Service Learning Program 2014 Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities-Asia Pacific. Xavier University- Ateneo de Cagayan

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1 1 P a g e Jesuit Education in the Frontiers of Greater Societal Engagement Introduction Inspired by the 40 th Year Anniversary of Fr Pedro Arrupe s Historic Address on Jesuit Education apostolate entitled Man for Others, AJCU-AP Service Learning Program 2014 is themed as, Jesuit Education in the Frontiers of Greater Societal Engagement. The following are the objectives of the Program: (1) Provide opportunity for interaction to Service Learning Communities to facilitate understanding of present social realities particularly in Mindanao. (2) Facilitate deepening and reflection sessions on Jesuit Ideals which will strengthen participants awareness and commitment to greater societal engagement (3) Engage participants to actual Service Learning projects in communities to encourage initiatives and participation for sustainable community development The Ultimate aim of Jesuit Education amplified by Fr General Peter Hans Kolvenbach, SJ is to facilitate the full growth of persons which leads to action, action that is grounded on the Values of Jesus Christ and the inspiration of Ignatius. Fr Pedro Arrupe, SJ supports this by emphasizing that the goal of Jesuit formation is to form men and women for others, individuals committed to genuine service especially to the least and marginalized. The Association of Jesuit Schools in Asia Pacific has participated in Service Learning Program since 2008 when it was first organized by Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City. This year, we bring together students from various Jesuit Universities to concretely appropriate their expertise collaboratively through Service Learning engagements in Xavier University. Service Learning in XU Xavier University Collaborative Service Learning Program (XU-CSLP) is a curriculum-based servicelearning experience for students in various academic disciplines. The term Collaborative refers to the convergence of various academic disciplines in providing concrete interventions to communities Its underlying principle is entwined with the Characteristics of Jesuit Education that deem educational formation of individuals as a means of preparation for them to become apostolic instruments in service of the church as it serves the human communities. As part of its dynamics, the program will take the participants to communities and institutions partnered by the university to enter in its pursuit of facilitating dialogue education a way of education that brings theoretical premise into proactive social relevance. CSLP is the synthesis of academic theories and community service. The theories learned in the university are practiced in a real life setting and utilized as concrete responses to community needs. The course-based CSLP considers both the learning and the service. The program also considers the 5-Thematic areas of the XU Research and Social Outreach (XU-RSO) Peace, Good Governance, Food Security, Environment, and Health. In the process, the students learn more and deeply.

2 Program Framework Experience Reflection Action Service Learning Program 2014 shall integrate the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm. IPP helps us understand and guides our responses to critical educational issues/concerns today. It is considered a practical tool in allowing students to think imaginatively and appreciate more deeply the lessons learned in the classroom by applying it to real life situations. Finally, the IPP is considered by Jesuits as their way of proceeding wherein Jesuit Institutions may aid students to genuinely grow as persons of competence, conscience, commitment and compassion. IPP facilitates the interplay of Experience-Reflection-Action but gives great importance to Reflection as a significant tool for learning that is not limited to knowledge transfer but encourages analysis, understanding and application to real life setting. AJCU-AP Service Learning follows the same framework as it patterns the series of activities to the IPP Framework. The context of AJCU-AP SLP 2014 is anchored on the Characteristic of Jesuit Education that encourages Jesuit Institutions to provide opportunities for students to engage in society and relate these experiences to the challenge of working for social development. Furthermore, Jesuits encourages students and workers to go to the frontiers by involving oneself in doing more for the least and marginalized. It is only in this manner that we can live up to the challenges posed by Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ of what it is to be a man or woman for others today. 2 P a g e

3 Experience Participants will go through a 3-day Immersion in a family beneficiary at Xavier Ecoville where they shall be exposed to the community and get to know its members. This is important in grounding participants to the reality of the community prior their actual community engagement through the University s Service Learning Program Participants, both students and faculty, will begin their Immersion by Understanding first the Importance of Social Integration for them to be prepared on the things they should be mindful of prior the Area Exposure. After their area exposure, a processing/reflection session will be facilitated to help ground their experience and prepare them to their actual SLP work. Foreign participants will be paired with a Filipino participant to aid them in the interaction with the family members. The Immersion seeks to provide among participants experiential learning/ understanding of social realities and in the process strengthen their critical thinking and social analysis which is not only a requisite as they engage in actual SLP work but an important quality of a socially engaged individual. Reflection We do not learn by doing, we learn by thinking about what we do. Reflection is a crucial part of community service, which allows individuals to look back on, think critically about, and learn from their service experience. Reflection/Processing Sessions is integrated to help participants look deeply into the essence and learning of their experiences. Participants shall be oriented on the significance of reflection and journal writing at the start of AJCU-AP SLP These sessions will provide a common understanding among participants and lead them to better appreciate their service experience. Throughout their SLP they will be encourage to keep a journal to record significant reflection points and critical observations while journeying in AJCU-AP SLP 2014 Action AJCU-AP SLP will involve participants to a 2-week intensive Collaborative Service Learning engagement of identified Departments in Xavier University. The following SL Projects are clustered according to the University s Thematic Areas of Engagement namely; Environment, Peace, Food Security, Good Governance and Health. 3 P a g e

4 CSLP For Students Student Participants will be assigned to SL Projects in Xavier Ecoville. These projects are clustered according to the 5 University Impact Areas. The following are the description of the Impact Areas: IMPACT AREA Food Security Environment Health Good Governance Peace XAVIER ECOVILLE AGENDA Provide Livelihood and other income generating programs to improve economic productivity of family beneficiaries Foster an environment-friendly community that will practice solid waste management and other mitigation activities to help advance environmental preservation Raise consciousness of family beneficiaries on the importance of water and sanitation practices Improve the leadership and administrative skills of community leaders for them to be effective in their responsibility to the community Facilitate deepening of Values Orientation among community members They will take part in these SL Projects by participating in the Classroom Discussions, Area Work and Output Presentation for them to take part in actual community work to Xavier Ecoville: a. Classroom Discussion Participants will take part in the regular classroom discussion usually done twice (2) a week with the Professors and SLP Faculty Coordinators in charge to oversee the SLP researches and projects of students. Classroom Discussions are facilitated to level-off expectations and respond to critical concerns of students engaging in SLP. It is also in these sessions where theories are discussed to better understand concepts and methods of the researches/projects b. Area Work Participants will take part in the area work and exposure of their assigned SL Project usually done 3-4 times a week. They will visit the community to conduct interviews, seminars/ trainings and other activities required in their research or project. Area work is the most important part of SLP where theories discussed in the classroom are applied to actual community work 4 P a g e

5 c. Output Presentation Participants will take part in a summit where SLP researches and projects will be presented to the faculty and community partners. The presentation is facilitated at the end of their research or project for assessment and evaluation on its relevance to the community These processes shall make up the actual SLP work of student participants. It is hoped that in this process they will be able to put into practice their expertise while at the same time learn from the experiences of others through conversations and interactions. The process hopes to emphasize the significance of collaboration and convergence particularly in working for sustainable social development. CSLP For Faculty Faculty Participants SLP engagements will be divided into three Conferences namely; (1) Presentation of SLP Best Practices and SL Success Stories (2) Assessment of current AJCU-AP Directions and Framework (3) AJCU-AP SLP Action Planning. The following Conferences will be distributed throughout the CSLP Implementation and Exposure a. Presentation of SLP Best Practices and SL Success Stories Participants will be presenting the best practices and success stories of their University s Service Learning initiatives. This conference hopes to level-off the various efforts of Jesuit Institutions in forwarding SL Researched and Projects as a tool for student social formation and community development. (In the absence of an Institutionalized Service Learning Program in the University, they may present their extension service efforts of the University) b. Assessment of current AJCU-AP Directions and Framework This section of the AJCU-AP SLP 2014 shall facilitate assessment and evaluation of AJCU-AP Service Learning Directions and Framework. It hopes to facilitate discussion to streamline the AJCU- AP Service Learning Program by consolidating basic principles and highlighting objectives of the program in the coming years. c. AJCU-AP Service Learning Program Action Planning This Conference hopes to underscore common elements of the AJCU-AP Service Learning Program which will aid Universities in the implementation of future AJCU-AP Service Learning Programs. 5 P a g e

6 Background THE XAVIER ECOVILLE We are not just building houses, We are building communities It was December 2011 when Typhoon Sendong ravaged Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, leaving both Cities in an unimaginable situation damaged properties, broken and displaced families. One cannot fathom the reality left by the tragedy, the experience of loss and helplessness will forever be etched in the memories of Kagayanons. Xavier University was quick in responding to the needs of the families affected by the disaster. From collecting relief goods and cash donations it has evolved into finding sustainable and long term assistance to survivors. Thus, Xavier University together with the City Government opened the Xavier Ecoville as part of the rehabilitation and resettlement of families whose properties were either washed out or considered part of the City s no build zone Located at Barangay Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro City, Xavier Ecoville is home to 500 family beneficiaries. For almost 2 years, Xavier Ecoville has committed itself in building the lives of survivors while developing a community of empowered and concerned individuals who will work not just for themselves. Its goal is to build a self-governing, values-driven and economically thriving community. There are three programs being implemented that will contribute to the achievement of this goal: 1. Organizational Development will work on building the capacities of community leaders and the organizations where they belong towards selfgovernance. 2. Values Formation will focus on developing a shared value system in the community through formative activities for community leaders, children, youth and household heads. 3. Livelihood Development will implement income- and employment-generating programs for the families to sustain their basic needs and for the cooperative to thrive. All three programs will be implemented progressively using a three-step process starting with (1) capacity building for the organizations/groups formed per program to the (2) implementation and development of activities/products/systems with the organized group and finally to the (3) linkage and partnership with other groups outside the community. The project s values, which will be the guiding principles in the implementation of the three programs, are partnership, trust, transparency, magis and environmentalism. 6 P a g e

7 AJCU AP Service Learning Program 2014 Steering Committee NAME DESIGNATION CONTACT NUMBER ADDRESS MAIN ORGANIZERS Ms Elisabeth B Enerio Director- Office of eenerio@xu.edu.ph International Cooperation and Networking Engr Ermin Stan B Pimentel Director- KKP Social ermstan@gmail.com Involvement Office Mr Nestor M Banuag, Jr Program Coordinator, Collaborative Service Learning Program nbanuag@xu.edu.ph Ms Victoria Melissa C Pulido Mr Wilson J Hormeguera Ms Ma Farina V Roa Ms Agnes Carmela P Centro Over-all Coordinator, AJCU-AP Service Learning Program 2014 PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES vpulido@xu.edu.ph Program Coordinator, Student Volunteer Formation Programs and Activities Head, AJCU- AP Service Learning Program 2014 Program Coordinator, Curriculum-based Social Formation Program Coordinator, Issue Advocacy Program Officer, Collaborative Service Learning Program whormeguera@yahoo.com farinaroa@gmail.com SECRETARIAT agnescentro@gmail.com Ms Colleen Caryl Leslie C Torres KKP Student Volunteers Center Secretariat Head, AJCU- AP Service Learning Program Program Officer, Curriculum-based Social Formation Executive Committee ccleslie.torres@yahoo.com Official of AJCU-AP SLP 2014: ajcuslp2014@gmail.com XU Trunk line and Local Numbers: (+6388) local 3210/ P a g e