INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
The International Volunteer Program is one of the major components of the National Volunteer Service Program being implemented by PNVSCA. Through this program, technical assistance is provided by foreign volunteers to national government agencies, local government units (LGUs), academic institutions and non-government organizations (NGOs) in the spirit of technical cooperation and cultural sharing.
PNVSCA’s partners include the Australian Volunteer International (AVI), Australian Youth Ambassador For Development (AYAD), Volunteering For International Development Australia (VIDA), German Development Service (DED), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), United States Peace Corps (USPC), Pax Christi, Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), Organization For Industrial, Spiritual, and Cultural Advancement (OISCA) and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV).
From the period 2001 to 2009, PNVSCA has coordinated the deployment of 1,523 foreign volunteers in 747 host organizations 70% of which are NGAs and LGUs. Among the significant projects that supported implementation of government’s priorities are the following:
DED: Strategic Corporate Community Partnership For Local Development (SCOPE) - assist companies and business groups in implementing development projects beneficial to both the company and community where they are located. It offers assistance in identifying projects, access to best practice methods related to the industry, technical assistance for project implementation, financial assistance and assistance in identifying suitable project partners.
JICA: National Dairy Development Program - provided impetus for the upgrading of the National Dairy Authority (NDA) capacity in dairy production, veterinary medicine, silage production and artificial insemination.
KOICA: TESDA Language Skills Institute Korean Language Training Program – prepare Filipino migrant workers for work in Korea
US Peace Corps - support local efforts to upgrade education, social services, environmental conservation and youth development though cooperation with DSWD, DepEd, DENR, LGUs, and non-government organizations.
VSO: Peace Enabling Actions for Community Empowerment in Mindanao and Technical and Organizational Skills for Civil Society Action for the Displace and at Risk in Mindanao (TOSCADAR) projects - address the displaced individuals and people at risk due to war.
UNV: United Nations Information Technology Services (UNITES) Project – narrowing the digital divide through volunteer assistance in information and communication technology.
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Venue for technical cooperation and cultural
sharing between and among Filipino and foreign development workers.
National government agencies, local
government units, academic institutions and non-government organizations
may request for volunteer assistance.
Submit a completed Request for
Volunteer Assistance Form to PNVSCA.
PNVSCA in coordination with the NEDA
Regional Office and foreign volunteer organization will conduct an
assessment of the request to determine the merit and indicative
timetable for volunteer assistance. This may include a project
presentation by the requesting organization and a site visit by the
representative of the foreign volunteer organization, NEDA or PNVSCA.
Upon positive result of the
assessment, PNVSCA will approve the request and endorse it to the
concerned foreign volunteer organization.
The foreign volunteer organization
will initiate recruitment and selection of volunteer candidates based
on the terms of reference provided in the request.
Orientation to the volunteer which
includes project briefing, introduction to the local officials and
important institutions and personalities and integration with the
community.
Provision of support to the volunteer
such as:
- Office space
- Equipment, supplies and
materials needed in the performance of the volunteer's tasks
- Transporta
tion for
project-related travels
- Counterpart worker to enhance
sharing of knowledge, skills and technology
- Modest accommodation or
assistance in securing one
- Emergency medical assistance
- Assignment of project manager
or supervisor to oversee and monitor volunteer activities and
performance including the submission of prescribed reports.
- Assistance in ensuring the
safety and security of the volunteer.
- Participation in events and
activities promoting volunteerism and allowing volunteer's
participation in these events and activities.
- Timely coordination with
PNVSCA and foreign volunteer organization in all matters
affecting volunteer assignment such as transfer, reassignment,
early termination of contract, conflict between volunteer and
project staff or community, personal problems and any untoward
incident which may happen to the volunteer.
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The Australian Volunteers
International (AVI) is Australia's largest international voluntary
technical assistance agency supported by the Australian Government. Its
objective is to contribute to developing communities by providing
volunteering opportunities for Australians in the fields of
micro-enterprise development, livelihood, environmental protection. The
initial volunteer contract is one year.
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Launched in 1998, this
government-funded volunteer program is implemented through the Australian
Agency for International Development (AusAID). It provides Australia the
opportunity to contribute to development in the Asia-Pacific region
through the deployment of young Australian professionals aged 18 and 30 to
assist local development projects. At the same time, it seeks to foster
exchange of skills and goodwill between volunteers and their local
counterparts. AYAD assists sectors in agriculture, environment, community
development, information technology and social services. Volunteer
assignment ranges from six (6) months to one (1) year.
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The German Development Service Deutscher
Entwicklungsdienst or DED serves as one of the Federal Republic of
Germany's medium of cooperation with the developing countries. It
cooperates with institutions in host countries to
improve the living conditions of the poor and disadvantaged population.
The sectors assisted by volunteer development workers are community-based
natural resources management, agriculture and technical-vocational
training using the dual-tech approach. Volunteer development workers are
normally joined by their families in the assignment. The initial volunteer
contract is two (2) years.
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JOCV is one of the programs of the Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aimed to assist developing nations
through transfer of technology in areas where these are needed and to
promote deeper understanding of cultures and traditions and establish
lasting friendship between the volunteers and their hosts. Great
importance is attached to the technical expertise of the volunteers who
assist in the following fields: agriculture, forestry and fishery,
manufacturing, civil engineering and architecture, health and welfare,
education and information services, sports and culture. The initial
volunteer contract is two (2) years.
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The KOV program implemented
by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) aims at promoting
friendship between Korea and developing host countries through the
dispatch of volunteers to participate in world-wide effort to contribute
to human betterment based on the spirit of "Share and Respect."
The skill areas assisted by KOV are agriculture and fishery, education and
culture, vocational-technical training, computer, health, and sports. The
term of service of volunteers is two (2) years.
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OISCA is a Japan-based NGO
which focuses its assistance in agriculture and environment. Its projects
include reforestation, establishment and maintenance of agricultural
training centers and training of the youth in environment-friendly farming
practices. The initial assignment of volunteers is for a minimum of six
(6) months to a maximum of two (2) years which may be extended to six (6)
years.
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USPC was established in 1961 to promote
world peace and friendship through the services of American volunteers. It
aims primarily to enhance understanding among peoples and to provide
technical assistance to local projects. Peace Corps volunteers are
deployed in the fields of environmental education, coastal resource
management, integrated protected areas system, health, water sanitation,
business advising, youth development, waste management, education and
social services. The volunteers serve for two (2) years.
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VSO is a British NGO charity that sends
volunteer professionals overseas to work alongside poor and disadvantaged
people in developing countries. VSO is involved in the areas of
sustainable livelihoods and community-based natural resource management;
peace building and effective local governance; and the prevention of abuse
and social exclusion – including the promotion of gender fair
development. There are at least 45 VSO volunteers all over the country
(but mostly in the Visayas and Mindanao), coming from a diverse range of
nationalities and experiences. Most VSO volunteers come from Britain and
Ireland, though a significant number of volunteers also come from other
countries of the European Union (the Netherlands, France, Italy, Belgium
and Spain), Canada, and Australia. Volunteer areas of expertise include
enterprise and livelihood development, marine biology, hydrology, and
agro-forestry, natural resource management, deaf education, life skills
enhancement, and speech therapy, psycho-social therapy and counseling,
capability building and programme/organizational capacity
development; land use and urban-rural development planning, and
cooperatives development. Volunteers stay for a two-year period of
service which may be extended upon agreement of concerned parties.
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Singapore Volunteer
Organization (SVO) Programme is the flagship volunteer
flatform of the Singapore International Foundation. Leveraging on
the skills of infield and specialist volunteers, the SVO Programme enables
developing communities to build capacity for self-sustainable growth.
Since 1991, the SVO
Programme has supported over 500 Singaporeans who have taken up the
challenge of volunteering overseas bringing their skills to where they are
needed most. Volunteers served either as in-field SVOs or as
Specialist Team SVOs. Specialist SVOs work in team-based
Training-of-Trainers skills transfer projects that see them visiting their
local partners to build organizational/institutional capacity on a
recurrent basis for periods between two to five years. The SVOs
believes that people from different communities and cultures can learn
from one another in a spirit of mutual growth.
The Philippines
is the first country to host SVOs in late 1991. Since then, SVOs
have served in Bhutan, Botswana, China, Ghana, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, Cambodia and Timor Leste are new
additions to the list of SVO host countries.
The SVO enables
Singaporeans to share their skills and experience with other communities
in Asia in a spirit of mutual respect and growth. SVO volunteers
assist development projects in the areas of education, health care,
community development, social work, vocational training, marketing, food
processing and information technology. The term of service of
volunteers is one (1) year.
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PCI is a non-profit, non-government,
catholic peace movement working on a global scale on a wide variety of
issues in the fields of human rights, security and disarmament, economic
justice and ecology.
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DCC is a voluntary service NGO approved
by the French Affairs Foreign Ministry. It is a service of the
Catholic Church in France to facilitate the sending of volunteers in
developing countries. Volunteers are university graduates with
professional experience and have worked with youth groups.
Generally, they serve for a period of two (2) years. The fields of
specialization include micro-economics, health services, technical work
and construction, teaching and training, socio-educational animation and
promotion of women and rural animation.
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