For the next part of our service-learning program, we have launched a fundraising campaign with a target amount of Php 20,000.00 so that we would be able to purchase the equipment needed for Buklod Tao.

 

 

As of Jan 31, 2021, we have already raised the amount of Php 25,700.00

 

 

The most challenging part of the e-service learning was finding a way to make the program sustainable. In researching the best practices of Buklod Tao’s choice of profit-making activities (essential oil), I interviewed Russel Lorenzo, the founder of Casa De Lorenzo, among the knowledge and best practices that he had given. He has offered to extend help to the community in the event they intend to scale up or continue with the livelihood project. With this in mind, it is just up to us to remind the community to accept the help offered by the commercial entity to be able to be sustainable.

In organizing projects like this, I realize that sustainability has been the problem of most, in this case, if followed through with Casa De Lorenzo and their extension of additional help, I could say that we as a group are successful with the project. Not only did we provide livelihood with the community of Buklod Tao, but we also solved the sustainability issue of such social projects, where many are short sighted.

Reflecting on the class, I have come to realize that communities needing help are more vulnerable during this COVID-19 pandemic. In our case, simple lapses in communication have denied a community of our help when they need it most when we had to change community partners due to a lack of respondents in our survey. As Lasallians, we should see problems plaguing society and acting on them, and we should not end there, we should also continue extending help long after we graduate for the betterment of society.