Arriving in Manila was an interesting experience and after a relaxed morning we arrived at ISM to begin my first GIN conference. I was surprised at first to walk in and find the conference completely being run by students. As well this how they had organised it was a lot like JUMP in the way they do their work.
After interesting ice breakers we were put into groups to begin our first activate, a NGO simulation.
The aim of this was rather interesting, as a small NGO with a specialty in something you had to get care packages to the government. As the game continued on, the game escalated quickly soon it turned into chaos as everyone was frantic for supplies and would do anything to get them.
After that, It was time for the GANG discussions which were quite interesting to observe. Being the Media Team to the conference and trying to learn about the compass model as much as possible, we found out a lot about how to use it and how to apply it into Change and Action, Approaching the work as well was a strategy that I learnt, being sure to look at the problem for 4 different points of view, the four different points on the compass; Economy, Society, Well-being and Nature.
The main theme of these discussions were Act Today, So that we change tomorrow, trying to get us to realise that even the smallest change can make a big difference in the world. As well as this one of the messages that was trying to be passed on was that even the smallest change does make a difference in the world. One of the quotes they used that resonates with me was one by Ronald Reagan that said, 'We can’t help everyone, but we can help someone.’
The Next Day we were all up early again to go the local service trips. I went to PCF, an organisation that has been set up on the outskirts of Manila to help the children there that lived on the rubbish dumps. Their principle guideline was that everyone needs an education to continue on in life and that PCF would be there to help them. I found that PCF is extremely like ISF, an organisation in Cambodia that does similar work. It was interesting work and I PCF was really making a difference. Their sustainability plans, and how they were helping people was extremely interesting as well. Overall I thought that the service component was really great, however the service that we do is extremely similar to what we do, whilst being different at the same time.
Overall I think that this conference has been great,I have learnt a lot about facilitating a conference, the compass model as well as being sustainable in the action that we do.
- Sahil J.
After interesting ice breakers we were put into groups to begin our first activate, a NGO simulation.
The aim of this was rather interesting, as a small NGO with a specialty in something you had to get care packages to the government. As the game continued on, the game escalated quickly soon it turned into chaos as everyone was frantic for supplies and would do anything to get them.
After that, It was time for the GANG discussions which were quite interesting to observe. Being the Media Team to the conference and trying to learn about the compass model as much as possible, we found out a lot about how to use it and how to apply it into Change and Action, Approaching the work as well was a strategy that I learnt, being sure to look at the problem for 4 different points of view, the four different points on the compass; Economy, Society, Well-being and Nature.
The main theme of these discussions were Act Today, So that we change tomorrow, trying to get us to realise that even the smallest change can make a big difference in the world. As well as this one of the messages that was trying to be passed on was that even the smallest change does make a difference in the world. One of the quotes they used that resonates with me was one by Ronald Reagan that said, 'We can’t help everyone, but we can help someone.’
The Next Day we were all up early again to go the local service trips. I went to PCF, an organisation that has been set up on the outskirts of Manila to help the children there that lived on the rubbish dumps. Their principle guideline was that everyone needs an education to continue on in life and that PCF would be there to help them. I found that PCF is extremely like ISF, an organisation in Cambodia that does similar work. It was interesting work and I PCF was really making a difference. Their sustainability plans, and how they were helping people was extremely interesting as well. Overall I thought that the service component was really great, however the service that we do is extremely similar to what we do, whilst being different at the same time.
Overall I think that this conference has been great,I have learnt a lot about facilitating a conference, the compass model as well as being sustainable in the action that we do.
- Sahil J.