Padayon

Oh, boy. Over the last week, I was involved with a group effort to run a camp. This was quite the experience since it was my first camp I'd ever planned and set into motion. It was a ambitious camp to boot. I'm still resting and catching up on work this weekend so I'll just let you read my summary of the camp below. This summary was sent to my superiors in Peace Corps. If you have any questions please post them!

Padayon Summary

What is Padayon? Padayon is a Visayan word that means “to continue,” in Tagalog the equivalent is Pagpapatuloy. The idea for the Padayon camp is to teach a selected group of participants how to run a two day camp for Street Children (with minimal assistance) as a lesson for them to see how it is to be in charge of a event that has the chance to change the lives of those who live in their community.

Padayons come in all shapes and sizes and mine is unique to my city. My camp ran five days, starting on a Monday and ending on Friday. The first two days were dedicated to training the PYAP Youth in working with each other, learning to be facilitators, and planning camp activities. Day 3 and 4 was when the youth had to pull together to run a camp for local Street Children, 43 children in all. On day 5 the participants were given the opportunity to create their own community project proposal. After helping them through the whole process, the PYAP participants were congratulated and given a sheet to fill out for meeting with me and my counter-part.

The meetings have yet to begin but will shortly. The purpose of the meetings is to further assist the PYAP volunteers in their own Barangay projects. Each Barangay has its own issue to address and these newly trained PYAP participants can go back to their community and PYAP organization to start the planning process. If the PYAP participants want advice or assistance in planning, my counter-part and I will be ready.

The Padayon was only a tool to show how much effect the youth can have on their own community. While the Street Children they worked with were most likely not from their own Barangay, the PYAP participants could see how happy the children were to have a whole event dedicated to their having fun. My hope is that they can find their own project to take home and show their community how they're also contributing to improvements.

CSWDO Staff Training

Day -1: CSWDO training with the four CSWDO staff who would be facilitators in Padayon. Trainees included: Joey, Luchie, Janet, and Marlon. The training was a complete run through of the first two days activities and games. I thankfully had Emily (nearby PCV) help out. We performed each activity and game as best we could and for the ones we didn't have supplies for (candy bags) we were able to imagine. This was my effort to show the CSWDO staff from my office that they would be in charge of running the camp. The training seemed successful.

The PCVs (minus Bob, he was on the bus still)

Day 0: PCVs arrive in Cabanatuan City. The PCVs who were invited were Bob, Amy, Matt, Emily, and Anna, . It was Anna's birthday. I stocked up on food for the visiting PCVs since I was able to request funds for the cause.

The PCV Facilitators

Day 1: Since the camp wasn't scheduled to have any activities start til around 10am, the PCVs and I went to my office before going to the camp grounds. After introducing the PCVs to my staff and after Matt was finished impressing everyone with his Ilocano speaking skills, we left for the camp grounds.

The camp was held at a local resort in Barangay Pagas in Cabanatuan City. The resort itself was very nice and all the volunteers were impressed. It was simple and modest but had the amenities we needed to be comfortable for the whole week (multiple oscillating ceiling fans). There was even a pool the Padayon participants could use after sessions.

The Padayon participants slowly started trickling in around 9:30am. The participants were all selected PYAP (Pag-Asa Youth Association of the Philippines) members, most of the twenty invitees were from different Barangays. The mix of boys and girls was mostly even with slightly more boys and ages ranged from 15-23 years old. All of the participants were amassed by 11:00am.

There was confusion on when the camp would actually begin. I had planned on started around 10am but in the official schedule printed up by my counter-part, the morning activities had been axed unbeknownst to me. Since I had neglected to proof the final schedule this mistake went through and the camp didn't officially start til 1:00pm.

The PYAP participants were split into four groups. The teams were allowed to participate in several team-building activities and even one large activity that brought all the staff and participants together to play (Cross-Hand Pass). After the team-building sessions I had my other counter-part Vanessa speak with the PYAP participants about the current situation of Street Children in Cabanatuan City. After the talk about the Street Children the camp closed for the day due to time constrictions. We decided to push the facilitation skills session into the next day.

Playing Evolution

There were some bumps here and there in the facilitation thanks to misunderstandings of game rules and activities going on far longer than expected/desired. Despite the bumps we were able to start connecting with the youth.

Day 2: Thankfully the camp was able to start on time this day and we picked up right where we left off with facilitation skills. The facilitation of the CSWDO finally started hitting a stride and finding a groove, mainly thanks to Joey.

One of the best sessions of the day was the gender awareness activity. The activity allowed the participants to free sort photos of different items. Some went by men and women and some by objects. The most eye opening part was when the participants sorted situation cards like “I own a successful business” and “I like to draw and paint.” The latter situation was adamantly defended as man's domain and the former was a toss up since so many woman own successful businesses.

Due to the scheduling conflict from the day before we had to axe one session completely, mentoring. Mentoring was chosen because I felt it wasn't necessary for either the camp of the project design at the end of the camp. I understand mentoring skills are important but as it was, it was the weakest link in my curriculum.

The day's planned activities wrapped up early to give the PYAP participants a chance to start planning for the camp. There were many games pitched and lists were quickly drawn up. The PCVs worried the PYAP participants weren't preparing completely; there was a lack of communication between groups about repeat games, scheduling, and how they should split the Street Children up (if at all). After several attempts to address the concerns the PCVs had to accept the outcome for what it would be in the following days.

Day 3: the Street Children arrived in two van loads. There were a total of 43 Street Children mainly from two Barangays surrounding the Cabanatuan City Bus Terminal. The Street Children ranged from 4-13 years old. Some of the Street Children were bajau (transplanted indigenous group).

The PYAP participants began rushing to get the supplies in order as soon as the Children arrived. By the time the second load of Street Children arrived the PYAP participants were mostly prepared.

The games were many and diverse. Some lasted hours while others were very short. The Street Children appeared very pleased. Lunch and snacks were provided for all of the Street Children.

The Street Children were taken home at the end of the day.

Day 4: The Street Children arrived a little late due to the van running behind schedule. The Street Children enjoyed just as many great games as the day before.

The PCVs prepared thank-you cards for each Street Child, each one personalized and custom-made. The CSWDO provided a simple gift set for each child full of school supplies. After lunch there was a gift giving ceremony from the PYAP participants (facilitators) to the Street Children.

After the Street Children went home (around 2pm), the PYAP participants were given an opportunity to process the camp. The main feeling was of deep happiness to have been given the chance to show the Street Children a good time. There were many PYAP participants who shared their joy at seeing the smiles on the Street Children's faces. The day finished with the PYAP participants being told to start thinking of what they can bring back to their Barangay for a project proposal.

Day 5: Finally, the day the whole camp was leading up to. The day started late but materials were prepared so the activities started strong. The PYAP followed a modified PDM format:

Community Mapping (PACA styled)

Community Needs Assessment

Community Resources

Vision

Goals

Tasks

Budget

Monitoring and evaluations were cut because I felt they would only extend and confuse the situation. I added in a follow-up component where I would begin calling in each PYAP participant for personal one-on-one interviews about starting a community project in their community.

The planning went smoothly for the most part. Only one team needed extra assistance and that assistance was provided by other PYAP participants. The PYAP Participants received a round of applause on completing their proposals.

The camp ended with an awards ceremony and photo-op. Impromptu evaluations were collected.

Comments

Food Lesson:

I wrote a menu for the PCVs who were to attend. I excluded myself from the budget. I wish I had included myself and figured in more food purchases from restaurants. The funds only lasted to Wednesday Night.

What needs to change and improve: 

I was wildly overwhelmed in the beginning scrambling to gather materials. I was able to keep up but there were seemingly close calls. Next time I need to give myself more materials to begin with and stay on top of them as I go.

Some included materials and activities were too far reaching. I had to exclude a full lesson and did away completely with end of the day writing in journals. I would expect to exclude those activities next time.

There was one theft of a PCV's phone from that PCV's bag. It wasn't discovered missing until two days after the camp ended.

In closing:

My Padayon was a major success. It may not have run perfectly but it still went on. I was given the chance to work a project with both of my target populations and combined them to help each other. I hope to have this project lead into several more projects to be done in several Barangays throughout my city.

I want to thank all the people that helped out, I couldn't have done it without these people:

Anna (PCV)
Amy (PCV)
Bob (PCV)
Emily (PCV)
Janet (CSWDO)
Joey (CSWDO)
Luchie (CSWDO)
Marlon (CSWDO
Matt (PCV)
Odet (Street Educator)
Susan (Street Educator)

Vanessa (CSWDO)

And the PYAP for their hardwork

Congratulations