I am Marielle Villasper, a development professional who graduated cum laude with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Social Work at the University of the Philippines- College of Social Work and Community Development in 2014 and passed the licensure examination for Social Workers in the same year.
I have extensive professional experience working with individuals, families, and communities in implementing public and private programs and services on child protection, mental health, psychosocial support, refugee protection, poverty alleviation, and community development.
These work experiences have shaped me into the person I am now—empathetic, passionate, committed, and resilient despite adversities in life. Among these work experiences, I highly appreciate working on child protection and community development; hence the very reason I am a proud child’s rights advocate and I am presently connected with an industrial company under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Department where I play a critical part in overseeing the social protection and community development programs on livelihood, infrastructure, disaster risk reduction, and environmental stewardship to targeted communities.
My commitment to the pursuit of knowledge and to discovering the full extent of my potential as an agent of change; strengthening my competencies in promoting effective and sustainable human organizations and social institutions towards resilient, inclusive, and enhanced human ecosystems has motivated me to be part of the 2024 Goldin Global Fellowship.
My designation as the community relations officer – social worker has opened opportunities to work with and for diverse communities. To serve the people and create good and lasting change in the lives of underprivileged communities keeps me motivated and committed to my work. I have been a registered social worker for a decade now and I have worked with diverse groups that helped me acquire extensive knowledge and understanding of the process of community development and organizing. I firmly believe in the power of communities to thrive when provided with the right support to achieve self-sufficiency and independence. Furthermore, it is both humbling and rewarding to witness the remarkable transformations that individuals and communities undergo.
How the Sibol Project Builds Sustainable Communities for a Greener Future
In our areas of operations, we implement CSR projects and activities that aim to positively impact the community. I have established a good relationship with the barangay and its executives which resulted in a quick and positive response when I invited them to the community visioning summit. In this activity, I asked the local executives about their aspirations for the community they live in, the current actions or projects related to these, and the support needed to make the plans realized. I was delighted with the truly insightful community engagement. As a result, the Sibol Project was conceptualized and eventually implemented.
The Sibol Project is a strategic approach towards a self-sustaining model of a community feeding program benefiting from the assets and capacities of the local government, technical experts from the Department of Agriculture, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the private sector. It highlights the synergy of solid waste management, backyard farming, and vermicomposting (composting using African night crawlers). We utilized a bottom-up approach in project planning because we leveraged the existing assets and expressed the needs and issues of the communities which are overflowing with household organic waste and scarce sources of locally-grown produce and healthy food.
There are two important project components:
- Facilitation capacity-building activities for community members on backyard farming and vermicomposting through coordination with technical experts from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and
- Provision of material support to improve the existing garden such as the construction of the vermicomposting facility, plant boxes, and garden kits which include basic tools and seeds or seedlings.
In alignment with the community work I am currently involved in, we aim to empower individuals by promoting sustainability through the adoption of alternative agricultural practices. This includes establishing and enhancing community gardens, which not only serve as local food sources and promote environmental responsibility for a brighter and greener future but also provide alternative livelihoods for vulnerable and interested groups within the community.
Currently, we are in close coordination with our partner school and barangay local government unit in Mariveles, Bataan for monitoring purposes. It has been reported that approximately 22 kilos of crops were generated and used for the feeding program of malnourished children and consumed by families experiencing trouble putting food on the table.
With this project, we are hoping to capacitate core individuals in embracing sustainability and improving livelihoods to spread hope, opportunity, and environmental responsibility for a brighter and greener future.
I remain hopeful that I could also expand this project to the community where I live to create green and sustainable spaces in urban areas.
A Transformative Experience with Goldin Institute
It is truly an honor and immense privilege to be part of the 2024 Goldlin Global Fellowship Cohort as this provides an opportunity to learn from community leaders across the globe and have an edifying experience through our shared reflection and practical experiences as we fulfill the mission we are entrusted with in our countries and be able to establish purposeful relationships and networks to further our cause.
This fellowship has been an exciting opportunity to elevate my skills and deepen my sense of responsibility, not only to grow personally and professionally but also to continue supporting the communities we serve in embracing and achieving sustainable development. It has equipped me with valuable resources on effective leadership and community empowerment, helping to drive holistic development.
