Module 4

Topic 1
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT

Environmental protection 
Environmental protection is the practice of protecting the natural environment by individuals,
organizations and governments. Its objectives are to conserve natural resources and the existing
natural environment and, where possible, to repair damage and reverse trends.

 Environmental Management refers to the management of modern human society with, and its
impact on, the environment. Because natural resources are finite and limited, they can only
support a certain population within any species. • Environmental management means different
things to different people.

Environmental management is the process by which environmental health is regulated. It does not
involve managing the environment itself, but it is the process of taking steps and behaviors to
have a positive effect on the environment. To reduce the risk of these environmental impacts’
occurrence, we clearly set objectives and targets such as: Protection of Land Conservation of
Water; Protection of Forests; Animals in Our Environment; Our Climate.

Characteristics of environmental management

It deals with world affected by humans;

It supports sustainable development
It demands a multidisciplinary approach;
It has to integrate different development view points;
It seeks to integrate natural & social science, policy making & planning.

Concept of Environmental Management is an attempt to control human impact on and interaction

with the environment in order to preserve natural resources. Environmental management focuses
on the improvement of human welfare for present and future generations. Administrative
functions that develop, implement, and monitor the environmental policy of an organization.
Environment management implies not only a mere management of environment but it is
essentially the management of various activities with intolerable constraints imposed by the
environment itself and with full consideration of ecological factors. Thus it involves
environmental planning, conservation of resources, environmental status evaluation and
environmental legislation and administration.

Significance of Environmental Management is an approach which integrates Ecology, Policy

making, Planning and Social development. Its main objectives are as follows:

To prevent and solve environmental problems.

To establish limits
To develop research institutions and monitoring systems.
To warn threats and identify opportunities.
To suggest measures for resource conservation.
To develop a strategy for the improvement of quality.
To suggest long-term and short-term policies for sustainable development.
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To identify new technology for future development

Topic 2
SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS

THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENT

1. Everything is connected to everything else. (Ang lahat ng bagay ay magkakaugnay.)

Human interaction with nature oftentimes alters the ecosystems. The waste we
improperly dispose of brings about the deterioration of land and water quality. This may
in turn reduce their capacity to provide life for other organisms. Deforestation causes soil
erosion and the earth deposited on the water bodies covers the coral reefs resulting to
fishery loss. Suspended particulates from vehicular and stationary sources may cause
lung problems among city residents. War causes destruction of wildlife and habitats.
There is a cause and effect chain, even when it is neither always visible nor observable.

2. All forms of life are important. (Ang lahat na may buhay ay mahalaga.)
All living organisms were created for a purpose in relation to humans, other species on
earth and global ecosystem in general. Thus, when a species becomes extinct, it is like
removing a piece of a jigsaw puzzle from the web of life. The variety of life forms,
manifested by the different levels of biological diversity – community, species and genes
– contributes to the stability of the environment. Food webs, food chains and ecological
relationships link plants and animals together in the web of life. Even bacteria, insects,
snakes and rats have ecological functions even though humans perceive them as parasites
or pests.

The composition of biological diversity naturally changes slowly but the rate of transition
has become faster due to factors such as habitat destruction. Deforestation may diminish
forest species such as birds that are vulnerable to modification of their home. Pollution of
waters reduces the quantity of fishes, shells, algae and other aquatic life. Over harvesting
of natural products likewise contributes to the unsustainable use of food and material
resources.

To maintain ecological balance, therefore, the conservation of genes, species and

ecosystems becomes essential to keep life together. Biodiversity conservation strategies
commence with the protection of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Land uses, such
as protected areas, ensure that the natural state of these habitats continue to exist in
designated areas. Community-based approaches in conservation maximize citizens’
participation in protected areas. Integrity of natural ecosystems can likewise be guarded
through the preservation of indigenous species.

3. Everything must go somewhere. (Ang lahat ng bagay ay may patutunguhan.)

By-products of consumption go back to the environment. Everything that we throw away
– pieces of paper, left-over food, peelings of fruits, plastic wrappers, used containers –
have to go somewhere. Even plants and animals have their own wastes – feces, urine,

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dead leaves and branches. It is the law of nature that the by-products of metabolism
return to the soil, acted upon first by worms, bacteria and fungi, and then converted into
minerals, to be again absorbed by plants and eaten by animals. In short, they enter into a
material cycle that is an integral part of the ecosystem. But what happens if what we
throw is an artificial product such as plastic? Then natural bacteria can not recognize
them and may not be capable of breaking them apart. These non-biodegradable products
must enter another material cycle – the one that goes to the factory to be manufactured
into a new product. Thus the retrieval, collection and recycling of these materials become
necessary so that they do not pollute land and water habitats.

4. Ours is a finite earth. (Ang kalikasan ay may hangganan.)

Everything that we need is provided by nature in abundance – food, water, energy,
minerals and air. However, some resources that we depend upon nowadays are extracted
excessively but are slow to replace. These non-renewable resources experience limits of
supply. For instance, fossil fuels produced over thousands of years may be exhausted in a
hundred years. Some energy sources like water, and wood may be replaced easier but
have become inaccessible due to pollution and excessive extraction. Diminishing forest
cover have resulted from logging, ineffective reforestation and continued land
conversion. However, food scarcity and poverty may have resulted from failed
distribution systems rather than inability of the land and water bodies to yield food.

5. Nature knows best. (Ang kalikasan ang mas nakakaalam.)

Nature manifests certain processes that enable it to maintain balance and remain in a state
of equilibrium. The nutrient cycling of nitrogen, carbon, sulfur and phosphorous in the
air, water and land indicates that minerals are utilized within the confines of the earth.
The flow of energy from the sun enables light to be converted into sugar in plants through
photosynthesis, and later for consumer organisms to obtain energy from plant starch.
Food chains and food webs allow transfer of energy from producers and consumers and
provide the means for all living organisms to acquire nutrition. Population control also
occurs naturally through predator – prey relationships.

The equilibrium in the ecosystem is maintained, thus if humans intervene, unforeseen

negative impacts known as ecological backlash, may arise. Floods are often times
backlashes of excessive felling of trees. The importation of golden kuhol, that became a
pest, reminds us that biological organisms may not acclimatize in a new environment or
may cause harm to indigenous species.

6. Nature is beautiful and we are stewards of God’s creation. (Ang kalikasan ay

maganda at tayo ang tagapangasiwa ng lahat na nilikha ng Diyos.)
Different religions from Islam to Buddhism to Judeo-Christian to indigenous people’s
animism express the belief of caring for the earth, including all creatures. Thus it is the
goal of environmental education and biodiversity conservation education to motivate
target audiences towards developing an eco-spirituality that moves them into a more
meaningful relationship with nature and a greater participation in the biophysical
economic processes that make this world a better place to live in.

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7. Everything changes. (Ang lahat ay nagbabago.)
Changes in the biophysical world occur naturally. As they say, there is nothing more
permanent in this world than change. Consider the following examples. Metamorphosis
of caterpillars to butterflies illustrates morphological changes that occur in living forms.
The increase of vegetation on earth augmented the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere
through time. Seasons are cyclic changes that contribute to the diversity of flowers, fruits,
vegetables and other crops during the year. Random changes manifested by natural
catastrophe such as typhoons destroy forests, coral reefs and mangroves. Volcanic
eruptions annihilate surface flora and submerge rivers.

IMPORTANT E
TH

TH THE SEVEN LAWS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LAW

LAW DESCRIPTION
1. R.A. 9003 – Ecological Solid In partnership with stakeholders, the law aims
Waste Management Act of 2000 to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and
ecological solid waste management program
that shall ensure the protection of public health
and environment. The law ensures proper
segregation, collection, storage, treatment and
disposal of solid waste through the formulation
and adaptation of best eco-waste products.

2. R.A. 9275 – Philippine The law aims to protect the country's water
Clean Water Act of bodies from pollution from land-based sources
2004 (industries and commercial establishments,
agriculture and community/household
activities). It provides for comprehensive and
integrated strategy to prevent and minimize
pollution through a multi-sectoral and
participatory approach involving all the
stakeholders.
3. R.A. 6969 – Toxic The law aims to protect the country's water
Substances, bodies from pollution from land-based sources
Hazardous and Nuclear (industries and commercial establishments,
Waste Control Act of 1990 agriculture and community/household
activities). It provides for comprehensive and
integrated strategy to prevent and minimize
pollution through a multi-sectoral and
participatory approach involving all the
stakeholders
4. R.A. 8435 – Agriculture It establishes that the Department of
and Fisheries Agriculture, together with other appropriate
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Modernization Act of agencies, should take into account climate
1997 change, weather disturbances and annual
productivity cycles in forecasting and
formulating appropriate agricultural and
fisheries programs.

5. R.A. 8749 – Clean Air Act of This moves for an effective air quality
1999 management program that will mitigate the
worsening problem of air pollution in the
country.

6. R.A. 9512 – National This promotes national awareness on the role

Environmental Awareness of natural resources in economic growth and
and the importance of environmental conservation
Education Act of 2008 and ecological balance towards sustained
national development.

7. R.A. 9513 – Renewable It promotes the development, utilization and

Energy Act of 2008 commercialization of renewable energy
resources.

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Topic 3
FOREST PROTECTION CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

Forest protection is a branch of forestry which is concerned with the preservation or

improvement of a forest and prevention and control of damage to forest by natural or man-made
causes. (Example - fire, animals, insect, fungi, injurious plants and adverse climatic conditions.)
This forest protection also has a legal status and rather than protection from only people
damaging the forests is seen to be broader and include forest pathology too. Thus due to this the
different emphases around the world paradoxically suggest different things for forest protection..
The types of man-induced abuse that forest protection seeks to prevent include:

 Aggressive or unsustainable farming and logging

 Pollution of soil on which forests grow
 Expanding city development caused by population explosion and the resulting urban
sprawl

Forest Conservation
Did you know that forests are called the lungs of
the environment? They are a factory
of oxygen and various other very important
natural resources. Can humans live without their
lungs? Similarly, the environment too would not
survive without forests. Let us take a look at
forest conservation.

Forest conservation as the name suggests is the

preservation and the protection of forests. It also
involves the reversal
of deforestation and environmental pollution. The
preservation of all natural resources is absolutely
essential for the balance of our ecosystem.

Importance of Forests

Let us take a look at why forests are so very important to us and our environment. We are basically
dependent on forests for our survival. And so their conservation is of essential importance.

 The most important function of forests is that it produces mass amounts of oxygen as a by-
product of photosynthesis. Oxygen is the main respiratory gas for all animals, it ensures our
survival.
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 And while photosynthesis, trees also absorb carbon dioxide from the air. This is one of the
main pollutants of air pollution. Hence forests also reduce air pollution.

 Forests also prevent soil erosion and keep soil pollution in check. Deforestation, in fact,
leads to soil erosion on a large scale since the topsoil comes loose.

 Forests also play an important part in the water cycle and control moisture levels of our
ecosystem.

 And finally, forests are the natural home and habitat for millions of species
of animals, birds, and insects.

Ways to Conserve the Forest

Controlled Deforestation
While deforestation cannot be avoided completely, we must look to control it. Young and immature
trees should not be felled as far as possible. We must look to avoid large-scale commercial
deforestation as well. Adapting practices such as clear-cutting or selective cutting will be beneficial
in the long run.

Protect against Forest Fires

Forest fires are the most common and deadly cause of loss of forests. They can start due to natural
causes or can be accidents caused by man or even intentional in some cases. Once a fire spreads in a
forest it is very difficult to control. Precautions must be taken for such incidents. Making fire lanes,
spreading chemicals to control fire, clearing out dry leaves and trees etc.

WATER CONSEVATION

What is Water Conservation?

Water conservation is a practice in which people, companies, and governments attempt to reduce
their water usage. Water is essential to life on earth. We need water to grow food, keep clean,
provide power, control fire, and last but not least, we need it to stay alive! If water is constantly
being cleaned and recycled through the earth’s water cycle,
People use up our planet’s fresh water faster than it can naturally be replenished.

Water Conservation

1. Take short showers and share bathwater. Showers use much less water. The other
choice is to fill a bucket with water and take a can or a jug, and keep filling it with
water from the bucket and pouring it over your head - if you have some extra water
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save it for some other person to use. You can lather yourself up with the water
turned off in the middle of the shower.
2. Pollute less. When washing dishes, wash greasy pans last to keep the water clean.
3. Turn off taps properly. Especially when brushing your teeth - every little bit helps.
4. Fix dripping taps. The constant drip wastes water, energy and money, so repair them
as soon as possible. You can also save by installing an inexpensive "flow control"
device in shower heads and faucets.
5. Use appliances efficiently. Running the clothes washer with a full load and using
cold water (30 degrees Celsius) whenever possible can lead to big energy savings.
Use detergents that clean clothes effectively in colder water.

Learning Exercise 1.1

Name :__________________________________ Course : __________ Time : _______

Trainer : _________________________________ Date : __________ Score : _______

1. As a college student how can you protect or conserved forest?

_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

2. Enumerate some simple ways on how you conserve water

_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
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3. As a young people, what is your role in protecting and improving the environment?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________
 MODULE 5

Topic 1
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT

Introduction

Human security, in its broadest sense, embraces far more than the absence of violent
conflict. It encompasses human rights, good governance, access to education and health care and
ensuring that each individual has opportunities and choices to fulfil his or her potential…Every
step in this direction is also a step towards reducing poverty, achieving economic growth and
preventing conflict. Freedom from want, freedom from fear, and the freedom of future
generations to inherit a healthy natural environment – these are the interrelated building blocks
of human – and therefore national – security.

National Security is defined as the state or condition wherein the values which a nation
treasures such as territorial integrity, sovereignty, people’s way of life and well-being are protected
and enhanced. It is the requirement to maintain the survival of the nation-state through the use of
economic military and political power and the exercise of diplomacy

National Security is also defined as the state or condition wherein the values which a
nation treasures such as territorial integrity, sovereignty, people’s way of life and well-being
are protected and enhanced. It is the requirement to maintain the survival of the nation-state
through the use of economic military and political power and the exercise of diplomacy. The
measures taken to ensure national security include:

Using diplomacy to rally allies and isolate threats;

Maintaining effective armed forces;
Implementing civil defense and emergency preparedness measures (including anti-
terrorism legislation);
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Ensuring the resilience and security of critical infrastructure; and

Using intelligence services to detect and defeat or avoid threats and espionage, and
to protect classified information.

In the Philippine context as indicated by the NSC Permanent Secretariat, National Security
is described as a condition or state of being where the Filipino people’s values, way of life,
institutions, welfare, and well-being, sovereignty and strategic relations are protected and
enhanced. The elements of National Security are the following:

 Moral-spiritual consensus
 Cultural cohesiveness
 Economic solidarity
 Socio-political stability Ecological balance
 Territorial integrity
 International harmony

Topic 2
THREE MAJOR PILLARS OF NATIONAL SECURITY

(National Security Policy 2017-2022, National Security Council)

1. Safeguarding the Philippine’s national Unity, its democracy and its social
institutions – All citizens share one national identity that is, being Filipinos
regardless of their ethnic, religious, cultural and ideological orientation.
2. Security of the State and preserving and protecting its sovereignty, territorial integrity
and institutions
– This is provided in the Constitution as stated in the following:
 Definition of national territory consistent with new international covenants (Art. I)
 Renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy (Art. II Sec. 2)
 Civilian supremacy over military (Art. II Sec. 3)
 Role of the armed forces as protector of the people and the State (Art. II Sec. 3)

 Maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty and property and
the promotion of the general welfare (Art. II Sec. 5)

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 Pursuit of an independent foreign policy based on national sovereignty and

national interest (Art. II Sec. 7)

 Right to self-determination (Art. II Sec. 7)

3. Protection of properties, infrastructures and keeping the people safe from all forms of
threats, both here and abroad, and to the extent possible, creating jobs in order to bring back
home overseas Filipino workers where their physical safety can be fully guaranteed by the
Government.ONAL SECURITY AND THE NSTP PROGRAM

The 1987 Philippine Constitution enshrined in its Declaration of Principles that the Filipinos
are duty-bound to protect the country and, as such, they may be subjected to undergo service
training programs (Art. II, Sec. 14, The Philippine Constitution). The Government may call
upon the people to defend the state, and in fulfilment thereof, all citizens may be required,
under conditions provided by law, to render personal, military or civil service.

The NSTP is a program aimed at enhancing civic consciousness and defense preparedness
in the youth by developing the ethics of service and patriotism while undergoing training in
any of its three (3) program components, specifically designed to enhance the youth's active
contribution to the general welfare.

Manpower Reservoir for National Security

1. Graduates of CWTS and LTS shall belong to the National Service Reserve Corps
(NSRC) which could be tapped by the State for literacy and civic welfare activities
such assisting in disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and rehabilitation
programs.

2. Graduates of the ROTC component shall form part of the AFP Citizen
Armed Forces and AFP Reserve Force, subject to DND requirements.

Topic 3
THREATS IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY

Internal security, is the act of keeping peace within the borders of a sovereign state or
other self-governing territories, generally by upholding the national law and defending against
internal security threats. Responsibility for internal security may range
from police to paramilitary forces, and in exceptional circumstances, the military itself.
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Threats to the general peace may range from low-level civil disorder, large scale violence, or
even an armed insurgency. Threats to internal security may be directed at either the
state's citizens, or the organs and infrastructure of the state itself, and may range from
petty crime, serious organized crime, political or industrial unrest, or even domestic terrorism.
Foreign powers may also act as a threat to internal security, by either committing or sponsoring
terrorism or rebellion, without actually declaring war.

Governmental responsibility for internal security will generally rest with an interior ministry, as
opposed to a defence ministry. Depending on the state, a state's internal security will be
maintained by either the ordinary police or more militarised security forces (known
as Gendarmerie or, literally, the Internal Troops.). Other specialized internal security agencies
may exist to augment these main forces, such as border guards, special police units, or aspects of
the state's intelligence agencies. In some states, internal security may be the primary
responsibility of a secret police force.

The level of authorized force used by agencies and forces responsible for maintaining internal
security might range from unarmed police to fully armed paramilitary organizations, or employ
some level of less-lethal weaponry in between. For violent situations, internal security forces
may contain some element of military type equipment such as non-military armored vehicles.

THREATS TO NATIONAL SECURITY

National Security – is a state or condition where our most cherished values and beliefs
our democratic way of life, our institutions of governance and our unity, welfare and
well- being as a nation and people are permanently protected and continuously enhanced.

There are seven (7) fundamental elements that lie at the core which therefore further
amplify our definition of national security. At the same time, they constitute the most
important challenges we face as a nation and people.

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1. Socio – political stability- We must achieve peace and harmony among all
Filipinos, regardless of creed, ethnic origin or social station. The government and the
people must engage in nation – building under the rule of law, constitutional democracy
and the full respect for human rights.

2. Territorial integrity- we must ensure the permanent inviolability of our nation

territory and it’s effective control by the government and the state.

3. Economic solidarity and strength – we must vigorously pursue a free – market

economy through responsible entrepreneurship based on social conscience, respect for
the dignity of labor and concern for the public interest.

4. Ecological balance – national survival rests upon the effective conservation of

our natural environmental in the face of industrial and agricultural expansion and
population growth.

5. cultural cohesiveness – our lives as a people must be ruled by a common set of

values and believe grounded on high moral and ethical standards, drawn from our
heritage and embodying a Filipino standard identity transcending religious, ethic and
linguistic differences.

6. Moral – spiritual consensus – we must be propelled by a national vision

inspired and manifested in our words and deeds, by patriotism national pride and the
advancement of national goals and objective.

7. External peace – we must pursue constructive and cordial relations with all
nations and peoples, even as our nations itself must chart an independent course, free
from external control, interference or threat or aggression.

Internal Threats our national security environment is infused with four important
dimensions. Internal threats to our national security make up the first dimension.

A. . Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) – the MILF in constructive peace

negotiation, the armed activities of the group continue to be a source of serious
concern, particularly the build-up its defensive and offensive capabilities. Hand in

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hand with this security problem is the threat from the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), a
small band of highly mobile terrorists with suspected links to international networks.
B. The Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic
Front (CPP/NPA/NDF)- continuous ton pose a serious threat to national security,
although presently weakened in comparison with their peak strength in the period
1985-87.
C. Organized crime - is a national security concern. The challenge of illegal drugs in
particular, has grown into a major threat to the national community.
D. Grave incidence of poverty -is also a serious threat to national security, especially to
the extent that it breeds rebellion, crime and dissidence. Poverty incidence affects
about one-third (1/3) of Filipino nationwide.
E. Economic sabotage- undermines the market economy, the financial system and the
nation’s resources. Under this category are underground activities such as
counterfeiting, money laundering, large-scale smuggling, inter-oceanic poaching and
commercial dumping.

F. Graft and corruption -has become another threat to our national security by virtue of
the huge scale by which it saps public resources, undermines the morale of the civil
service and affects the delivery of quality basic services.

G. Severe calamities - cause serious food shortages, abet hoarding and profiteering tool
stands at more than 13,000 lives lost and p179 Billion worth of property destroyed.

H. Persistent environment degradation –poses a long term security threat. The attrition of
forest and watersheds, air-land-water pollution and the proliferation of toxic
substances are a cause of sickness, death and the diminution of national productivity
and well-being.

I. Technological Threats such as gambling through number games, internet hold ups
and cyber-crimes (computer hacking, computer pilferage, ATM stealing and cyber
prostitution)

External Threats

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A. The multi-lateral dispute over the Spratly Island, is a source of intermittent

tensions, owing to the build-up structures, believed to be military –oriented, by
some claimant countries in the area.
B. The smuggling firearms and contraband, illegal migration and occasional
movement of foreign terrorists through the porous borders of our south western
frontier have elicited transnational concern. Philippine law enforcement agencies
work closely with international police organizations, bilaterally and multilaterally,
to check these activities.
C. The lingering effects of the currency crisis affecting the countries within the
Association of South East Asian Nations ( ASEAN ) are a cause of regional
anxieties which tend to aggravate the political instabilities and socio-economic
dislocations involving the poorest people.
D. The serious economic disparity between rich and poor nations keeps the world in
a state of instability and virtually on the brink or war in many places.
E. Ethnic, religious and cultural conflict pervades many regions and nations
including our own. It is constantly exacerbated by mass poverty, limited access to
resources, denial of human rights, lack of national integration and international
issues.

SECURITY

Natural Threats
a. Earthquakes
b. Typhoons
c. Floods
d. Volcanic Eruptions
e. Tsunamis

A New Kind of National Security

The 21st century is not the 20th century. Great power competition is a fact of life and will
remain so, but the threats to American security come in a wider variety of forms than they did a
century ago. To truly protect its citizens, its territory, and its economic might, the United States
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needs to be positioned to respond to this wider variety of threats. As the COVID-19 pandemic
unfolded, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director General of the WHO, articulated the
type of response plans that governments needed to implement. “These are plans that start with
leadership from the top, coordinating every part of government, not just the health ministry –
security, diplomacy, finance, commerce, transport, trade, information and more – the whole
government should be involved.”

Topic 4
THE ROLE OF THE YOUTH IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY

THE ROLE OF THE YOUTH IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY

10 Ways Youth Can Make an Impact, it provided the youth means to contribute to the
country’s national security. It emphasized that youth engagement can bring about social
change. It sends a message that the youth don’t have to wait to become adults to be
significant and active members of the society.

1. Know your rights. Read up, get informed and practice your right!! The youth
can maximize their rights if they are well-informed. The existing rights are only
of value to the youth if they are understood, observed and used.

2. Learn about local issues. What are the concerns plaguing your community?
How are the concerns affecting you and your immediate environment? Knowing
the problem can lead to possible solutions and the youth’s role in the grand
scheme of things.

3. Speak out. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind either online, through social
media, and offline, gatherings and meetings. Be assertive and express your
interests. Someone is bound to read or to listen to it. However, be responsible of
what you aired and support it with facts. Also, respect the views of others
regardless if it agrees or disagrees with you.

4. Network. There is strength in numbers. Reach out to them and learn their
efforts and initiatives. It could pave way to bigger things for you.

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5. Spread the word. Talk to your friends and family about the concerns and issues
you see as important. You can provide a voice to unaddressed issues, educate
and influence the people around you.

6. Join campaigns. Be one with the people having the same vision and initiative
as you. Create solutions and actions that can be done in your community.

7. Host a youth summit. Learn and share your perspectives and views with peers
as well as decision-makers. Schools and local organizations can be of great
support to you in trying to create a forum for the exchange of ideas. Bring
together different communities and understand what you have in common, as
well as your differences in interests and perspectives.

8. Use your creativity. Use your passion for the arts and your hobbies into a
productive action towards your ideals.

9. Join/create a youth organization. Local youth organizations are great places to

expand your knowledge and become an active member of your society. If your
community doesn’t have an organization representing youth, create one. Be the
trendsetter!

10. Be an inspiration. Believe in yourself, and follow your passion. Passionate

youth will change the world.

The Philippines today is tormented with various social afflictions – poverty, crime,
corruption, and indifference. Just as Jose Rizal and others like him exclaimed, the task of
cultivating the motherland is burdened upon the youth. Hence, how can we address these social
ills plaguing Philippine Society? What role does the youth play in addressing these social ills?

The youth, which by legal definition comprises those who are 15 to 30 years old, comprises
almost one-third of the country’s population. Given their large share in the Filipino population,
the youth increasingly play a large role in the development of the Philippine society. Their
attitudes, values, mind-set, and priorities will determine the development of the country in the
future. With the crucial role the society has placed upon the youth, it is imperative to instill a
positive outlook upon today’s youth that will orient them towards development.

According to a Social Weather Station (SWS) survey, the youth acknowledge economic
matters, crime, and governance as the country’s main problems. However, despite the fact that
they acknowledged the severity of these problems, most of them respond with either
helplessness or apathy when asked what they can do to help solve them. This is reflected in the
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youth’s behavior towards involvement and participation in organizations and activities.

According to SWS, Filipinos are not joiners. Only one of eight Filipino youth are involved in
religious or recreational organizations and only one oft of ten youth organizations.
Furthermore, the Filipino youth was found to have unexpectedly high incidences of
involvement in illegal activities such as illegal drug use, criminality, and illicit sex. Given these
disturbing facts about Filipino youth, will they have the ability to address the various social ills
of the country?

The Global Partnership for Youth Development, suggested that one way to overcome the
problems of the youth and to better equip them towards the development of the society is
through youth empowerment. Empowerment could be manifested through greater opportunities
for the youth. The Youth must be given opportunities to participate in community life and
capacity building. Their leadership needs to be harnessed? Hence, opportunities such as the
Sangguniang Kabataan, volunteer projects such as Habitat for Humanity, where youth
volunteers build housing for the poor. Also the National Youth Commissions Projects such as
Green Brigade, National Youth Parliament and the National Youth Summit or (Pambansang
Ugong Ng Kabataan) which I am an alumni, are examples of events that some Filipino youth
participate in to help solve the country'’ social problems.

According to the Filipino Youth Study survey conducted by the Global Filipino Foundation in
2001, Media and technology are the other big things in their life. TV and radio have the highest
reach. Technology is still a function of class, but the Internet Cafes mushrooming in our midst
will democratize their availability to the youth. Globalization will happen faster in this
generation as the world opens up though media and technology. According to the youth, with
the Internet, they can learn about anything. The Internet is a great tool for building youth
empowerment. We can create our own web pages to promote youth participation. Like my
webpage: www.kabataan.htmlplanet.com. Youth can develop international solidarity by
participating in online discussions, such as those held by taking it global.org and
YouthActionNet.Org where I was one of the featured youth leaders. We can use the Internet to
connect with international youth organizations such as Advocates for youth, International
Student Activism Alliance, and Global Youth Action Network.

Thus, the youth could inspire both hope and fear in the society. Fear in the form of apathy,
criminality, and immorality. Hope in the form of participation, concern and volunteerism.
Solving the country’s social problems, then, is a challenge for the youth to bring hope rather
than fear into our society.

The youth have a crucial role to play in shaping the future of our county, have that there is no
doubt. They have proven that they can be powerful agents of change.

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Learning Exercise 1.1

Name :__________________________________ Course : __________ Time : _______

Trainer : _________________________________ Date : __________ Score : _______

1. Do you consider that covid 19 pandemic is a threat to national security? If yes what type of
threat does pandemic belong?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

2. How does the national security help in covid 19 pandemic

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
_______________

3. As a young college student what is your role in the national security enumerate at least 5.

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SELF-AWARENESS AND FILIPINO VALUES

“In the course of your life, you have develop a personality”. Within you, there still a part that is being hidden
and that is your inner Self.

INNER SELF

 It is a quiet presence, which will draw attention to itself.

 A natural part of you, and by recognizing it; you start to actively influence the balance Your priorities
in life will change when you start to give time and attention to your inner self.

Your priorities in life will change when you start to give time and attention to your inner self. Your inner SELF
is subtler; it can easily be overpowered by your personality due to its nature of defenselessness. It will wait
until you return to it by free choice. It also takes experience to be able to tell the difference. So do not
underestimate the skills of your personality to disguise itself as your SELF. The key to your Inner Self is
AWARENESS

AWARENESS

Be consciously aware of the thing you do but do not judge or act on them. Just be aware of the thoughts and
feelings but do not believe that they are a reality in itself. Let them go by. Do not hurry this process, because
too big step in one time will induce fear and resistance with your personality.

Nature of Self and Self-Awareness

According to Birch (1997), one of the most crucial process in the early years of the child’s life is the
development of sense of self. Gardner (1982) suggests that there are a number of factors that the children
should know.

They should:

 Be aware of their own body, its appearance, state and size(body-size).

 Be able to refer to themselves appropriately through language and be able to distinguish

description which apply to self and which do not;

 Be aware of their own personal history, experiences they have had, skill and abilities
acquired their own needs and wishes.

 EMOTIONAL SELF AWARENESS

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 It is the ability to recognize our emotions and their effects on us. This means that we are aware of
how we react to our environment factors and how our emotion affects our performance. The person
who possesses competency of emotional self-awareness is one who:

 Is aware of his own feelings;

 Knows why feeling occur;

 Understands implications of our emotions;

 Pays attention to the physical signs that are aroused in stressful situations (high blood
pressure, sweaty palms; and

 knows his own strength and weaknesses and understanding his own emotions and the
impact of his behavior on others in diverse situations.

 ACCURATE SELF-ASSESSMENT

 It is the ability to know our inner resources abilities and limits to be aware of our strengths
and weaknesses.

The person who possesses the competency for accurate Self-assessment should:

 Have a sense of humor about him or herself;

 Be aware of own strengths and weaknesses; and

 Be open to feedback.

 SELF-CONFIDENCE

 This is the belief in your own self, your capability to accomplish the task. It is also about
conveying your ideas and opinions with self- confidence and having a positive impact on
others.

 MAN AS A PERSON

 Personalism is a study of man as a person

 Means that man is unique, a who, a subject, and a man is never alone in his existence in the
world; man has trademark of his “being-with” existence in the world.

 Man establishes a relationship with his fellowman in three levels:

 I-it,

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 I-he or she,

 I-thou

 BIBLICAL BASIS

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole Spirit and soul and body be
preserved unto the coming of the Lord”

1 Thessalonian 5:23

 Matthew 4:4, John 6:63

 Love of God

 Love of oneself,

 Love of neighbor

 Love of country

 Matthew 22:35-40 - ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the
second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ [b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets
hang on these two commandments.”

 Romans 1:19-20 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God
19 

has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and
divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, [a] in
the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

THE SELF

 Everyone has an obligation to ourselves but there are times that we are facing difficulties in
understanding this obligations. One of the reason is that we understand exactly what SELF is.

 One way to understand this selfhood is to conceive it as a personal role in one place in the general
drama of life. A person has a particular life to live them he has a basic responsibility towards life.

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THE MANY FACES OF THE FILIPINO

 Family Orientation- source of our strengths and weaknesses. It gives us a sense of

rootedness and security, both very essential to any form of reaching out to others.

 Faith in God and Religiosity- sources of strength and courage, but they also lead to become
passive to external forces.

 ROOTS OF FILIPINO CHARACTER

 Factors that that greatly affect the roots of the Filipino strengths and weaknesses.

1.The home environment

2.Social environment

3.Culture and language

4.History

5.The educational system

6. Religion

7. Economic Environment

8. Political Environment

9. Mass Media

The Family and Home Environment

 The home plays a vital role in the development of the character of individuals. The
childbearing practices, family relations, and family attitude and orientation are the
main components of the home environment.

Social Environment

 We are social beings and we cannot live without the support of one another, for “no
man is an island”. No one can survive without depending on another person.

Culture and Language

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 Filipinos have been noted as warm and our being person-oriented, devoted to
family, and with sense of joy and humor which are part of our culture and
reinforced by all socializing forces such as the family, school, and the peer group.

History

 Our mentality is the product of our colonial history, which is regarded as the culprit
for our lack of nationalism.

The Educational System

 Our curriculum was patterned from the American educational system.

 the textbook being used are still dependent on foreign sources and not relevantto
the Philippine setting.

Religion

 We, Filipinos believe in life after death hence, we practice what the religion teaches.

 It is the root of Filipino optimism and its capacity to accept life’s hardships.

The economic environment

 Our Filipino traits are rooted from poverty and hard life. Our economic difficulties
drives us to take risks, impel us to work very hard and developing us the ability to
survive.

The political environment

 Our government is obliged to deliver the basic services to the people and in return,
we pay our taxes.

Mass media

 They have strong impact on the moral development of the youth. The children
idolized young actors and actresses. If they portray negative values, it internalized
in their mind.

 STRENGTHS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

1. Pakikipagkapwa-tao (regard for others)

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 A basic sense of justice and fairness, ability to emphasize with others, helpfulness
and generosity in times of need (pakikiramay), bayanihan or mutual assistance,
hospitality and concern for others.

2. Family orientation

 This pertains to the concern for the family, which is manifested in the honor, and
respect for parents and elders.

3. Joy and Humor

 Filipinos by nature are fond of social celebrations. We inherited this character from
the Spaniards. We have a positive attitude to our ups and down in ourlives because
despite all the odds, we still have the capacity to laugh. Laughing is an important
mechanism.

4. Flexibility, Adaptability and Creativity

 Filipinos have a great capacity to adjust, become creative and resourceful.

 These characteristics of Filipinos are manifested in their ability to adapt themselves

to a change of environment. We are open to changes or innovation.

5. Hard work and Industry

 This pertains to the desire to raise one’s standard of living by working very hard,
given proper conditions and to possess the essentials of a decent llives for their love
ones.

6. Faith and Religiosity

 Filipinos are noted for deep faith in God because of the belief of life after death.

 Before we sleep, eat, go to school or work, we pray because we believe that He will
guide us.

 Filipinos mostly are Christian community.

7. Ability to survive

 We are known for our ability to survive despite the economic difficulties we are
encountering. Filipinos make the most of whatever is available in the environment.

 WEAKNESSES OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

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1. Extreme Personalism

 This is manifested in the tendency to give personal interpretations to action, e.g.

pakiusap (request), lagay and regalo (fixing) palakasan (power or influence)
nepotism and favoritism and “to take things personally”.

 Personalism is also manifested to establish personal rrelationships before any

business or work relationship can be successful.

2. Extreme Family Centeredness

 Concern for the family is one of the greatest Filipino strengths, in the extreme it becomes a
serious flaw.

E.g. (use of one’s office and power as a means of promoting the interests of family members in factionalism,
patronage, political dynasties and for the protection of erring family members).

3. Lack of discipline

 Poor time management and delays of work

 Impatient and unable to delay gratification or rewad, resulting in the use of shortcuts,
skirting the rules (palusot syndrome) and foolhardiness.

4. Passivity and lack of initiative

 One has to be told what has to be done.

 Filipinos are submissive to those in authority, and are not likely to raise issues or to question
decisions. In other words, we are too patient and can bear long suffering (matiisin). Hence,
we are easily oppressed and exploited.

5. Colonial Mentality

 this pertains to the openness or acceptance of Filipinos the modern mass culture of foreign
country which is often Western.

 Such mentality is made up of two dimensions:

 first is lack of patriotism or an active awareness, appreciation, and love of

country;

 Actual preference for foreign things.

6. kanya-kanya Syndrome
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 a selfish, self-serving attitude that generates a feeling of envy and competitiveness towards
others.

 “crab mentality”….using the leveling instrument of gossips or “tsismis”, intrigue or “intriga”,

and unconstructive criticisms to bring others down.

 There's a tendency to pull down those who are on top because of personal ambition.

7. Lack of Self-analysis and Self-reflection

 There is a tendency to be satisfied with rhetoric and to substitute this for reality.

 Filipinos joke at something even if it is a serious matter and prevent looking deeply into the
problem.

8. Filipino Indolence

 The Spaniards called us indolent which means lazy, lack of initiative and ambition, but Rizal
refuted this negative description and explained that:

 It is unhealthy to in the Philippines hot climate

 The industries during Spanish era proved that they were not lazy, but instead the
invaders forced labor and closed down the industries,

 The Spaniards were the one who taught gambling to Filipinos.

 The Filipinos were discriminated and discouraged to pursue their studies

9. Maῇana Habit

 This negative attitude was inherited from the Spaniards. This means putting off for
tomorrow what can be done today or procrastination. It has the element of fatalism and is
linked with “bahala na” attitude.

10. The Fiesta Syndrome

 Filipinos celebrate many occasions like feast of the Patron Saint of their place, birthdays,
baptisimal or confirmation of their child, marriage, anniversaries, etc.

11. Hospitality

 the visitors are welcomed warmly with full of enthusiasm. They are offered the best food
and even to the extent of depriving themselves just only to please their visitor.

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 GOOD CITIZENSHIP
 MAKA-DIYOS Expresses one’s spiritual beliefs while respecting the spiritual beliefs of others
1. Engages oneself in worthwhile spiritual activities
2. Respects sacred places
3. Respects religious beliefs of others
4. Demonstrates curiosity and willingness to learn about other ways to express spiritual life

 MAKA-TAO Sensitive to individual, social, and cultural differences

1. Shows respect for all
2. Wait for one’s turn
3. Takes good care of borrowed things
4. Views mistakes as learning opportunities
5. Upholds and respects the dignity and equality of all including those with special needs
6. Volunteers to assist others in times of need
7. Recognizes and respects people from different economic, social, and cultural backgrounds
8. Communicates respectfully

 MAKA-BANSA Demonstrates pride in being a Filipino, exercises the rights and responsibilities of a
Filipino Citizen.
 1. Identifies oneself as a Filipino
2. Respects the flag and national anthem
3. Promotes the appreciation and enhancement of Filipino languages
4. Abides by the rules of the school, community, and country
5. Enables others to develop interest and pride in being a Filipino

 MAKA-KALIKASAN – demonstrates concern and love for environment.

Practices waste management
a. Follows the waste segregation program.
b. Practices re-use, reduce, and recycle.
c. Uses the compost pit properly.
d. Uses organic fertilizer.
e. Has the initiative to pick litters without being told.

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f. Uses the trash cans properly applying the 3 R’s.

Conserves energy and resources

a. Tums off the lights, faucets, appliances when not in use.
b. Utilizes paper and other school materials wisely.

 NATIONALISM AND PATRIOTISM

 Patriotism or national pride is the feeling of love, devotion, and sense of attachment to

a homeland and alliance with other citizens who share the same sentiment. This attachment can
be a combination of many different feelings relating to one's own homeland, including ethnic,
cultural, political or historical aspects. It encompasses a set of concepts closely related
to nationalism.

 Some manifestations of patriotism emphasize the "land" element in love for one's native land.

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Topic 1
CONCEPT AND DEFINITION OF VOLUNTEERISM

INTRODUCTION

The commission, in partnership with the Philippine National Volunteer Service

Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) as the lead agency in policy formulation and in monitoring
volunteering programs by Filipino volunteers here and abroad, enjoys all heads of agencies to
establish and implement their Volunteer Programs on top of agencies regular mandate and
functions, to promote the value of volunteerism in the public sector. Volunteerism activities shall
be done beyond office hours to prevent disturbance in the agencies delivery of their mandated
functions.

The agencies Volunteer Program aims to provide opportunity for government employees to
express and actualize their personal motivation and desire to help others particularly the
underserved and marginalized sectors where volunteer efforts are focused.

Projects and activities such as

1. Social services: feeding program for children and elderly orphanages, medical mission,
build houses, visit to prisoners, counselling, bloodletting, and others;
2. Technical development assistance toward knowledge and skills sharing, like conduct of
lectures and training programs, reading and writing workshops for children;
3. Environment and disaster response, clean up drive, tree planting relief and rehabilitation
work, donation of basic needs such as calamities and disasters;
4. Promotion and advocacy of volunteerism such as: sponsoring ordinances or bills to
support volunteerism
5. Resources support in partnership with the private sector and civil society groups to raise
funds and materials for volunteer programs and activies.

Volunteerism definition

Volunteerism is the practice of providing time and skills for the benefit of other people and
causes rather than for financial benefit. In an employment-related context, volunteerism is
concerned with the methods and tools employers use to support employees that want to
volunteer.

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Volunteerism is the practice of providing time and skills for the benefit of other people and
causes rather than for financial benefit. In an employment-related context, volunteerism is
concerned with the methods and tools employers use to support employees that want to
volunteer.

Volunteerism: Building Hope, Changing Lives

Volunteerism

An act involving a wide range of activities, including  traditional forms of mutual aid and
developmental interventions that provides an enabling and empowering environment both on the
part of the beneficiary receiving, and the volunteer rendering the act, undertaken for reasons
arising from socio-developmental, business or corporate orientation, commitment or conviction
for the attainment of the public good and where monetary and other incentives or reward  are not
the primary motivating factors. (RA 9418 or The Volunteer Act of 2007)

• Free will, no compulsion

• No financial gain
• Benefit third party

Why volunteerism

 government may not have all

the resources to provide the
needed public service
 volunteers provide services in
a cost- efficient and cost-
effective manner
 governance and development
requires greater citizen
participation

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Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community.

Learning Exercise 1.1

: :
: Cours
Name _________ Time ______
__________________________________ e
_ _
: :
Traine Scor
: _________________________________ Date _________ ______
r e
_ _

1. Illustrate or describe the picture below

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Topic 2
ELEMENTS OF VOLUNTEERISM

The five essential elements of Volunteerism are the following:

1.  Create a Plan for the Volunteer Program

Before you even start looking for volunteers to assist your organization, you need to first
determine what your needs are, who will manage these volunteers, and what exactly their
positions should be. The first step should always be a needs assessment, where program staff and
volunteer managers (who may be the same person) sit down and determine exactly what they
need help with.

2. Recruit and Place Volunteers

Now that you know what volunteers you need, you can set about recruiting them.  A good place
to start is writing an effective opportunity listing that both accurately describes the position and
makes volunteers want to help your organization.

Once you have the opportunities in hand, you should plan a recruitment strategy that brings staff
members together into a volunteer recruitment team and utilizes a wide range of techniques for
reaching out to people in the community.  Whether through effective use of social networking
sites, volunteering databases, or more “traditional” media, you should promote your volunteer
needs and events as widely as possible.

3. Orient and Train Volunteers and Staff

Orienting and training helps get everyone on the same page and goes a long way towards
ensuring a volunteer engagement is successful. From the beginning, its important to determine
exactly what volunteers will need to know in order to be successful. This can include information
about the goal and vision of your organization as well as the more nuts-and-bolts type
information about the task at hand. Having gone through many orientations myself, I know that it
helps me be a much more successful volunteer when the organization makes an effort from the
beginning to get me excited about its mission.

4. Supervise and Recognize Volunteers

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Just as you organize a schedule for your volunteers to come in, you need to organize supervision
and management activities to support the work of the volunteers. In managing volunteers, you
should always be conscious of the internal and external motivators for volunteers. Different
personality types react differently to different management styles, so you should be careful that
your method for managing volunteers doesn’t upset some by being too impersonal or too
disorganized. To ensure that your volunteers stay happy (and come back), you should develop
some sort of method for recognizing them. Small gifts, from quote books to branded pens, can be
a great way to show that you’re grateful for their help. You can also recognize people who help
you out on social media by mentioning them by name on Twitter, or tagging them in a photo on
Facebook.

5. Evaluate the Volunteer

Evaluation is one step that many volunteer programs skip, but it’s essential for developing an
effective program. Whether you utilize a printed or online survey, gathering information from
volunteers about the quality of their experience and how they feel about it can help you identify
problem areas. You should also compare the outcomes of your volunteer engagement with the
goals that you set forward in your volunteer program plan

Volunteering: the Core Elements

The core elements of science are observation, measurement, testing and publishing your findings
for the sake of replication. This got us thinking; Can we use this same method to help people
become better volunteers? If so, what are the core elements of volunteering?

Set Goals

When you’re approaching volunteerism for the first time, make a list of goals that you want to
accomplish as a volunteer. Perhaps you want to go on a specific number of trips this year or you
want to learn a new skill. Whatever the goal is, write it down. Now, figure out which
organization aligns with your volunteer goals and set up a meet and greet. Don’t procrastinate!
Get to know the organization and share your personal volunteer goals with them. Work out a
plan for gettingstarted.

Observe
Once you’ve gone on that volunteer trip, observe how volunteering makes you feel. How does
volunteering contribute to your mental, physical and spiritual health? Pay careful attention to
what happens when you try something new (such as traveling to a new volunteer location or
supporting a new organization) and figure out how the experience affects you

Repeat

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If the results of your volunteer trip were good, repeat it. If the results were not what you hoped
for, try something new. Whatever you do, don’t give on up volunteering

Topic 3
THE ROLE OF THE YOUTH IN STRENGTHENING VOLUNTEERISM

In many instances,
volunteerism provides entry
points for young people to
determine their own priorities,
set their own agendas and
engage with young people or
other actors. Volunteering may
be a catalyst, particularly for
young people, to participate in
the political realm. For example,
a 2012 Mercy Corps report
suggests that expanding
participation of young people in
local groups nurtured greater
electoral and political
participation.

Youth often engage in volunteering through peer groups

rather than as individuals; such groups can become brokers
of engagement, connecting institutional initiatives with
volunteer action at community level to ensure that their
interests are reflected. Thus under the right conditions,
youth volunteering brings together different components of
social action, for example combining direct action and
service provision with online and in-person advocacy and
representation. The latter roles have potential for building
ownership, leadership and contributing to the development
of inclusive institutions in the longer-term

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The role of youth in influencing social norms varies by context and by issue, but there is
evidence to suggest that young people are able to push adults to challenge traditional
practices or ways of thinking. As research on social norms and adolescent girls in Nepal
has shown, youth are important agents of change when they become local leaders, heads
of peer groups, government representatives or local teachers. Young people can provide
role models for others and form positive networks and environments to ensure that
vulnerable groups are not drawn into conflict.
Volunteers, including young people in youth and mixed age groups, address deficits in service
provision in conflict and fragile settings, address violence against women and children, and more
broadly strengthen the social capital required for lasting peace

While volunteers promote and contribute to peace through their professional skills
and competencies, it is often their status as volunteers, and their values, attitudes and
behaviours, that can most positively influence social cohesion and peace
processes.Volunteerism can be perceived as a neutral force for positive change by
motivated individuals, helping unite people who are otherwise divided, improve
cooperation and dialogue and galvanize wider community participation.
Governments have often partnered with volunteers to create safe spaces for exchanging
views and addressing concerns as part of healing societal fractures. Seeing young people
volunteering without direct personal interest for the benefit of others in an inclusive manner
often plays a powerful role in questioning conflict and hate mechanisms.
Young people’s access and benefits of such opportunities will be gendered and are also
likely to depend on other socio-economic factors such as ethnicity, class and status. As such,
trust-building and solidarity through volunteerism requires careful consideration of the type
and nature of activities, the profile of volunteers and in many cases greater attention to
ensuring more open and inclusive forms of volunteering.
Building networks, platforms and relationships across groups
Youth from different tribes participated in joint peace initiatives and thus learned to
accept each other and become less suspicious of members from other ethnic groups and
“stronger in their belief that the different communities can live together peacefully”.The
older generation, on the other hand, were more reticent in overcoming hate and distrust
toward other tribes.
Prevention and protection
Finally, youth volunteers can play a more direct role in fostering peace and security,
including leading and supporting violence prevention and protection mechanisms. Young
people can also play vital roles in helping other youth find an off-ramp from violence, by
providing networks, solidarity and promoting positive norms among their peers.

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Newer forms of volunteering, such as online volunteering have the potential to

increase participation from some groups. For example, UNV’s own online volunteering
service has more significant participation of persons with disabilities than onsite
volunteering. Online volunteering especially youth may also be a good option for people
with less time and location flexibility.

Topic 4
THE IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTEERISM

The Importance of Volunteerism for Youth

Why is volunteering important for youth? While we should support youth volunteerism to better
our communities, children and teenagers who volunteer will also see and feel transformation
within themselves. In the words of Opportunity Nation, “There is mounting evidence that
volunteering, participating in service projects, and other forms of community involvement are
more than feel-good activities. They can contribute to better outcomes for youth and for
communities.” In other words, we all benefit by encouraging altruistic behaviors in our
communities’ youth. Below, we outline some of the many ways volunteering can lead to success
for teenagers and children:
Develop Transferable Skills
Youth who volunteer regularly practice skills—like collaboration and problem solving—that
are vital to succeed in academics, the workplace, and their personal lives. Whether it’s collecting
donations or caring for the elderly, youth develop an understanding of citizenship that extends
into adulthood. Plus, volunteering helps teens fill their resumes with robust, real-world
experience. That’s why colleges and employers look for civically engaged applicants who will
thrive in team settings and take on challenging work. 
Reinforce Social Capital
Teens who volunteer build relationships and strengthen their support network, or “social
capital.” Social capital strengthens trust and sense of community and is critical to upward
mobility. According to Opportunity Nation, volunteer opportunities for low-income teens are
especially integral in facilitating meaningful connections and sourcing educational pathways,
“Research shows [volunteerism] can serve as an effective conduit to positive educational and
career outcomes for low-income youth.” 
The act of volunteering increases the likelihood of finding employment, resulting in
a measurable increase in employment among volunteers ages 16-24 who were not in school and
previously unemployed. In addition, volunteering is an effective avenue for college
students preparing to enter the workforce; employers are 82% more likely to choose a candidate
with volunteering experience and 85% more likely to overlook resume flaws when volunteer
work is present. 

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Make Real Change

Volunteering gives youth the opportunity to work through real challenges and make meaningful
change. These transformative experiences encourage teenagers and children to confront moral
dilemmas, investigate solutions, and employ innovative thinking. As young volunteers begin to
notice real changes as a result of their effort, they establish a cognitive connection between effort
and positive outcomes. According to this article, young people who volunteer regularly develop
a civic identity, as leaders and changemakers, and therefore become more socially and politically
active adults.
Facilitate Respect
As children grow, they develop a more refined sense of self-awareness and an awareness of
others. Volunteers must put their own needs aside to address the needs of others. Children who
do so will also learn to value and understand themselves throughout the process. Empathy and
citizenship are developed during childhood and adolescence. And participating in activities like
caring for the elderly or addressing homelessness from an early age introduces young people to
the process of confronting moral dilemmas and thinking about social change. Exposure to
meaningful volunteer opportunities as children and adolescents will help foster lasting empathy
and inclusivity, qualities necessary in cultivating safe, unified communities.
Support Academic Success
The National Youth Leadership Council states that students who participated in service-
learning scored higher in social studies, writing, and language arts subject tests than non-
participating students. 
When students participate in service-learning curriculum, they demonstrate deeper cognitive
engagement and greater motivation to learn. And educators are employing service-learning as a
tool to reduce high-school dropout and increase achievement among at-risk students. Volunteer
opportunities paired with a good education are the success “power couple” for today’s youth;
nonprofits and schools together can develop a children and teen volunteerism program to support
a rising generation of altruistic citizens.
Participation in volunteer and civic opportunities from an early age instills empathy, inspires a
sense of citizenship, and helps youth find pathways to meaningful education and work. In fact,
young people who volunteer help to improve the present, while ensuring healthy, secure futures
for themselves and their communities.
Teenagers are not only an extremely valuable resource of energy, good will and
creativity, but also the key to our future. In a culture that is so wrapped around ‘wants’ and
‘achievements,’ it is easy for our teenagers to grow up without a sense of gratitude for what they
have and empathy for the needs of the less fortunate around them. Volunteering in community
service projects and helping others can be very fulfilling, and if you can show your teen how
enriching it is from a young age, they’ll start to make an association between helping someone
else and their own joy. There are lots of service projects available to teens locally, statewide,
nationally and even internationally. Although volunteering can sometimes be a part of high
school graduation requirements and meeting scholarship needs, it needs to be instilled in teens as
a value that is truly appreciated and pursued with passion.

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Benefits of volunteering: Teen volunteering has been on a steady rise since the 1980s.
Research has shown that teens who engage in community service are more responsible with
higher self-esteem and resilience. Volunteering helps the teens gain new skills necessary for the
job market such as leadership, communication skills, dependability, time management, and
decision making. Teens who volunteer perform better at school and also build a stronger resume
for college and scholarship applications.
Some community service ideas for teens:
Sports: Teens could participate in fund-raising activities or offer to assist on the day of school
sports events. Look up the Special Olympics website to check what is scheduled in your area and
offer to volunteer. There are a wide range of opportunities that provide a rewarding experience
for our young athletes.
Local hospitals: For teens interested in healthcare and serving the sick, there are sometimes
opportunities to volunteer in local hospitals after some initial medical screening and training.
Animal lovers: You could volunteer at a local shelter for homeless animals where you could
help with activities such as walking the dogs, cleaning, or feeding the animals.
Helping senior citizens: You can participate through school-hosted elderly or hospice programs
or contact the local nursing homes directly. Programs such as Meals on Wheels encourage
volunteer participation and you could help pack and deliver meals. Just by visiting the elderly
who have no family brings them so much comfort. You could also volunteer by bringing gifts
during holidays or reading out to them.
Volunteering taps into a teen’s innate desire to be independent, in a productive way. Teenagers
are extremely busy bodies with academics, extracurricular activities, sports, and of course their
social events! But carving a few hours out of their busy schedules regularly for community
service can be therapeutic for them and also better our community on so many levels.

Giving to others can also help protect your mental and physical health. It can reduce stress,
combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated, and provide a sense of purpose. While it’s true
that the more you volunteer, the more benefits you’ll experience, volunteering doesn’t have to
involve a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your busy day. Giving in
even simple ways can help those in need and improve your health and happiness.

Benefits of volunteering: 4 ways to feel healthier and happier

1. Volunteering connects you to others.

One of the more well-known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community.
Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. Even
helping out with the smallest tasks can make a real difference to the lives of people,
animals, and organizations in need. And volunteering is a two-way street: It can benefit
you and your family as much as the cause you choose to help. Dedicating your time as a
volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network, and boost your social skills.

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2. Volunteering is good for your mind and body.

Volunteering provides many benefits to both mental and physical health.

Volunteering helps counteract the effects of stress, anger, and anxiety. The social
contact aspect of helping and working with others can have a profound effect on your
overall psychological well-being. Nothing relieves stress better than a meaningful
connection to another person. Working with pets and other animals has also been shown
to improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety.
Volunteering combats depression. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with
others and helps you develop a solid support system, which in turn protects you against
depression.
Volunteering makes you happy. By measuring hormones and brain activity, researchers
have discovered that being helpful to others delivers immense pleasure. Human beings
are hard-wired to give to others. The more we give, the happier we feel.
Volunteering increases self-confidence. You are doing good for others and the
community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer
can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the
more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals.
Volunteering provides a sense of purpose. Older adults, especially those who have
retired or lost a spouse, can find new meaning and direction in their lives by helping
others. Whatever your age or life situation, volunteering can help take your mind off your
own worries, keep you mentally stimulated, and add more zest to your life.
3. Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy. Studies have found that those who
volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not. Older volunteers tend to
walk more, find it easier to cope with everyday tasks, are less likely to develop high
blood pressure, and have better thinking skills. Volunteering can also lessen symptoms of
chronic pain and reduce the risk of heart disease.

4. Volunteering can advance your career.

Volunteering offers you the chance to try out a new career without making a long-term
commitment. It is also a great way to gain experience in a new field. In some fields, you
can volunteer directly at an organization that does the kind of work you’re interested in.
For example, if you’re interested in nursing, you could volunteer at a hospital or a
nursing home.
Your volunteer work might also expose you to professional organizations or internships
that could benefit your career.

5. Volunteering brings fun and fulfillment to your life.

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Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions. Doing volunteer work
you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day
routine of work, school, or family commitments. Volunteering also provides you with renewed
creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life.

Many people volunteer in order to make time for hobbies outside of work as well. For instance,
if you have a desk job and long to spend time outdoors, you might consider volunteering to help
plant a community garden, walk dogs for an animal shelter, or help out at a children’s camp.

Learning Exercise 1.2

: :
: Cours
Name _________ Time ______
__________________________________ e
_ _
: :
Traine Scor
: _________________________________ Date _________ ______
r e
_ _

1. Ask yourself
 1. Would you like to work with adults, children, animals, or remotely from home?

 Do you prefer to work alone or as part of a team?

 Are you better behind the scenes or do you prefer to take a more visible role?

 How much time are you willing to commit?

 What skills can you bring to a volunteer job?

 What causes are important to you?

_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

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2. How much time should you volunteer?

_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

3. How do you participate volunteerism?

_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

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