Via "Global Xchange" Program: Cebuano volunteers observe sustainable livelihood in UK

CEBU, Philippines – Nine youth volunteers from Cebu have participated for the first time in the six-month Global Xchange program of the British Council and the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO).

The program is a cross-cultural youth volunteering exchange program and Cebu is participating for the first time since the program was introduced in the country in 2005.

This year's exchange theme for the Philippines is "Sustainable Livelihoods and Disability."

According to Plan International, one of the world's largest community development organization, sustainable livelihood such as organic farming, is one way of helping and providing alternative income to Filipino families, especially in the rural areas.

"In the Philippines, many rural families are trapped in a vicious cycle of poor crop yields and debt from having to buy seeds and fertilizer. As a result, these families experience ongoing food shortages leading to undernutrition in their children. One solution is changing to organic agriculture where families can reduce expenses, increase yields and profits, and produce a diversity of other nutritious foods."

Meanwhile, the Cebu volunteers for the Global Xchange live and work with a counterpart from Hounslow, UK from March to September this year. Each pair spends three months in each country working on local community projects and living with a local host home, according to a press statement furnished The Freeman.

"In addition, they are part of a diverse team, both in terms of social and cultural diversity, making decisions that have to take everybody into account. Individuals who learn from the experience of others around the world, have an awareness of issues facing developed and developing countries, and put that learning into action."

Global Xchange aims to support the development of active global citizens, committed to working for positive change within communities. It is based on a model of youth exchange originally developed in Canada more than thirty years ago. The model was brought to the UK in 1999 by VSO.

The program has had five exchanges already. Davao and Luton, UK in 2005, Davao and Bradford in 2006, Iligan/Cagayan de Oro and Bradford in 2007, Davao City and Southampton in 2007, Iligan City and Newham in 2008 and Davao and Bristol in 2009. It gives people in different countries an opportunity to work together to develop and share valuable skills and to make a practical contribution "where it is needed in local communities." (THE FREEMAN)