Why do some people sacrifice to please others, instead of just enjoying life, with all the worldly things they have here on this earth ?
Birgitte Bjoras, a 19 – year – old Norwegian volunteer, puzzles social workers and houseparents working at the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) at Barangay Sto. Nino in Tanauan, Leyte, for she is no ordinary girl. Why go out of one’s comfort zone to an entirely strange land to help Filipino boys mend their lives ? Why not just be in her own country ? Lastly, why spend a rather sizeable amount of money to fly to the Philippines and render humanitarian service ?
Isn’t it, indeed, a mind – boggling matter that a lovely lady like her would “pay to volunteer,” as she puts it. Of course, doing so is nothing to her, because for Birgette – “ I want to give someone a help . . . to give something from me.” The money she spent for volunteering was part of her hard – earned savings.
Head Social Worker Marcela Lim revealed that the lady volunteer comes from a well-to-do family, as she has seen pictures of her home and dairy farm, and heard stories from the latter. “The Norwegian lass is very industrious, for I saw a photo of her milking the cattle, and from Birgitte herself, the former told me that she had wanted to help the family – run business. Since Brigitte’s dad wouldn’t let her, she still went on to work, but in another else’s farm,” Lim narrated. For Birgitte, she finds self – fulfilment in making others happy, even it means giving out her sweat and blood. When she comes home, there’s a job waiting for Birgitte in a big supermarket. At the same time, she will push through with her masteral studies in Social Studies in Trondheim City in Norway. In other countries like Norway, young people worked their way through College, and even in higher studies.
The foreign volunteer told us that she finished College in June of year 2011, with a course in Language and Economy, and another specialization that deals with community work. Since, there is a “gap year” as school opens on September of this year, she decided to travel to the country to work. Why, the Philippines, we asked. .
There is this Norwegian association which she linked with, that helped people interested to go on humanitarian work around the world. The lady hasn’t been to Asia, and she finds the Philippines an exotic country. “I found also the project interesting; that’s what it attracted me, “ she said.
Her first assignment was the RRCY on January of this year, and after six weeks, at the Home for Girls in Pawing, Palo, for another six weeks. Both are facilities of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The first caters to children-in-conflict- with – law, and the second, to girls who are seven to seventeen years old and victims of abuse and exploitation and other related cases.
When asked about her initial reaction upon deployment to the RRCY, the volunteer answered that she was extremely happy. Brigitte revealed that the way the Center staff works with the boys is very, very good. “For instance, the boys are awfully respectfully even though the people of RRCY are not so strict. They still earn respect . . . no yelling. Theirs is a friendly atmosphere,” the volunteer told this writer.
She poured out her observations of why these 64 boys at the RRCY fall into committing a crime. Brigitte mentioned that it may be poverty – related or because of strict parents that lead them to join bad gangs.
While at the Center, Brigitte’s way of getting into the hearts of the children was through music. There were six boys who were in her class – attending morning sessions daily from Monday till Friday. With her, the RRCY band was formed.
The RRCY Head Social Worker commented that it was not until this lass from Norway came that a band was really formed. “There are lots of guitars, drums, and other musical instruments . . . such a waste if these would not be put to use, “ Brigitte said.
Lim reported that the band instruments were donated by UNICEF to the Center, a few years back. She added that there had been trainers in the past but it was only now that a band was really developed.
Brigitte stated that in going through the sessions, the young people learned to do things in harmony. “The band is the result of their working together,” said the lady volunteer.
She bared that there are times that disagreements arose among the boys, but are easily fixed. With their sessions, they learn to figure out, and then forgive.
Of course, music is therapeutic. The boys use music of expressing what they are feeling. They communicate thru music out of their moods, Brigitte revealed.-
The minors who spoke out during the despedida party held Feb. 22 at the RRCY grounds thanked the blonde – haired lass for “accepting us for who we are,” and “for treating us like we have known each other for so long.”
One said that “I have become proud of myself;” another expressed that “even if I am not a member of the band, you inspired the whole community.”
Brigitte, for her part, threw back by saying – “ thank you for allowing me to interfere with your lives. I am so sad to leave you.”
At the Home for Girls, Brigitte will use different strategies – small activities like painting and clay molding. She will also teach the girls Geography because as observed from the RRCY boys, they know little of places around the globe.
Indeed, there are people with big hearts. Whether one is blessed with material possessions or not, one can still offer voluntary service with the DSWD – whatever race you may be. Please contact our focal person, ANN RITZEL CARAGOS, at telephone number 321-2035, or send e-mail at arccaragos@dswd.gov.ph. One can also register online at vrplus.dswd.gov.ph.