February 4-7, 2011- M.A.D. Camp
CAMP BRIEFER
By: Mark Conrad Ravanzo and Christian Marx Rivero
BACKGROUNDThe cry to make every Filipino child’s dream come true in our own little ways is prevailing. We believe that change would not be impossible if together we will make it possible. Everyone has a power to touch someone’s lives and it doesn’t matter how big or how small it is, everyone can make a difference. You just need to dream, believe, make a stand and shout: I am M.A.D.!
Batang Iskolar Program: I am M.A.D. (Making A Difference) is an advocacy to make a difference in the lives of the Filipino children and in return, they will also make a difference in their own simple yet meaningful ways.
The program basically aims to make a difference through: encouraging children finish their education despite of socio-economic problems faced by their families thru donations of school supplies and the like; inculcating culture of peace in the lives of these children and developing their leadership skills young as they are during the M.A.D. workshop which has several activities such as story telling, team building activities, games and obstacle course ; promoting community activities initiated by the kids them selves; and advocating the “10 M.A.D. commitments” which they promise to practice everyday:
- I will pray and thank God for a new day as I wake up.
- I will smile and greet the people around me.
- I will eat nutritious food every meal.
- I will share my food those who doesn't have.
- I will throw my garbage in the trashcan.
- I will play with fairness and sportsmanship.
- I will return any lost and found items to the authority.
- I will study my lessons before going to bed.
- I will hug my parents and tell them how much I love them.
- I will start making a difference within myself today.
Since it started last January 2010, the program has reached 6 areas plus 4 more places in the Philippines as the year starts, which includes; Basilan, Isabela City, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Del Sur, North Cotabato, Davao, Gingoog, Romblon, Batangas and La Union with 400 children involved.
The Batang Iskolars have initiated projects such as tree planting with the military in their community, coastal clean up with the barangay leaders; have made cleaning materials for their school, and the like. Positive changes were noticed by the teachers and parents brought about by the project, the kids have become more participative in school activities and excels in class, and when they reach home, they were more responsible now and most especially they have been affectionate with their parents which was a total opposite before. Their respective communities have started to work hand in hand with the children and their families towards community progress. With this, the children are taking small steps in making a bigger difference in the world.
The authors of the project are Mark Conrad Ravanzo and Christian Marx Rivero. Both of them together with the Area Coordinators from the places identified are conducting the workshops, organizing the activities and who looks for sponsors to put up a successful M.A.D. activity.
The smiles and hopes of the children are priceless, and that’s the main reason why we continue to be M.A.D. in more places in the Philippines. We aim to inspire more youths to be an emblem of change and to influence more children to be M.A.D.!
ABOUT THE CAMP
The Children of the Earth Philippines under its flagship project “Batang Iskolar Program: I am M.A.D. (Making A Difference) is bringing youths from all over the country in one venue to celebrate their passion to make a difference in the lives of other people.
The main objective of the camp is to train passionate youths to be M.A.D. ambassadors in their own community. These M.A.D. ambassadors will be equipped with knowledge, skills and attitude on how to initiate the project in their areas when they go back their places after the said camp. There will be workshops on how to handle activities during the launching of the project, sharing of experiences from the authors to give them a clear picture on what to do when some challenges arises, how to do networking and partnerships with other organization to have more resources, and to strengthen their passion in pursuing our advocacies in life.
The camp will serve as an avenue to build networks of M.A.D. ambassadors in the country, to establish rapport with other youths that has the same passion and most especially to create a one big family of Filipino youths working to make a difference in their own simplest yet meaningful ways.
VISION
We envision that the Batang Iskolar Program: I am M.A.D. will reach 50 remote areas involving 2,000 Filipino children in 2015.
MISION
The M.A.D. camp shall produce passionate, effective and dedicated M.A.D. ambassadors who will initiate the Batang Iskolar Program: I am M.A.D. in their own communities.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Dream. Everything starts with a dream; we must be the dreamer of our own beliefs and the believer of our own dreams.
Believe. There would no one else who must believe in thy self but yourself per se. When you believe, little by little everything will come into reality
Make a stand. When you believe in something, you should stand firm and let it happen. It will never happen if you won’t make a single step.
Shout: I am M.A.D. Celebrate and rejoice your advocacy and influence other people to make a difference. What you dreamed, believed and stood for will never be an inspiration if you will not share it to other people.
VENUE, ACCOMODATION and DATE
The 2011 M.A.D. Camp will be held on February 4-7, 2011 at Mati, Davao Oriental Philippines.
It is located in the southeastern most part of the Philippine Archipelago in the Island of Mindanao. It is a part of the prosperous and peaceful Davao Region. The eastern side is bounded by the great Pacific Ocean and the Southern tip is the Celebes Sea. The lowland portion of the town including the poblacion hugs the majestic Pujada Bay.
For more details of the place, please visit www.mati.gov.ph
The participants will be staying with their foster families for the whole duration of the camp letting them experience the genuine hospitality of the people in Mati, Davao Oriental. The morning activities will be held in Robat-Rocamora Mati Central Elementary School which is the beneficiary of the project: Batang Iskolar Program: I am M.A.D. (Making A Difference).
Day
Date
Time
Activities
Day 1
February 4, 2011
9:00 – 12:00
Arrival of participants
1:00 – 2:00
Registration
2:00 – 3:00
Opening Program
3:00 - 5:00
Orientation about M.A.D.
5:00 – 6:00
Send out to Foster Families
Day 2
February 5, 2011
9:00 – 5:00
M.A.D. workshop with the Batang Iskolars
Day 3
February 6, 2011
9:00 – 12:00
Community Activity/ Community Immersion
1:00 – 2:00
Home Visitation
2:00 – 5:00
M.A.D. Ambassador’s Forum
6:00 – 8:00
Solidarity Night
Day 4
February 7, 2011
9:00 – 12:00
Awarding of Batang Iskolars and Distribution of School Supplies
1:00 – 2:00
Strategic Planning/ Action Planning
3:00 - 5:00
Mati Experience
6:00 – 7:00
Closing Program and Thank You Dinner with the Foster Families
REGISTRATION
Click here for registration form.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
The COE Philippines would like to request financial support to make the M.A.D. Camp 2011 a success. The cost of the camp is 400 USD which includes the school supplies that will be donated to the Batang Iskolars of Robat-Rocamora Mati Central Elementary School, the food of the participants during day-time activities, local transportation for the community activity and some camp paraphernalia such as certificates and the like.
The participants have done fundraising activities to cover the costs of their travel from their community to the venue.
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have any questions and queries regarding the camp, we are very happy to answer it. Please email us at children_of_the_earth.phil@yahoo.com or you can personally reach our camp directors through their email address: