Eight Rotaract Club service projects were recognized as Most Outstanding in the Philippines for demonstrating relevance, effectiveness, implementation efficiency, collaboration, innovation and sustainable impact during the inaugural Pilipinas Groundbreaking and Exemplary Accomplishments of Rotaractors (GEAR) Awards. This is the Pilipinas Rotaract’s local adaptation of the Rotary International Rotaract Outstanding Project Awards.
Most Outstanding Rotaract Club Collaboration Project
Transform a Tribe
This Transform a Tribe Project is a collaboration of the Rotaract Clubs of Baywalk Manila, Dasmariñas City, Imus, and Magdiwang. They provided access to clean water and sanitation for both people and wildlife of the Dumagat Tribe in Brgy. San Andres, Tanay, Rizal through the donation of 500 meters of water hose. The residents previously relied on a spring at the peak of the nearest mountain for their source of water. The Rotaract Clubs raised the fund for the water hose with the help of other Rotaract Clubs in the Philippines. The Rotaract Clubs also donated bags and school supplies for 100 pupils, planted 50 seedlings, conducted anti-bullying, proper hand washing, and farming educational sessions during the turnover of the water hose.
Most Outstanding Rotaract Club Project in Basic Education and Literacy
Agak sa Badjao Project
The Agak a Badjao Project involves the sustaining support of the Rotaract Club of Cebu South to a makeshift day care center in the Badjao community in Sitio NABA, Mambaling, Cebu City. Rotaractors regularly provided school supplies and uniforms to the daycare pupils, implemented a feeding program and conducted monthly educational sessions such as handwashing, storytelling and tutoring along with various partner organizations and twin Rotaract clubs since 2016. Rotaractors also conducted annual fundraising to provide scholarships to catered pupils. They also tapped their sponsor Rotary Club of Cebu South for the processing of the late birth registration of the day care center pupils. Birth registration is a requirement prior to entering the first grade of Philippine formal basic education.
Most Outstanding Rotaract Club Project in Community Economic Development
Gandang Kabuhayan
Gandang Kabuhayan is a project of the Rotaract Club of Tayabas Central which conducted Basic Haircut, Manicure and Pedicure Tutorial to 50 individuals in Tayabas, Quezon and provided free haircuts to 120 children. The Rotaract Club partnered with local salons for the training. Some of the beneficiaries continued their training at the salons. One beneficiary actually became a hair stylist in the partner salon.
Most Outstanding Rotaract Club Project in Disease Prevention and Treatment
Rotaract Boothika
The Makisuyo sa Rotaract: Rotaract Boothika Project of the Rotaract Club of Cavinti provided assistance to residents of Cavinti, Laguna, mostly senior citizens, who are in need of medicines by tapping the Rotaract Club to buy these on the residents behalf through a relative of a member Rotaractor who is working in a drugstore. Residents no longer need to go out and buy the medicines themselves, limiting their chances of catching COVID-19 during this pandemic.
Most Outstanding Rotaract Club Project in Environment
Artificial Coral Reef Innovative Engineering Recovery
The Artificial Coral Reef Innovative Engineering Recovery Project of the Rotaract Club of Batasan Hills involved a club-researched and developed rust-free, environment-friendly, and typhoon-resilient artificial coral reef deployed in a fishermen community in Barangay Bucana, Ternate, Cavite. The project helped increase the fishing population in the area by restoring habitats for fishes.
Most Outstanding Rotaract Club Project in Maternal and Child Health
End Polio Now Campaign: Chikiting Ligtas Bakuna Kontra Rubella, Polio at Tigdas
End Polio Now Campaign: Chikiting Ligtas is a project of the Rotaract Club of SLU-School of Medicine Baguio that involved the provision of free measles, mumps, rubella and polio vaccinations for children aged 0-5 with incomplete or absent MMR/Polio vaccine records in Baguio City. The Rotaract Club tapped the Rotary Club of Baguio, Baguio City Government, Department of Health-Baguio, Baguio General Hospital and Red Cross Baguio for vaccine procurement and distribution while the Rotaract Club handled vaccination, triage, and documentation. Partners also supported in city-wide initiative promotion to get more children vaccinated.
Most Outstanding Rotaract Club Project in Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention
Reviving Hearts with Hope
Reviving Hearts with Hope is a project of the Rotaract Club of Metro Zamboanga that provided psychosocial support to victims of human trafficking plying the Mindanao to Sabah, Malaysia route. The Rotaract Club partnered with the Commission on Human Rights and ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, and the Rotaract Club of National University of Singapore. The Rotaract Club also provided various goods to the victims to help them restart.
Most Outstanding Rotaract Club Project in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
TRIBU – Adopting a Tribal Community
The TRIBU – Adopting a Tribal Community is a project of the Rotaract Club of Tayabas Central that involved the construction of a communal toilet for an Aeta community in Barangay Tongko, Tayabas, Quezon to improve community sanitation and prevent diseases caused by open defecation. The project engaged 28 other Rotaract clubs in the Philippines aside from the collaboration with the Rotary Club of Tayabas Central (their sponsor club) and the Rotary Club of Tayabas.
These projects were vetted by a panel of 1 internal and 3 external experts on project management and social development from 117 project entries received nationwide. The judges were Amy Melissa Chua (Country Director, Philippines Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture), Danilo Cerence (AVP for Operations and Project Management, Aboitiz Foundation, Inc.), Jason Alacapa (Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Innovations for Community Health), and Melchor Encabo (Former Rotary International Rotaract Committee Member).
Watch this film to know about the stories of the 8 recognized projects as well as the 15 finalists.
