For Show?

I was following up our organization’s project proposal at the UST Office for Student Affairs yesterday morning. Another officer from our local student council, who was one of the most enthusiastic persons I ever met, was with me. She was to submit a proposal of a community development project that involved the Mr. and Ms. Nursing pageant finalists and an institution in Manila which caters to cognitively challenged children.

“Oh, ano gagawin ninyo diyan sa project ninyo?” I asked after scanning the proposal

“Uhm…spend time with the kids at (insert name of institution here),” she answered.

I knew then that this proposal would garner criticisms from the Office for Community Development Director, Asst.Prof. Joey Cruz III. As I would remember quite vividly during our Community Health Nursing (CHN) discussions with him, he would always point out that a Community Development project must be sustainable, long term, and participatory. As such, the project should be able to be carried out by the community, developed through the years while promoting the community’s independence in the aspects of planning, mobilization, and evaluation. The role of organizers would just then be limited to being facilitators to the change. Speaking of nursing theory, this is in line with the role of the nurse of being a “change agent”, keeping with the idea that they would not be the one who’ll do the work for the community, but rather with them. In a nutshell, the goal of community development must be aimed at helping people help themselves.

It does not involve dole-out distribution of goods such as donation of resources, neither medical missions which only offer short term relief to the people’s situation. Yes, these projects may be necessary at times of crisis and epidemics but we also have to carefully discern when to carry out such.

Clearly, “spending time with the kids” wouldn’t pass as a legitimate mean of community development. Sir Joey would also tell us (during his CHN classes) about his reservations regarding “community outreach activities” of pageant participants. According to him, it is an unnecessary part of pageants. Kumbaga, masabi lang na nag outreach sila. And I completely agree with him.

I say if they would really like to get involved in the community, a more purposeful project would’ve been giving health teachings to rural communities or maybe taking up an advocacy such as by serving as an HIV counselor in the advocacy group called The Red Whistle. I think the skills and knowledge base of a nurse is more than enough for them to perform such function.

Anyway, Sir Joey still signed the project after figuratively grilling project and the officer behind it. I guess we’re having another outreach for pageant participants this year. But if I were to be asked, I wouldn’t sign such.

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To the officer who I mentioned here, I still love you as part of our student council. I think that you are very efficient leader with an amazing charisma although I believe that this project needs a little more tune-up for it to be more impactful. :)