Opening Speech by GOH

Launch of Community Service Marathon E-Connect

Tea Break

Plenary

• Mr Koh Peng Keng, National Youth Council, Singapore
• Dr Chan Yew Wing, International Volunteerism Association, Singapore
• Atty. Nina Valenzona, Share a Child Movement, the Philippines
• Mr Bhaichung, Human Development Foundation of Sikkim, India
• Ms Le Ly Hayslip, Global Village Foundation, Vietnam

Networking Lunch

Prize Presentation Ceremony for IV Photojournalism Competition 2011

Workshops

• Global Village Foundation, Vietnam
• Share a Child Foundation, the Philippines
• Human Development Foundation of Sikkim, India
• Healthserve, Singapore
• Mercy Relief, Singapore

Closing Speech by SUPACA Youth (the Philippines)

End of Programme

Topic 1 – Matching Skills to Needs
This workshop will explore what basic skills are required by volunteers before they embark on an overseas volunteer expedition, and how they should be appropriately matched to the needs of the overseas community. As care and diligence are essential in this matching process, the workshop will examine how to establish the best match between your volunteer group and the needs of the host community. It will also discuss appropriate exit strategies when skills and evolving needs no longer match.

Topic 2 – Meeting Real Needs
This workshop looks at the foundational principles of volunteer expeditions. While an increase in ‘voluntourism’ and school-initiated overseas programmes with community service elements may add some vibrancy to the international volunteerism sector, are they designed with the service needs of the recipient community and learning needs of the participants in mind?

This session will explore the guiding principles of a win-win partnership in overseas community service efforts and discuss how a meaningful co-operation between organisations and people can contribute to an effective development plan and shared resources that will meet the real needs of recipient communities in the long run.  

Topic 3 – Sustainable vs. Sustained Engagement

This workshop shares the essential difference between projects that are sustainable in nature spanning a set period of time and projects that support a community until it is able to manage on its own. Effective tools and practices of as well as the problems arising from both types of engagement will be shared. This is an important session for those who plan on continuing their projects over a few years.

Topic 4 – Impact Assessment
This workshop addresses the ways teams can monitor and measure the impact of their volunteer services on the host community. Impact can be both positive and negative. While these are influenced by the quality and depth of the volunteer service provided, it is also incumbent on the scope of the project present.  Methods on how to assess the impact both tangibly and intangibly will be discussed.