Commitment, passion needed in community development work
3:53 AM
Vernon Joseph Go
After completing a degree in computer science, Jenny Tan is
equipped to work in the area of information technology where the pay and career
growth are promising.
However, Tan went a different way; she decided to build
her niche in community development far from operating systems of computers. She
works for a foundation as a program coordinator.
"After graduation, I was discerning where my heart
is, where I will be happy. I know community development is where I belong. I
decided to apply as a program assistant at Dilaab Foundation,” Tan said in
Cebuano. Dilaab Foundation is a
volunteer-driven, Church-based movement for a transformed Filipino nation
through heroic Christian citizenship.
She is one of the guests at Pagtuki, the official radio
program of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), last Saturday. Pagtuki is
aired every Saturday at dyLA 909 KHz, 10-11 a.m.
Tan cited her passion in community building as the reason
she has been involved in social development for the past three years already.
“My friends asked me why I am still at Dilaab Foundation.
It is because I feel the sense of belongingness in a way that I belong to a
community I am able to help. Each time I witness the impact of our projects, I
feel a sense of fulfilment that I could not explain. This is the thing I would
like to do for the rest of my life,” she said.
Mileesa Lumanog, recruitment in-charge of human resource
team of RAFI, said that the interest and passion to serve are very important
factors in working in community development.
Aside from skills and competencies, she pointed out that they
would also consider the character and attitude of an applicant.
“If all he or she has are skills but the commitment is
not there, he or she will not be able to last in the work that involves serving
various communities,” she said.
Lumanog added that social development is also a good
venue for personal and professional growth because of in-depth exposure in
community work.
