Essence of volunteerism: the MVP way
LAST April 16, 2018, I attended and delivered a closing message for the Madaris Volunteer Program (MVP) culmination ceremony for school year 2017-2018 at the Finster Auditorium of the Ateneo de Davao University. The 2017 - 2018, the MVP had partner madaris in Cotabato, Basilan, and Maguindanao.
The Madaris Volunteer Program (MVP) is a project of the Ateneo de Davao University in partnership with the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP). Its main goal is to promote inter- and intra-faith dialogue through community immersion and peace building work in the partner madrasah.
For my column this week, I would like to share my short message.
“Rev. Fr. Joel E. Tabora, SJ, president of the Ateneo de Davao University; Dr. Ombra Imam, president of the National Association of Bangsamoro Education, Inc. (NABEI); partner madaris in Cotabato, Basilan, and Maguindanao; our MVP Batch 2017 - 2018; guests, friends, ladies and gentlemen, assalamu alaikum warakmatullahi wabarakatuhu! Greetings of peace to each and every one!.
I am honored to be invited as one of your guest speakers, and I am grateful to be attending this culmination ceremony.
Madaris Volunteer Program – it has always been uplifting to see volunteers coming to this day – graduation. The ten months of volunteer service for sure was not that easy – but look at yourselves now – look at your co-volunteers, your administers and host families, your mentors – for sure there is so much that had happened that only you, or your fellow volunteers, and the community you have left can understand and appreciate those memories – be it happiness, sadness, and challenges along the way. I could not be more proud of what you have become today. I am sure, before you entered the program; you had lots of questions in yourselves as well on why you wanted to volunteer – why you wanted to teach children – why you wanted to serve the disadvantaged communities – why you wanted to go to Mindanao (to some of you) – and why you wanted see the Bangsamoro – I am confident, that you all now have your answers to these.