The Trends in International Volunteering

This week we invited the CEO of the International Association for Volunteer Effort (IVAE/國際志工協會) to make a speech for IVA. The topic is “The Trends in International Volunteering”. He said the trends in international volunteering are three trends. First is the GCVC(企業志工),which is that companies encouraging their staffs to be a volunteer. Second is the international volunteer. The last is the older volunteer(年長者志工). In Taiwan, there are still little GCVC. I hope more companies can join GCVC because a company has more power than a person. And I think to a security, volunteers are the more the better.      

A global housekeeper chain

I saw a documentary which is talking about Philippines women’s globalization. After I saw it, I was surprised by many information provide from it. First, Philippine women who work as a housekeeper in other countries has become a globalized phenomenon, and the salaries they send back to country is the biggest foreign exchange source in Philippine. Second, all women work in other countries are called the hero of country and Philippine president will go to airport to welcome them when they come back to Philippine. Third, most women work as housekeeper in foreign countries hire a local housekeeper to take care of their children!!! That means in the women who lived in advanced country hire Philippine women, and those Philippine women hire other Philippine women. It has become a global housekeeper chain.

   I can barely believe that a women can be hired and hire other women in the same time. I think I’m very lucky that I born in Taiwan, and could be the one who has the ability to hire someone do housework for me without hired by other women. On the other hand, women in the middle of the housekeeper chain must have complex feeling while doing her job.

You can see the documentary at this link: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6858131449488859479

Welcome to International Volunteer Week

Every semester IVA will hold the international volunteer week to sell something at the entrance of McDonald’s. This semester it is held during this week, from Tuesday (4/26) to Friday (4/29). Because IVA goes to Qinghai and northern Thailand for service every year. We usually sell some patchworks which made by the A-Ka girls, who are the minority live in northern Thailand, and the postcards about Qinghai. All the revenue we will donate to orphanage which we serviced in northern Thailand. Those patchworks made by A-ka girls are all cute and beautiful and cute. Including key rings, various bags, phone suits and many other things. Welcome to our booth and choose what you need.

This are owl key rings I bought last time. 

Long Time No See

        Last Thursday, some special guests visited NCCU. They were come from a small school in Nantou, in which  camped during last spring vacation. There were seven children and one teacher. They came to Taipei three days . First day they went to NTU. Then second day they visited my school. And the last day they were planed to Taipei International Flora Exposition.

    I am so happy they had such a travel. Not only because I had a chance to meet them again. This trip will also open their views. I think this trip is more meaningful than just went to amusement parks.   

PINOY SUNDAY 2--Our Story

Last associate time, we have seen part of Philippines worker’s life in Taiwan. And this week, we invited a Philippines Milan to make a speech for us. Milan is the heroine of the book “Our story—Moving and Laboring”(我們), which is talking about the Philippines labor in Taiwan. After her speech, I know more about what they thought. And I know many volunteers and social workers are helping Filipion labors get the same pay as local labors. I agree with her that we should be more friendly to foreign labors in Taiwan, all labor should have same treatment. But when we are talking about salary, I think we don’t have to pay the same salary between Taiwan labor and Philippine labor based on economic theory. Because Philippine labor must think the salary in Taiwan is good otherwise they won’t come.  

PINOY SUNDAY

Every Monday night, we have our get-together. And each week, we have different activities around international volunteer. Last week we saw the movie “PINOY SUNDAY”. This movie is a comedy which is taking about the life of the Philippines who work in Taipei. After I saw this movie, I changed my views about southeastern workers. I didn’t like the southeast worker before because I didn’t know much about them. I didn’t know about their language and culture, didn’t like their favor, I thought they are strange. All above these is “my views”. But this movie was made by Philippine workers view. Through this movie, I can know more about their life in Taiwan and their feelings about working in Taiwan through their views. Finally I know that when we change our view, many things will be different. Although “PINOY SUNDAY” is a comedy, it is a meaningful movie. It is worth watching!        

You can seen more about “PINOY SUNDAY” in this website:

http://www.taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=105883&CtNode=427

Are We Idiot?

At the beginning of this semester, the famous professor, Jia-tong Li, said a surprising talk “All college students who went tribe servicing are idiots”. As a volunteer, I do not disagree all he said. I agree that while college students go remote mountain for servicing, they will not only help local resident but also causing troubles for local people. However, I don’t think that those college students went there just for fun. Take me for example. I have joined the international volunteer association more than one year. And I have went Jia-yi and Nan-tou to hold summer camp and winter camp for local student. I think we have brought different experiences and views for local student. And they enjoy our camp too. So I don’t agree that we are idiot who just waste resources and do something without meanings.