The Wander Belle @belleanimoza - Tumblr Blog

One Big Fight

“The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.” ― Barack Obama

It is sometimes easy to point out problems but it is not always easy to stand on our feet and do something to address these problems. Having been working in a non-profit organization for two years now, I have been exposed to different Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs from different corporations. Some of the corporations have the heart to really help the organization while some are honestly after the recognition from the works that they have done.

Last 22 November our CSR class conducted a project for the benefit of Sta. Monica Elementary School in Hagonoy Bulacan which got affected by typhoon Lando. It was pleasing to be part of a group that is really strong in pursuing a project that will have a great impact to the school and its community. Going to the school for the first time, I had thoughts of why are we doing the CSR Program. Are we doing it because we are driven by the willingness to help or are we driven by the fact that it is part of our course requirement?

Prior to the activity we raised funds through different activities. Our group sold yema cakes and graham balls to our friends and officemates. At this point, I came to a realization that it is not easy to raise funds. It is not just about selling the product and gaining profit, but moreover it is explaining to the consumers the purpose of the fundraising. Supporting the fundraising shouldn’t be out of pity but because the person believes in the CSR Program itself and the benefit that it will bring to the beneficiaries.

The actual activity was not easy either. When we arrived at the school and saw the chairs that we are going to repaint and the portion of the school grounds that we needed to elevate, we thought to ourselves that it will be an easy job. But as I go through chair after chair I felt the physical pain that is part of the activity. Trying to help in the elevation of the pathway through filling up pails with gravel was even more tedious and physically straining. But maybe all the labour as cliché as it may sound are all labour of love. It is not throwing money to the problem at hand but it is trying to be part of the solution to the problem.

Leaving the place satisfied with our painted chairs and elevated pathway, we received the warmest gratitude from the community of Sta. Monica Elementary School. The stories that we have heard and the laughter that we have shared as a team were bonuses. It is knowing that we have imparted something to the kids of Sta. Monica. It is knowing that although we cannot change everything, we have stood up to a fight that is worth it with the expectation of filling the kids with hope.

It has been a great journey living up to the Lasallian values. It was our ONE BIG FIGHT for the community of Sta. Monica.

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#Word #CSR #TyphoonLando #OneBigFight #animolasalle

Going Green

“One of the newest figures to emerge on the world stage in recent years is the social entrepreneur. This is usually someone who burns with desire to make a positive social impact on the world, but believes that the best way of doing it is, as the saying goes, not by giving poor people a fish and feeding them for a day, but by teaching them to fish, in hopes of feeding them for a lifetime. I have come to know several social entrepreneurs in recent years, and most combine a business school brain with a social worker's heart. The triple convergence and the flattening of the world have been a godsend for them. Those who get it and are adapting it have begun launching some very innovative projects.”

― Thomas L. Friedman, The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century

Thomas L. Friedman is right in saying that one of the newest figures is the social enterprise. I have seen and met people with that desire to make a social impact on the world in way that is not selfish but sustaining.

Since I started working in a non- profit organization I have been mesmerized with social enterprises. The likes of Rags2Riches, Habi Pinoy, Messy Bessy and Human Nature have caught the eyes of many consumers. Gone are the days that consumer buy the product because of merely needing it but because they believe in the cause that the enterprise is pursuing.

The UK government defines social enterprise as: a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners.

Yes, many Filipinos are engaged in social entrepreneurship today. The Philippines does not have an official count of social enterprises though, but researchers estimate at least 30,000 institutions have been providing programs and services in the country.

There is so much potential in the world of social enterprise. In fact, in a study made by Oxfam, Social enterprises in the Philippines have covered at least 2.5 million people living below the poverty line. But there is not much support coming from the government. Marie Lisa Dacanay, President of the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia said that the number, which is more than half of the total government count of poor Filipinos in 2012, could double if the government lends a hand in promoting social enterprise.

We should not waste this potential and opportunity to grow in the field of social entrepreneurship. It has proven it’s benefits for a lot of people and we should not stop there.

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Sources:

https://www.britishcouncil.ph/sites/default/files/social_enterprise_activity_philippines_0.pdf

http://www.rappler.com/business/economy-watch/76274-ph-social-enterprise-covers-poor-filipinos

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#Entrepreneurship #Word

Is Philippines sustainable?

Walking in the streets of Abu Dhabi and Dubai feels so different. I am astonished with the stories of how this city has developed throughout the years. The landscapes, the transportation, I cannot fathom how a vast dessert transformed into one of the fourth most expensive city for expatriates in the region.

Last year, I was privileged to be part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and had the opportunity to have a first-hand experience of their culture. I was a bit nervous at that time knowing the stigma that is with countries in Middle East. The experience turned out to be an overwhelming one. One thing I cannot forget from that experience is how the Emiratis value their natural resource – being one of the suppliers of oil. Participating in the World Future Energy Summit and learning about renewable energies, I have seen how Abu Dhabi did not stop from just having the source of energy but finding ways on how they can improve it. They look after the generations of Emiratis who at young age are already engaged with the importance of renewable energy.

Philippines like Abu Dhabi has been blessed with natural resources (even more) and yet in my opinion we are missing the opportunity to develop our natural resources to a more sustainable one. Even more, the younger generation are either not well informed or not concerned with these opportunities.

Intergenerational component – future generations must be left with an ecologically viable and socially stable planet

As I write this I am reminded of a line from a movie entitled Lucy, “Life was given to us a billion years ago. What have we done with it?” Our natural resources equate with life and the question is what have we done with it or what are we doing with it? Are we finding ways for the future generation to be left with an ecologically viable and socially stable planet? Is Philippines working on towards sustainability?

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#Word #Sustainability

Men = Women?

I often see photos on Facebook showing a photo of a man walking beside a woman asking what is wrong in the photo. The photo conveys the message of losing chivalry at this age because of the loss of respect among women. On the other hand I would see photos and posts on Facebook fighting over gender equality and women empowerment.

Nowadays, gender equality is a strong point and women are bold in speaking what they want. Women are no longer the silent, submissive household figures. We are out in the world making names and showing off that women can do what men can. It’s quite ironic though that women sought after equality and yet we are expecting extra rights and privilege from men. I am not against chivalry, I still believe in the knight in shining armour despite the fantasies it bring. But the reality is, women already gained what we long asked for – that is equality so men in return expect that they will live up to it.

Men and women have different roles in the society and no matter how hard women try to hide it, we are still at one point or another not equal to men.

Gender equality means fairness of treatment for women and men, according to their respective needs and interests. This may include equal treatment or treatment that is different but which is considered equivalent in terms of rights, benefits, obligations and opportunities.

Men and women should work hand in hand and not competing with each other. Gender equality is achieved when both agrees to respect each other needs and support the differences that they have.

#Word #Equality

CSR Yes?

The first time I’ve heard of Corporate Social Responsibility was during my Public Relations class back in College. During that time I was very interested how corporations and companies practice their CSR Programs. I thought that it was a great exercise and I applaud the efforts of the companies who are willing to perform such activities.

I learned more about it during my CSR class and until now I am still learning about it in my graduate studies and even in my work in a non-profit organization. As I learn more about it, I also learned why corporations should be socially responsible.

Dr. Tehankee in an Explanatory Note to the Corporation Code of 1980 stated that “The … Code seeks to establish a new concept of business corporations so that they are not merely entities established for private gain but effective partners of the National Government in spreading the benefits of capitalism for the social and economic development of the nation.”

Gone are the days that corporations are only for profit because they are now being mandated to be effective partners for social and economic development of the nation. If the corporations are given that mandate, it goes that employees should be engaged in this as well. This is something that employees of the Philippines National Oil Company missed when they voiced out their disapproval of expanding the CSR Program in their host communities.

For a CSR Program to be efficient it should be a conscious effort of the company and its employees.

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Sources:

https://philippinecsrresearch.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/csr-research-at-dlsu-teehankee1.pdf

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#Word #CSR

When is Advertising Ethical?

Advertising as defined by the Advertising Association of the UK is a means of communication with the users of a product or service. Advertisements are messages paid for by those who send them and are intended to inform or influence people who receive them.

There are a lot of information that a product or a company would like to communicate to their consumers. But not all products are beneficial to consumers like alcohol and cigars. But still these products release advertisements simply because it will increase their profit and it will give their product a good consumer impression.

In a speech written by Chris Moore of Ogilvy & Mather he said,

“For a company trying to sell something, an ad is like getting a job interview with millions of people all at once. The ad wants to make a good first impression and really, really doesn't want to make people mad. But different people react differently.”

Because of the desire to make an impression, companies invest on advertisements. But sometimes advertisements go beyond than what should be presented. When can we say that advertising is ethical then?

Small business chronicle presented four key distinctions to determine the difference between ethical and unethical advertising;

1. Honesty

According to Carroll College, ethical advertising respects the truth about its product. It never distorts the product's capabilities, or hides its defects

2. Distinction

International Charter states that ethical advertising seeks to distinguish its product from those of its competitors.

3. Social Consciousness

Ethical advertising refrains from appealing to "base" human emotions such as fear, greed or lust, according to Carroll College. It remains positive and optimistic, and doesn't exploit stereotypes based around race, gender, religion or age.

4. Environmental Consciousness

Ethical advertising operates with respect for the natural world and refrains from causing undue harm to the environment.

Advertising communicates to a lot of people in different forms and context. It is so powerful that it can make or break a person’s perception of what is ethical and not. They have the power to make things work for company and the consumers by choosing to be ethical.

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Sources:

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/difference-between-unethical-ethical-advertising-19262.html

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/definition/advertising

http://www.aef.com/on_campus/classroom/speaker_pres/data/3001

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#Word #Advertising #Ethics

Consumer Freedom

Have you ever experienced buying a product not knowing that it is not the product you are expecting? Or worse, it is not functioning as you desired?

These instances leads us to frustration, especially when we have put our trust to the product and even the seller and we expect them to deliver. But reality knocks because these things do happen and they happen a lot.

So how can we actually protect ourselves as consumers from these scenarios? It’s very obvious that in buying a product as consumer, we are moved to use our knowledge of the product and how much we know about it. We demand the things that we should know about the product that we want. Often, we are given a comprehensive explanation. But sometimes due to the seller’s desire to have sales, some things are not being disclosed which leads to customer dissatisfaction.

During the discussion about GAP labor problems, it has been stated that The seller has a duty to inform the buyer of any facts about the product that would affect the customer’s decision to purchase the product. Indeed, we have the right to know if the product will satisfy our needs and it must be revealed if there are defects.

The same thing in an organization or a company we want them to be transparent and honest with what they are doing. Transparency builds trust and it leads us to reliance and motivation among consumers to really support the company. What happened with GAP is a great loss in their reputation. When we are not well informed, we are blinded and we are not given the freedom to choose. We tend to support companies because we think that they are playing fair, but like with GAP, the truth in their operations has been revealed that’s why people were bold to remove their support.

Freedom depends on knowledge and it is important that we practice this.

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#Word #Freedom

The Barking Business

When I was a child, I would always hear shouting people outside the jeepneys. Clueless at that time, I would fall flat on my mother’s lap and try to get some good sleep while waiting for the jeep to be filled. Later on, I learned the business of the shouting people. I learned that they are called “barkers” because they are like the barking dogs. From the route that I usually take I would hear them shout, Quiapo, Quiapo or sometimes “Isa na lang aalis na.” That very phrase has always been my favourite. Being the impatient one that I was (I learned to appreciate the virtue of patience) I would always question why jeepneys would need a person to shout and fill the jeepney? If people would need to ride they would and they won’t need someone to call them. That’s how I see it that time. The impatience grew a little stronger when I would travel to my university and I am ten minutes off my travel time. This would have meant that I will be late because the jeepney I am riding is parked in a spot and barkers are on their usual ways.

I tried to make more sense out of the barking business. I realised that it is probably a good business after all. I asked myself how many jeepneys in a day would pass a barker and how much profit would he gain from it. Well, I’ll leave the computation in your minds.

In a long time, I stopped my obsession about the barking business. But then these questions and realizations knocked on me again upon learning about free market.

According to Adam Smith, the Father of Modern Economics, “Unregulated markets and private property will produce greater benefits than any amount of regulation could.” In addition, the market allocates resources to most efficiently meet consumer demand, thereby promoting social utility.

In my point of view, I can see that everyone is free to enter the barking business. But the question is will it allocate resources that will meet the consumer demand which will then promote social utility? If I was my old self, I would negate the very need to have barkers. What’s the sense? I would say in my head. People can read the signs and people will ride the jeepney if they need to anyway.

But then I have to ask again, what this business does that it bring social utility. Evidently, it provides employment to a great number of people in the margins. Conquering my impatience, I realised that having barkers actually directs us to the right jeepney and even make the falling in line in order.

We always demand as consumers, and we always say that consumers are always right. And when things restrict us, we grow to negate these restrictions. But maybe the very reason why barking business exists is the reality that we need it, it is useful and therefore creates social utility.

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#Word #FreeMarket #BarkingBusiness #Economics

HINIVUU

It may come to you as a puzzling title for a post. No, this is unlike Bob Ong’s book ABNKKBSNPLAKO but yes there is something with HINIVUU that will make sense to all of us as I would not want to create an amphigory out of this post.

I have been working in the field of Development Work for two years now and throughout these years, I can’t help but stop for a while and search for humanitarian genes inside my body. I’m in a battle if I am fitting of such business that relates to the welfare of humanity. Not that I have doubts of my relationship with other people but as rewarding as it is deemed by those who work outside its circles, it is quite a challenging business as in one way or another it involves sustainability, protection, development and all of those geared towards the precious – LIFE.

So, I traced the roots of my being and I ended up with a string of memory as a volunteer for Red Cross from elementary through high school. To my surprise, I am not new to the business of Development Work at all. I was a Red Cross volunteer for a good five years of my adolescent years. Yes, being part of Red Cross during those times had its perks. I got to be exempted from my MAPEH (Music, Arts and Physical Education) class but I was also challenged to take classes about First Aid, Disaster Response and more lessons which will turn me into a guard of humanity.

One thing that stayed in me throughout those years is the very title of this post -- HINIVUU. So allow me to make sense of these letters. HINIVUU stands for Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Volunteer Service, Unity and Universality. These are the Fundamental Principles of Red Cross.

It is of no wonder that first principle speaks of Humanity. As defined by Cambridge, humanity is the understanding and kindness toward other people. There is this big humanity that encloses us all and humanity itself is us – people. It grows because we allow understanding and kindness to rule. It is then evident that all our actions, whether we choose to work in the public sector, private business or even in non-profit organisation must be directed towards humanity.

Kant’s Categorical Imperative says, “Act so that you treat humanity not as a means but as an end in itself.”

Working in a non-profit organisation doesn’t make me more humanitarian than everyone else. Wherever we are, whatever we do, our end goal should be for it. “We should act that our actions can be universal that will impact the whole of humanity.”

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#Humanity #Ethics #Word #Business #Goals

The Happiness Project

“In Daniel Gilbert’s book Stumbling on Happiness, he argues that the most effective way to judge whether a particular course of action will make you happy in the future is to ask people who are following that course of action right now if they’re happy and assume that you’ll feel the same way.”

Happiness -- such a big word that thrills all of us. It is an antidote to the unsettled and a potion to the dreamers. We are all obsessed with this nine-letter word that we consume our lives searching for it. Sometimes we are lucky to find it but most often than not, we are lost in finding its true definition.

We tend to equate happiness with success. Happiness secretes pleasure as success radiates contentment in our lives. In finding happiness, some people would follow a particular course of action – a plan to make it technical.

“Planning is an up-front investment in success.”

By applying the planning process effectively we can;

1. Avoid wasting effort

2. Take into account all factors, and focus on the critical ones

3. Be aware of all changes that will need to be made

4. Gather the resources needed

5. Carry out the task in the most efficient way possible

It is in the hope of a better future that we plan and capitalize in a more secured and contented life. I am a control freak and planning has always been part of my life. Last week, I had the chance to create my life plan but in its postscript I wrote, “Planning my life has been quite a challenge because the future has always made me anxious.” It is looking at other people’s lives that makes me all the more apprehensive. But then I realised that I should not be in fret of what lies ahead and what other people’s lives look like. With this in mind, I pondered on negating Daniel Gilbert’s phrase quoted above. I should not associate myself with other people’s course of action or plan and evaluate my happiness with what they have because as the book The Happiness Project (which I drew the title of this post from) said, “Everyone is weird. That’s why everyone’s happiness project would be different. We’re all idiosyncratic.”

As we are all idiosyncratic, we follow a plan that is suited with who we are, what we desire and where we tend to go. And this is happiness -- we find joy in the course of action that we are taking, we find hope that our success will not depend on other people’s lives. It is creating this project with our Creator for His is the ultimate plan of our lives.

Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.”

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#TheHappinessProject #Word #LifePlan #jeremiah 29:11

The Million Dollar Question (Pondering on life’s uncertainty – what am I living for?)

On some days, we wake up to life’s most difficult question. What am I living for? The most mundane yet challenging question of the universe basking in the minds of most people unanswered. And it hit me. It hit me hard that probably, like the 7.3 billion people in this world, I have kept this question unanswered too. I kept on thinking about my dream list, like the way sometimes when I was a kid I would look at my list and just the looking was kind of being at that moment of goal.

On some days, we wake up in search for the answer to this million dollar question. Humbly, generating a sense of purpose served on a silver platter perplexed by the idea of its true existence. I would like to believe that we are all obsessed in this question. Because why not? A sense of purpose sends a thrilling notion of success -- that I am living a life that I was designed for. I kept on thinking, am I living to chase the dreams I long have figured in my life?

On some days, we wake up with the unbearable weight of life. We feel like something is missing despite the becoming of a fairly lived life. We are searching our steps in the proverbial ladder and how far we have gone in this life.

The truth is this: I’ve always been a bit of control freak. Somewhere along the way, I would always look back and try to answer this million dollar question. I am terrified of plans not made and goals not met. I reckon that it came from the constant flight of accomplishments which I draw my self to. I have always been anchored in the hope that all that I am contending for will one day be paid off.

I went on a trip down to memory lane as I write and found my self yet again answering this question. Three years ago, I was holding to a firm vision of a dazzling career in the field of media. But three years ago, I found my self standing in the field that unravels life’s miserable reality. I worked in a non-profit organisation in the area of Smokey Mountain. And as I journey thru the unexpected twist of event, I met people. I didn’t meet people in the limelight as originally planned but I met people who are in the light of obscurity – the society’s unknown I would say.

But if I look back in the last three years of my life, if I search through my core memories since waking up to this one million dollar question, I realised that I have failed. I have no way of answering what I am living for. It all seems clear to me now, that I am asking the wrong question.

John Henry Newman said,

“God created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission – I never may know it fully in this life, but I shall be told in the next. Somehow, I am necessary to His purposes… I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught.”

It dawned to me that the million dollar questions, rests not in “What am I living for?” but “Who am I living for?” The people whom I have met, connected me to the very core purpose of my life – to live a life dedicated to God’s work;

“To love God and to love people.”

It all seems chivalric. But I look at Jesus, who exemplified that kind of life and I know I want that, too. If we relinquish the idea of what but rather focus on the who, we make room for a life that answers true million dollar question.

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#Word #Purpose #MillionDollarQuestion #Life

Are we friends (on Facebook)?

1175.

No, it’s not a name for a Music Festival nor is it an edition of a reality show. 1, 175 is the number of my Facebook friends and while you are reading this, that number may have increased. If you ask me if I personally know these so called ‘friends,’ I would in all conscience say, no. As I sit down in a café, looking at people who are studying but honestly most are on Facebook, I realised how easily it is to be friends with people nowadays. Technology, specifically Facebook has shaped a new platform for friendship. With just a click of the confirm button, I can have an instant friend.

“I have a friend request from some stranger on Facebook and I delete it without looking at the profile because that doesn't seem natural. ‘Cause friendship should not be as easy as that. It's like people believe all you need to do is like the same bands in order to be soul mates. Or books. – David Levithan, Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Yes, getting a friend request from someone whose surname is my name (I’ve had a lot) and who happen to listen to the same music as I still scare me. It seems peculiar to me that a person whom I haven’t met or had a quick five minute chat would assume a position in my life as a friend. All the more to see snippets of my life as I unfold it into the blue and white scheme of Facebook. But then I realised, Facebook isn’t merely a platform for friendship. It has become a gauge for social acceptance.

In a study made by Evan Keislar entitled, A Distinction between Social Acceptance and Prestige among Adolescents, he defined social acceptance as the extent to which an individual’s company is rewarding by others.

In addition to this, in the book Social Multimedia Signals: A signal processing approach to Social network, it was cited that a recent research has shown that a significant population of users employs social media as a drug, which serves their needs of information consumption, social acceptance and trust factors. There are studies showing that your brain reacts to your post being ‘liked’ on Facebook creating a sense of social acceptance.

People have come to identify their self-worth through the number of friends and the number of likes for every post that they make. Socialization has gone from meeting face to face to liking, sharing and commenting. I will not be a hypocrite and come clean that I did not dread social acceptance from Facebook. The mere posting of photo wired through my Instagram account screams “like my photo.”

And it is the very reason that I fear that society will assume it as a norm and believe that it is how we value social acceptance. I dread the day that this generation would “virtually meet” their friends over Facebook, Skype, Whatsapp or other social media platforms, when they have the freedom to physically see each other. I do not want emoticons to replace the sound of laughter or excitement over meeting a friend. I still believe in the genuine smiles, the raising of eyebrows when there is an argument and the beauty of talking in its most sincere form.

One great example of someone who took socializing seriously was Jesus Christ. He travelled into different places to see people. He met with His disciples. He spent time with them and took the opportunity to teach and learn at the same time. He welcomed people’s request despite the mockery, the neglect and the denial.

I am an old soul, and I fancy long talks over coffee or tea and value the warmth that there is in face to face conversations. And yes, my love language is physical touch and spending time. I recognise the beauty of social table as the most honest form of friendship. But then, I see Facebook as an opportunity to empathize and connect to people in the hope that in a way or other I may have imparted something.

In the end, it still boils down to how we respond to the change that technology brings in our lives. Is there a way that we can turn this into something that is worthwhile? Did you catch that? If I am your friend on Facebook, I do hope that I made an impact in your life because I believe that it should be the goal of our relationships; to care and to accept as Christ has accepted us.

“Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.” -- Romans 15: 7

Sources:

http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/staff/alexandj/pdf/SocialAcceptanceGestures.pdf

http://www.jstor.org/stable/1126254?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

#word #social acceptance #blog #facebook #friends

A B C D Education

“Real wealth is the ability to think and to feel, not to be possessed by possessions, to give, to receive, to reason, to share.” – St. John Baptist de La Salle

Education allows us to acquire real wealth. Something that cannot be bought, something that is priceless and unique for every mankind, something that can be shared. Having been acquainted with a family of educators, I have seen education as a huge part of my life and recognised it as a crucial part of every person’s life as well. Learning about the life of St. John Baptist de La Salle, I have realised how one man can bring a great impact to the lives of many. I have seen more reasons to give importance to education.

St. La Salle grew up in a wealthy family but even with great possessions he has a different idea of what real wealth was. For him it is more than the material things. It is more than what his money can buy. Real wealth is being able to give to other people – creating an impact that will last. And that is what he did, he created an impact in the lives of many kids in Paris. He reformed the education system and he believed that change can happen to their lives through proper education. Throughout his life he has shown the values of a noble man. It is evident by how he has lived his life, from giving money to dealing kindly to the less fortunate people. For him, it doesn’t matter whether the child could pay or not but what matters is that quality education is provided to them.

A true Lasallian adheres to the values and principles set by St. La Salle;

1. Faith in the presence of God

St. La Salle has been condemned and judged by his detractors but it didn’t stop him, for he believed in greater vision that is from God. As mentioned in Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it,” Educating the kids is utmost of his priorities, and as he sees himself, he is indeed a friend to the children.

2. Concern for the poor, and social justice

St. La Salle has shown great concern to the poor, giving them equal rights forquality education. At the same thing, he gave equal opportunity to those who would like to be teachers. For him, a good education entails devoted teachers with true advocacy and respect for mission.

3. Quality Education

St. La Salle instigated reform in the education system in Paris. From one to one teaching he introduced, group learning. From then on, growth in knowledge and engagement among children increased.

4. Respect for all persons

Even if St. La Salle was of a wealthy background he dealt with the less fortunate people the same way he dealt with people of his society.

5. Inclusive community

St. La Salle believed that his work in the education system is a work of God and because it is from God he believed that it will prosper despite the challenges that they may face. It is true indeed what John Maxwell said that one is too small a number to achieve greatness. St. La Salle did not do it on his own but he recognised the great contribution of all the teachers he has worked with for the fruition of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

Having learned all of these, gave me an opportunity to re assess my vision for taking Business Administration. I work in a foundation called Young Focus for Education and Development Foundation Inc. From the name itself, our core programs speak of education from childhood and beyond. I am proud to be part of an organisation that adheres to encouraging growth in youth through education. I have seen St. La Salle’s principle in what we are doing – educating the less fortunate. Looking back to when I started graduate school, I can say that my journey has developed inside me the desire to help other people. It may be caused by the nature of my work but I know that La Salle has sparked in me an even greater desire to do so. I desire to be a social entrepreneur and create an impact through the business that I am involved with while helping communities and certain group of people. And as I continue my journey, I am looking forward to great possibilities and the fulfillment of the vision that God has planted inside me.

I believe that as it was made possible in the life of St. La Salle, God can do amazing things in my life too. I am on that journey and I am keeping my faith in Him. As my life verse says, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1

#Word #LaSalle #development work #education

"And then - only then we can travel the world.”

I wish I could weave the perfect words, but hey I’m no Shakespeare so please allow me to share the words of other people who get me every single time. It’s a weird time of the day to be writing actually (I should be sleeping!). But because I have been away for the longest time and my thoughts are running plus listening to this music just gets me high, I am not complaining. There’s something about words and music that I can’t get enough of. And there’s the idea of traveling, just traveling like you’re no longer a tourist. Well, I look forward to that but while waiting, how about a decent post from me? I just miss the moments when I can freely do my thing. So, I guess I’ll see you soon?

xx Belle

#belletriestowrite #perfectwords travel craymoments

So we asked them to make a Kindness Card (Valentine's Card) and Ygo decided to give it to his crush. He wrote down "One day I'll protect you." Aww these kiddos are way way adorbs! 💗

Oh Game Theory. Let the games begin!

Post- Valentine's date because I missed him. 💗 #Kylepogi

#kylepogi

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The Wander Belle