THE JOURNEY FROM VOLUNTEER TO PROGRAM DIRECTOR
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
november 18, 2022
BAYANIHAN SPIRIT
Sitting in a third grade classroom at Juangon Elementary School, Annie smiles as she explains the spirit of ‘bayanihan’ – a Filipino concept of community cooperation and unity. To Annie, this is what is so special about All Hands and Hearts’ (AHAH) Philippines Typhoon Rai Relief program in Southern Leyte: the selfless and unconditional acts of kindness to help a neighbor in need, the togetherness of the community and the love they have to share.
Although unaware of the term ‘bayanihan’ before arriving in the Philippines, the concept is something that Annie has felt since she began her AHAH journey as a Nepal Earthquake Relief volunteer in 2020. A sense of community, a collective willingness to serve others and an awareness of the good that can be achieved when people come together.
It is this desire to be part of a community working towards positive change that has inspired Annie’s journey from volunteer to Program Director.
NEPAL: THE START OF THE JOURNEY
Two weeks into a six week commitment in Nepal, Annie extended her stay to see out the completion of the project. Prior to arrival, she had been nervous and concerned about her lack of construction experience: “I had never even used a power tool before!” However, she recalls the kindness, patience and expertise the construction staff exemplified in their teachings. By breaking down the building of the earthquake resilient school into simple steps, anyone and everyone can get involved and have the opportunity to learn something in the process.
For the first three days on the school rebuild site, Annie sat in a children’s paddling pool, wearing rain boots, placing bricks in the water to soak. It would have been easy, she shares, to wonder what the point in this task was and if she was actually making a difference. The team explained the importance of the process and the integral part each task played. The bricks are particularly dry and if the bricks are set as they are, they will absorb the moisture from the concrete and the concrete will not cure properly. Therefore, without this vital step of soaking the bricks before laying them, the rebuild would not succeed.
For Annie, this anecdote symbolized part of the ‘magic’ of All Hands and Hearts. That spirit , similar to the Filipino ‘bayanihan’ spirit, has brought volunteers from all over the world to help others and that everyone has a part to play.
Brick by brick, wall by wall, it all adds up and, together, we can make lasting and positive change. Plus, make new friends along the way!
THE TRANSITION TO STAFF
Unfortunately, Annie’s time in Nepal ended abruptly when COVID-19 caused lockdowns across the world. As soon as AHAH’s programs reopened, Annie knew she had to return to the sense of purpose and community she had felt on program. She successfully applied for the position of Volunteer Engagement Coordinator for the Mexico Earthquake Relief program and saw out the rebuilding of two disaster-resilient schools.
Her journey then took her to Guatemala as Operations Manager. AHAH’s Guatemala Hurricane Relief program focused on providing safe access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in six schools – filling a crucial need in the communities. A need which had been further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her first two experiences on an AHAH program were incredibly rewarding and she learned some important lessons along the way. After her first role in Mexico, she was burnt out and had deprioritized self-care, expending all her energy on others; “You can’t pour from an empty cup” she realizes now.
She reflects that this was an essential lesson to learn and is grateful for this experience as it has made her into a more resilient and compassionate leader.
THE PRESENT: PROGRAM DIRECTOR
When the opportunity to apply for the Program Director position in the Philippines arose, she knew it was a role she couldn’t pass up. Similarly to her first volunteer experience, Annie was initially nervous about the position but her drive and passion pushed her forward. She is grateful for the staff members at All Hands and Hearts who have been mentors throughout her experience with the organization, who have supported her journey and helped her get to where she is today.
Although the role of Program Director is not without its challenges, for Annie, it’s the most rewarding experience yet: “I would do it again in a heartbeat!” Annie’s advice to anyone considering joining the management team of an AHAH program is: “If you have the passion for leadership, the passion for helping the community and the passion for empowering volunteers I would say go for it. And my advice is to carve out time for yourself. You can’t have compassion without boundaries so you must prioritize self-care.”
Inspired by Annie’s journey and want to join our team of dedicated and hard-working staff members, take a look at our current vacancies here.
In this blog, Annie shares the importance of mental health and putting self-care first. For more information on identifying and addressing burnout, read our wellbeing advice column.
