Swarms of mozzies, an unfamiliar diet, and adapting to locally- harvested coconut wine...

For Melbourne quarantine officer Dennis Alegre, these were just some of the challenges during a year-long stint with IDEAS, a Filipino non-government organisation.

Dennis spent most of last year in a rural community on Mindoro Island in the Philippines, with his heart and mind set on helping local farming people. He had arranged a voluntary placement through AUSAID's Volunteering for International Development from Australia (VIDA). This saw him attached to the Guillermo I Yason (GIYCF) Family Farm School, which was focused on environmental education and promoting organic agriculture. Guillermo I Yason is a community leader who was one of the `moving spirits' behind the school.

During his stay, Dennis immersed himself in the community and helped develop a three-hectare block of land to cultivate organic crops. He was working alongside a deeply-committed group of Filipinos, who had also sacrificed the comforts of urban lifestyles to better the prospects of the landless rural poor.


Dennis (center, spectacles) blends in with young friends on Mindoro Island, Philippines, where he volunteered one year of his life work with marginalised farming communities.

Around 39 per cent of Filipinos are farmers and 78 per cent have inadequate education, having only finished basic elementary schooling. Rural farming communities live largely in a state of poverty— education represents the best chance of a better future.

Dennis has fond memories of his experiences with the locals, but not quite so fond ones of the local mosquitoes: 'They can literally lift you off the ground if you don't have your mosquito nets up, or your insect repellant splashed all over your body.'

Technology also posed challenges. Dennis would cycle for around 3o minutes to check his emails: `then just as you are about to get settled in at one of the internet shops in the nearest town ... boom, the power goes, and with it the information superhighway'.

The local diet also took somegetting used to. 'Eating daily organic veggies, unpolished rice and dried fish, and drinking herbal teas was a bit of a shock at first, since I love my meat and my coffee. But then I just got to enjoy it.'

Dennis, a Filipino-Australian, had always wanted to give something back to his country of origin, after his own experiences brought him to his adopted country of Australia.

He achieved a Bachelor of Science in agriculture before beginning a career with AOIS. `It's good to bring these skills back to my country of birth— particularly with the farm school, which is equipping students in communal and organic farming practices to better their lives.'

Although his assignment was cut short by injury, Dennis is keen to work again with the program someday—to share his own expertise, and to learn as well. VIDA (www.vidavolunteers.com.au) and GIYCF Family Farm School ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) are both interested in skilled volunteers like Dennis, who can bring their expertise to disadvantaged people in areas like Mindoro.

Story by Stephan Stewart, reproduced with the permission of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and as published in the department's staff newsletter in February 2009. © Commonwealth of Australia 2009.