Help Within REACH

With a student population so diverse, what draws the students of Enderun together? Same courses? Common interests and hobbies? Shared dreams and ideals? True. But could it also be said that there is an overwhelming show of hands among students who share the desire to make an impact through service in sectors of society most in need? A dynamic group has finally been forged to pursue that yearning.

Relief Efforts and Charities (REACH), the newest addition to the roster of student organizations duly recognized by Enderun Colleges, is an expression of students’ interest in volunteerism and social responsibility.

Inspired by the drive that led Enderun students and faculty alike to join the massive mobilization for relief assistance in the past years’ natural calamities across the nation, a group of students, led by current REACH president Coco Tan laid the groundwork for the organization. Executive Committee officers Matthew Que (finance), Issa Benipayo (internal relations) and Alexa Pastrana (external relations) make up Tan’s team, with Tori Huang as moderator.

Everyday volunteerism

The group’s brand of volunteerism is not exclusively about dramatic, but random disaster response activities. It is more so about regular activities that will involve students’ participation in their own setting. In fact, it espouses that everyday volunteerism is within reach.

REACH aspires to become an accessible venue for the Enderun community to give back and help the country. Its members have envisioned that through creative advertising of charity events and fundraisers, as well as food drives and engaging donors, this noble mission could be accomplished.

REACH may be young in inception, but its dreams are lofty. The organization also dreams of seeing Culinary Arts students staffing feeding programs, Hotel Administration undergraduates providing business management tutorials for mothers and Entrepreneur majors helping local folks jumpstart livelihood projects.

Through such programs, the group hopes these beneficiaries may someday be fit for employment under industry partners and alumni. Founding members also wish to see a solid partnership with Enderun Foundation, which will serve as a nest of hope for future beneficiaries within and outside the campus.

Beyond community service, the organization also seeks to work toward a greener Philippines beginning with creating a movement of clean and green technologies right in the heart of the campus, which they will someday share with their adopted community.

The group also plans to teach intelligent and efficient use of resources through a solid environmental awareness program. By caring for the environment, particularly in waste segregation and recycling, one lives with civic consciousness and makes a crucial contribution toward human progress.

REACH on a roll

The organization kicked-off last July 21-22 with a two-day Team-building activity held in the scenic Punta Fuego, Nasugbu, Batangas. The group took advantage of the event to foster teamwork and camaraderie as well as laying down their plans for the coming school year.

July 30-August 3 will mark the launching of REACH to the whole Enderun community. The “Awareness Week” will feature events such as “Trash to Cash”, an event that may generate funds through recycling. They are also putting up—in cooperation with Culinaire club—a “Food Sale” that offers healthy and easy-to-prepare meals.

What’s in it for me?

With all these up on its sleeves, REACH promises to provide members and volunteers alike a chance to see more of the community and the world, to gain important life skills, to build self-confidence and self-esteem, to use their minds, hearts and creativity for good causes, and to get active and healthy. All these on top of having great fun! Not a bad bargain, right? All that is needed is for each student to go out of his comfort zone, and reach out.

Interested to join? The possibilities are endless. The organization shall rely on General Volunteers for relief operations. Needed for the team are Purchasers, Kitchen Crew and Photographers as well. For effective execution of activities, the creation of Events Team is needed, which seek hard-working and fun-loving members. Needless to say, volunteers are needed to create buzz and spread the word through the Social Media group.

For those who wish greater commitment, several posts are still vacant within the Executive Committee. And while others would commit themselves as seriously as one of the aforementioned roles, there is no stopping anyone from getting involved by giving donations, big or small.