An Innovative Partnership in the Philippines
Lessons Learned
Written By: Dr. Christine NielsenPublished: Thursday, June 17, 2010
Partnership Networks for Synergy
Successful programs that transform the lives women and their communities are not the work of individuals acting alone; it takes networks of dedicated people and organizations, each applying its unique capabilities, to change the status quo. The ICUUW is dedicated to creating and encouraging such networks. A partnership between the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis (UUCA), Maryland, and the Community Unitarian Church at White Plains (CUCWP), New York, is one fine example. The following story highlights their lessons learned through the process of building their partnership with Doldol, a rural community on Negros Island in the Philippines.
Process with Patience
Development programs that transform the lives of women and their communities require patience. It takes time and energy to build trusting relationships, share aspirations, develop realistic goals and implementation plans. Rev. Carol Huston (CUCWP) and Prof. Christine Nielsen (UUCA) met in 2004 when they teamed up on “Women’s Rights Worldwide” initiative, seeking its adoption as a UUA General Assembly Study Action Issue (SAI). Although the SAI failed that year and the next, a solid collaboration began to form among the two congregations and other UU organizations in support of women’s issues of global concern. Chris and Carol vowed to continue working together to learn more about the needs of women around the world and to get involved in real grass roots efforts to encourage positive change for women and their families. By joining the spirit and strengths of two congregations, they are in the process of making these dreams true.
In 2006 Prof. Chris Nielsen and other UUCA United Nations Global Justice Committee (UNGJC) members visited six communities in the Philippines. As a result, a strategic plan for a new NGO, ‘Buhata Pinay’ (Do it, Filipina), was created with the goal of improving the lives of women and their families on Negros Island. Created through a partnership between the UU Church of the Philippines (UUCP) and the UUCA, Buhata Pinay was established as a community development program, inviting women from a dozen disadvantaged communities to participate — regardless of their religion. During their visit, UUCA members met with over 500 women and their families to explore what the women themselves perceived as top priorities in their lives. Livelihood opportunities surfaced as the number one priority. UUCA members returned home with deepened enthusiasm for the initiative. Chris, with her background in international business and development, realized that the potential for success of any program depends in large part on the ‘absorptive capacity’ of the community, referring to its capabilities and willingness to take on local responsibility for managing and implementing an ambitious set of activities. One such community visited by UUCA was Doldol, in northern Negros Occidental. The community’s energy and commitment to creating alternative livelihood possibilities really captured Chris’ attention, as did the leadership potential of a young adult named Arman Pedro, community leader and lay minister of the UU Church in Doldol. Early conversations with Doldol community leaders began regarding their aspirations for a community-based program.
Meanwhile Rev. Carol Huston’s congregation was in the early stage of discernment regarding ideas for a partner church relationship. The picture that Chris and others from Annapolis portrayed of a Philippine congregation in Doldol, with many wonderful children and a vision of Unitarian Universalism still in formation was very inviting. At a 2006 service, many CUCWP members declared they would like to visit Transylvania, but that they would like to put partnership efforts toward the Philippines. CUCWP began a slow but steady move toward an official partnership with the UU congregation of Doldol. One of the barriers to the partnership was the idea that there were clear development and livelihood needs in Doldol that White Plains would not be able to meet in the short term. CUCWP had neither the expertise nor the funding to begin work on issues like a sewing project or a farmers’ agricultural program. At the same time they knew that the committee in Annapolis had expertise, energy, and some funds available.
Over 2009 it became clear that the UUCA and CUCWP discussed how they could work together in complementary ways in Doldol. White Plains would engage in a congregation to congregation partnership, while UUCA would form a Doldol-UUCA community development program. This would allow solid focus on both elements, encouraging development in the village, growth in the church, and the opportunity for local leadership development at both the community and congregation levels. As the White Plains-Doldol partnership gained more energy, White Plains could eventually take over participation in the livelihood projects, based on UUCA’s solid foundation. This strategic fit would allow UUCA to reach its goal of developing the Doldol program as a ‘model’ Congregation to Community Program that could be adapted and transferred to other communities on Negros Island and the main island of Luzon.
So in early March 2010 Rev. Carol Huston, and a CUCWP youth named Zach Morrice, along with UUCA members Phyllis Marsh, Keith Raney and Christine Nielsen traveled to Doldol to meet with Arman Pedro and others, particularly the women and families as represented by the Doldol Baragay Council and the Barangay Doldol Alliance Towards the Promotion of Environmental Awareness and Community Empowerment (BDATPEACE), a local women’s organization.
Persistence Yields Results
Few experiences in life are as fulfilling and rewarding as working together to create a community dedicated to enriching the lives of women and their families. Great things can happen with committed individuals and organizations work together toward a common purpose. Since the March visit, the Partner Church relationship between CUCWP and UU Church of Doldol is in process. Rev. Carol is in dialogue with Arman about the way that the church year can be structured, and the youth of White Plains are looking forward to direct communication with youth around Doldol, particularly when internet connectivity is available there. The UUCA has established an innovative model program, a “Church to Community” Development Project within Barangay Doldol. The Project’s objectives are to 1) Initiate a women’s livelihood program to enhance the lives of women and their families; and 2) Support sustainable agricultural development among farm families. Already tangible results have been achieved. UUCA provided start-up capital for two ‘social businesses’ defined as those in which profits are reinvested for triple-bottom line results: 1) Profits for Growth; 2) Human Development; and 3) Environmental Sustainability. A Garment-Making Business is underway. The Garment Association of Negros Occidental and the Department of Trade and Industry have joined in this initiative to provided critical inputs, essential training and access to markets. The UUCA has served as an advisory group and has provided funds to purchase five sewing machines, two computers and to subsidize start-up and training expenses. Early results include 12 women graduating from a two-week training program in May and 30 women registered for a smocking training program in June. Production is underway and the market is guaranteed through a contract arrangement. The Doldol Internet Café is being set up to provide the community with internet capacity using computers and a local 3G network connection. A Micro-Crop Loan Program made possible through UUCA’s connections with the Negros Women of Tomorrow Foundation is offering 20 farmers agricultural training and low interest loans, far below the current rate. The network of concerned individuals and organizations that joined together in 2004 around the Women’s Rights Worldwide initiative is gaining strength and experience.
To see how you can become involved, please contact Prof. Christine Nielsen by e-mail: nielsen.viking@gmail,
or Rev. Carol Huston at revcarol@earthlink.net.