Julia works as a Project Development Officer at the Ateneo de Naga University Center for Local Governance. Read as she shares her thoughts on volunteering and her insights on livin' it AYAD style!

Q: Was it your first time to visit the Philippines? What was the first thing you did after knowing that you'd be assigned as a volunteer in the country?
A: Yes! Jumped on Google to research things about the Philippines and search u-tube to look up any images/videos of Naga City ;) I also asked everyone I knew if they'd been to the Philippines before, and when I found one person who had, I took them out to coffee and drilled them for all that they could tell me!

Q: Tell us about your assignment. How does it fit in the ANU-CLG sphere?
A: My 6 month assignment is as a Project Development Officer. I work with 20 partner barangays in Ateneo de Naga University's partner communities, including Buhi, Cabusao, Calabanga and Sagñay which are in the Camarines Sur Province of the Bicol Region. I firstly conducted desktop research to begin to understand the development issues in these areas. We then facilitated focus group discussion sessions at each partner community, inviting as wide a range of community members as possible, to ask them what they consider their main community development issues, to see if what the statistics were indicating matched what was the reality on ground. We asked the communities what their priority areas are that they'd like to work with Ateneo and CLG in improving, and we had project idea brainstorming sessions. I then used this information to develop project proposals and submit funding applications. In the last part of my assignment I'm going to do capacity building of my HO and other departments in the University in project proposal and funding application writing, as well as for our partner communities. I'm also trying to set up a sustainability plan, so things can keep going after I leave. I'm also proposing a Good Governance Champions Forum and Good Governance Champion award for Bicol which will raise awarenesss and promote best practice case studies in good governance at local and regional levels. 

Q: So far, what is the biggest challenge in the assignment? How are you dealing/how have you dealt with it?
A: The two biggest challenges I've had is (1) Trying to remember that being called 'Barbie doll' here is a compliment, not an insult like it usually is in Australia, and (2) Cross-cultural communication: it is difficult to always be understood by others and to also understand others despite best efforts!  



Q: If you were to sell Bicol as a tourist destination, what 3 words should NOT be missing in your campaign?
A: CARAMOAN, CARAMOAN, CARAMOAN!

Q: What's your top 3 Pinoy food?
A: Pork Sisig (who doesn't love chopped up pan fried pigs ears and cheeks... apart from vegetarians!), leche flan and.... hmmm... buko pandan.

Q: What do you do during your free time? (Assuming you even had any, LOL)
A: Try to explore the rest of Bicol and the Philippines, as well as chilling around Naga. Its great to have Shannon and Lea here in Naga and James nearby in San Jose, other volunteers from Intake 24.

Q: What do you see yourself doing after AYAD?
A: Going back to Australia for 12 months or so to a new position in my old workplace (local government in Melbourne) working on sustainable transport at a community level. I'd like to do some internships in Australia as a RAYAD with AusAID, AusTraining and AVI. I'm interested in working in international development from the volunteer mobilization and support side in Australia, as well as doing more assignments overseas myself. I've already got my eye on one particular program in Cambodia, and I'm already thinking about coming back to the 'Pines of course!

Q: What would be your most unforgettable AYAD moment?
A: Hmmm... Caramoan Islands literally took my breath away, pure unspoilt paradise. The never-ending friendliness (and curiosity!) of people here. Lastly, trying to swallow Balut... never again!



Q: How has the whole AYAD experience changed you?
A: I've learnt many things whilst I've been here, I've experienced the highs and lows of community development, with the really rewarding times as well as some difficult and frustrating times. I don't see myself as changed so much, just grown, and even more sure that local level small scale community work is what I am most interested in being involved in, now and into the future.

Q: Any message for those who are still thinking twice about volunteering in the Philippines?
A: Come here with an open mind and heart and you'll fall in love with the place and people here, like they will with you.