GIVING one’s time and effort freely for the greater good is the heroism that not everyone can or will do. But Maria Reinita “Ate Rein” Sandalo Navarro has been doing volunteer work for more than a decade serving as a national volunteer in Davao for youth engagement and leadership.
Born on September 9, 1971 in Davao City, Ate Rein became part of the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), an international volunteering organization doing global development work for over 60 years and operating in the Philippines for about 50 years.
VSO has worked in over 90 countries with more than 80,000 volunteers and supported about 50 million people through inclusive education, healthy communities, resilient livelihoods and safe, peaceful, and resilient communities.
Ate Rein is one of the 1,600 returned volunteers (RVs) of VSO Philippines.
RVs are returning volunteers from other developing countries that also need help. Upon returning home, RVs are then tapped to serve in different core programs and projects being implemented by VSOP on peace and development in Mindanao. RVs work together with communities, NGO partners and government that address sustainable development goals in Davao and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) areas.
Ate Rein returned home from volunteering in Nepal from 2007 to 2008.
She currently serves as a volunteer for youth engagement and leadership in Davao Region through a pilot project that promotes Ridge to Reef Bayanihan. They encouraging the youth to become change agents and providing an enabling volunteering opportunity as well as support initiatives made by volunteer groups.
“Together, we make efforts in doing Mt. Apo to Davao Coasts Bayanihan that aims to protect our water source through forest rehabilitation and help coastal communities on storm surge through mangrove tree planting,” she said.
The youth has been their focus because they are not only the Philippines ’ future but the whole world.
“It is eminent that we engage them now on vital local volunteering work for positive change and prepare them to be good leaders who are able to address local, national, and global issues,” she said.
Ate Rein said the world needs more youth volunteers today more than ever. The world is facing a Herculean task of fighting poverty, climate change, disasters, and modern time challenges like earthquakes and the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in a global health emergency.
“Please help in any way that you can... small steps of kindness can help a lot. We have a beautiful culture-based Filipino tradition of helping others in need... Bayanihan,” she appealed to the youth.
She said for the youth to collectively achieve greater things for the world, they only need to have the spirit of sharing, helping and communal unity that will inspire local synergy, participation and social cohesion.
Ate Rein believes that volunteers are the secret superheroes of modern times.
“It’s not easy doing volunteer work but by doing so, one gains and learns more. It’s difficult to put it in words and it's best to experience it yourself,” she said.
“This Environment Month, try to spread a love for the environment and volunteer in ways that you can, and tell me why you think volunteers are heroes too,” she added.