.mei-lwun.com/

PLAYDOUGHBOY (Freaks Culture Records, Mizumo Music)
http://www.myspace.com/playdoughboymusic

MICHAEL ANTHONY (Supperclub SF)
www.supperclub.com

DJ D-SHARP
www.therealdjdsharp.com

JERRY ROSS......and more!

Guest speakers on Climate Change and Global Warming

Guest speaker for WE International Philippines Efforts - Dave Lippiat, Founder and Director of WE International

JOIN IN ON THIS SPECIAL EVENING OF MUSIC, ART & COMMUNITY AND MAKE A LIFE-CHANGING DIFFERENCE WHILE YOU'RE AT IT!!

Hosts: Isabel Lozano, Rissa Artadi, Michelle Mari, Chris Pamintuan, Kris Gonzalez, Rachel Blanco, Nestle Lapena, Kollol, Richard Habib, Sarah Atkinson, Paul Hemming and Charleston Pierce :)

Tagged As: Flood Victims, Ondoy, Raising Hope, Typhoon, WE International, WE International Philippines

Posted In: Fundraiser, News