“Youth is the hope of our fatherland,” Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

Most of us, if not all, are familiar with this statement, a saying that holds hope for the younger generation and makes us believe that changes and developments are possible. As our national hero said in that statement, he has this strong belief in the strength and ability of the youth to make the nation better.

Living in this generation where societal expectations are rampant, youth are having more pressures on how they should live their lives from having a good education and a lucrative career. Hence, despite the pressures and expectations that burden them, it can be seen that youth are indeed doing and taking their part as an essential building block of the community. This can be proved by their participation and engagement in the community’s developmental activities.

Joyce T. De Jesus, a 20-year-old resident of Barangay Gatbo, Ocampo, Camarines Sur, is among today’s youth who confidently prove that their generation is truly the hope of the nation.

Her personality signifies the youth and the women who are blessed with the ability to lead and be part of the community’s transformative changes. Her story shows how a young woman can be of utmost significance in their barangay and to the nation.

Joyce’s journey in doing volunteer work began when she became an active member of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) during her senior high school days. This engagement led her to establish a project in their community, the water pump installation which helped majority of the residents in their barangay.

“Bali po isa sa mga suliraning kinakaharap ng aming barangay is yung kakulangan po sa tubig. Kaya po ang naisip kong solusyon dito ay yung water pump installation kung saan maraming tao ang maaaring matulungan ng proyektong ito. At saka po very evident naman po na need talaga ng tao ang tubig,” Joyce shared.

(One of the problems that our barangay is facing is the lack of water. That’s why I thought the water pump installation is the solution where many people would benefit. Besides, it’s very evident that people need water.)

Through her dedication and eagerness to help the residents in their community, Joyce’s project became successful and has helped a lot of people, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Seeing Joyce’s passion for helping the barangay, the people saw her ability which later led her to become a community volunteer of Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), as the Bid and Awards Committee chairperson in 2021.

Being a community volunteer is not easy. It requires a lot of effort and time with no payment in return. As she entered the world of volunteerism, she set her mind to be ready for the responsibility that a community volunteer should carry out and focus on the positive outcome that a project could give.

“…bilang isang community volunteer alam natin na volunteer tayo, wala tayong inaasahang sahod na darating. So, ang dapat na isipin natin is yung kalalabasan ng proyekto or kalalabasan ng ginagawa natin at ‘yun ay ang makatulong sa ating komunidad,” she said.

(Being a community volunteer, we know that we are a volunteer, we do not expect a salary. So what we need to think about is the outcome of the project or the result of what we are doing, and that is to help our community.)

Just like what others used to experience, Joyce and her co-volunteers had difficulty in encouraging the residents to participate in the community’s activity. However, it didn’t make her quit rather it ignited her ability to lead and be a role model.

“…bali nagsisimula po ito sa amin. Kasi kung isang leader ka tapos hindi ka makikitaan ng mga kapwa mo kabataan na kumikilos, parang hindi sila maeencourage. Kaya dapat bilang leader, ikaw ang magpapasimula kung pano gawin ang bagay,” she uttered.

(It should start with us. Because if you are a leader and then your fellow youth don’t see that you are doing anything, they will not be encouraged. So as a leader, you should be the one to initiate doing things.)

Despite the challenges that they have faced, Joyce considered her journey as something that is memorable to her. Thus, she considered the training provided by the KALAHI-CIDSS as one of her unforgettable memories as it gave her new knowledge and skills.

“So, bilang community volunteer ng KALAHI-CIDSS, ang karanasan na hindi ko makakalimutan is yung pagdating po sa trainings and seminars. Kasi marami po akong natutunan,” Joyce said.

(As a community volunteer of KALAHI-CIDSS, the unforgettable experience I had was the training and seminars. Because I learned a lot.)

With the help and participation of the community, they have successfully implemented the subprojects of KALAHI-CIDSS in their barangay, including the concreting of pathway with grouted riprap, capability building to Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT) and Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee (BDRRMC) for Camp Management and Health Emergency Response Team, Cash-for-Work, and concreting of barangay road.

“Dahil po doon sa KALAHI-CIDSS program, sa mga projects, nabigyang solusyon ang mga kinakaharap na suliranin ng aming barangay. Tulad na lamang po ng road, mas napadali ang transportasyon dito sa amin. Umaangat na din tulad ng ibang barangay,” Joyce gladly said.

(Because of the KALAHI-CIDSS program, the problems faced by our barangay were given solutions through the projects. Just like the road, the means of transportation becomes easier for us. And it seems that we’re getting closer to becoming a progressive place. We are improving just like the other barangay.)

Within almost two (2) years of being a community volunteer, Joyce showed her active involvement in every activity that their barangay has. Through this, the people noticed her ability to lead until she was pushed to run as Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairperson in 2023 and luckily won. In this next chapter of her journey, she greatly appreciates the learnings she got from KALAHI-CIDSS training and seminars as it helped her a lot in her new endeavor, specifically in managing and handling activities or projects.

“So, ang napulot ko pong aral bilang isang community volunteer ng KALAHI-[CIDSS] is yung patungkol po sa pagpaplano at pagle-lead. Yung mga kaalaman na nakuha ko is naaapply ko na din po kung paano planuhin ang aming budget, paano magkaroon ng mga proyekto,” she explained.

(The lesson that I learned as a community volunteer of KALAHI is about planning and leading… I was able to apply the learning that I acquired in planning our budget, and how to implement a project.)

Joyce’s journey has been both rewarding and enriching. Her leadership voyage, starting as an active GSP member, to a community volunteer of KALAHI-CIDSS, and becoming the SK Chairperson in their barangay is what let her build the legacy she wanted by helping the community.

“Worth it kasi ano, parang nakakagaan sa feeling na may natutulungan ka kahit wala kang nakukuha sa kanila, at least meron ka man lang legacy na maiiwan sa kanila,” she concluded.

(It’s worth it because you feel relieved in helping even if you don’t get anything in return from them, at least you have a legacy that you can leave with them.)

Written by: Alexandra H. Burce