A Volunteer from a Developing Country in another Developing Country

“A Volunteer from a Developing Country in another Developing Country”

Aydel M. Salvadora

This was an article published in VSO Bangladesh’s newsletter called “Spotlight” in November 2005, nine months after arrival in Bangladesh which was my home for 18 months.

While everyone is eagerly waiting for winter to come, others were wondering why the rain was not too much during the monsoon season and it seems that summer is longer this year because it is still warm up to this time. Surviving these changes in season was exciting and challenging because each season is like the good and bad times, happy and sad, up and down moments of my stay in Bangladesh. November is my 9^th month of surviving a volunteer’s life outside and at work. Adjustment was never easy because it was living in an environment totally different from what I used to have despite the fact that I am also coming from a developing country.

Filipino volunteers are only few of those Filipinos you can find in every corner of this world. They are out of the country to work as nurses, caregivers, engineers, seafarers, domestic helpers and many others who bring dollars to our country, contributing so much to our national economy. Unlike these Overseas Filipino Workers, we, the volunteers do not generate dollars for our country but we bring honor and pride through voluntary service in other developing countries. It is a common question to volunteers like us, coming from developing countries how can we help other countries when our country is also among those, which needs help.

The country where I came from is an archipelago in Southeast Asia. It is composed of several Islands with number varying during high tide and low tide. History tells and real accounts from our great, great grandparents that different countries have colonized Philippines, making its culture diverse. But it is a country very much influenced by western culture leaving very little traces of its own, particularly in the cities and capital places. Among its riches are the hardworking people and the natural resources making it one of the five mega-diverse countries in the world. The same natural resources form different tourist areas in the Philippines from mountains to oceans which attract local and international tourists alike.

Philippines is a typical country that has its good and bad side. Like all other developing countries, you will also find different social problems although at a different or maybe much lower magnitude compared to others. These social problems motivated social activists to do something and make a difference. After many years of dictatorship, Philippines earned its much-needed democratic space in 1986, which enabled NGOs to work openly. NGOs have contributed a lot in responding to these social problems enriching its experiences in various fields of development work. It has made advancements on development issues such as community-based natural resources management, land reform, women empowerment, peoples’ participation in local governance, indigenous peoples’ rights, health reforms and many others. Recognizing this development background is the reason why we are scattered in different parts of the world as VSO volunteers, to share these on-the-ground experiences to other people and communities that are also striving to get better with their lives and improve their country. Philippines may have moved on to some extent but we are still facing many social challenges that motivate us to continuously do something to address them.

My experience in Bangladesh made me realize a lot of things. Living here the first few months was really hard. The tendency is to look for things you are used to having and doing back home and I can’t help myself from comparing. However, as months pass by, I learn to appreciate the goodness that lies in everything here. My country and Bangladesh have their own history and different stories to tell. The history of Bangladesh shaped its culture, the people and the way they live in general. Recognizing this made my life easy in Bangladesh because we both have our distinct culture and being here, I have slowly learned to adapt to this culture.

As an individual coming from a different culture and context, observing the dynamics of the organization and the people is very important before any real work can be started. Being flexible is one thing and stretching your patience is another thing, which really help adjusting to work easy because most of the times, things never happen the way you expected them to be. Loving your country is a normal feeling and reaction when you are out of it, yet recognizing the pride of the place you are in is equally important as well.

The greatest realization of all is always looking at the bright side of the things you do and around you, otherwise, volunteer life would be miserable and you might just wake up one morning and see yourself packing up and flying back home. Always keep in mind that in any country of assignment, you would be able to share more of your experiences in development work as you work towards changing lives as well as changing yourself through sharing skills.

Let me share with you what I remind myself to carry on what I am doing: Keep my expectations at a minimum and most of all, enjoy what I am doing---be it simple or grand, big or small, the most important thing is that I am making a difference in my organization and the lives of the people in my own little ways. The people we are working with in our organizations and the volunteers as well are coming from different countries, with their cultural identities and individual personalities, so we must learn to be flexible.