![\"HULMA](\"http:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/sallyulmergsbf2014\/files\/2014\/10\/IMG_1202.jpg\")
<\/a>HULMA Community Visit<\/p><\/div>\n
While in the Philippines it also became clear to me that R2R provides much more to their community artisans than economic opportunity as they establish relationships with each artisan. I know this because I heard it from the mouths of numerous artisans as they expressed their appreciation of the partnership that they have with R2R. Our final question of the social impact survey that our team created was, \u201cwhat are your personal visions and goals as an R2R artisan?\u201d. This question has less to do with quantitatively measuring the enterprise\u2019s social impact than it does with recording an artisan\u2019s dreams and tracking the progress that they have made towards it in the future. Through piloting the social impact survey I learned that to many of the artisans their participation in R2R means more than just some extra money, because to them R2R is an opportunity to send their children to school and to improve their homes, it is a place from which to draw self worth, and it is a community of artisans and mentors where they can gain support. This was evident when I spoke with an artisan named Ate Miriam (Ate is used in the Philippines as a respectful prefix to address women). She told us that R2R has allowed her to fulfill her dream of sending all of her children to school, an extremely selfless goal for a mother to set. Ate Miriam went on to tell us about some of her health issues, like asthma and high blood pressure that she has to deal with and how she feels supported by R2R and other artisans in her community. Despite her sufferings and lack of economic opportunity, she expressed so much gratefulness towards R2R and also for the life that she has.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Mt. Taal<\/p><\/div>\n
This community visit was particularly special to me because it came at a time when I was feeling discouraged and disconnected from my fellowship project, and hearing Ate Miriam\u2019s story made me realize that I should be beyond grateful for this fellowship opportunity, being in such a beautiful country as the Philippines, and for the beauty in others taking the risk of sharing their stories. I have already forgotten that name of this and many of the other community that we visited, but I will never forget the people I met and the words that I heard while being there.<\/p>\n
Not all of the artisans opened up to Catherine Rose, Garrett, and I as much as Ate Miriam did, but the Filipino culture is one of extreme hospitality. Practically every community we visited would cook us food and bring us soda and other treats. At times I yearned for the extreme openness that I had experienced while in Central America, where most every person that you met would sit down and immediately start telling you their life story. However recognizing that openness and sharing does not have to come from words, I came to appreciate that artisans letting us into their homes and showing the great hospitality that they did was more than enough for me to feel like we were connected through that experience in some way. I believe that there was shared discovery in this as all of our team expressed to each other how much we all valued the hospitalities that were shown to us.<\/p>\n
As I reflect on the opportunity to visit six different R2R communities, I am left feeling full of appreciation and respect for the community artisans that we visited and also the social enterprise that open their world to us by letting us take part in these visits. One of my favorite experiences in the Philippines was community engagement day, where the staff of Rags2Riches learns how to weave from the weavers. They participate in this every year in order to go back to their roots and to remember how valuable the artisans are to the success and the mission of the enterprise. Reese once told us that they hope for customers see humanity in each of their products, because it took a great amount of hard work from the person whose hands made it. These bags, wallets, rugs, and so much more are made by the hands of those who are marginalized, who have experienced much more suffering in their lives than I ever will, and who seek this livelihood opportunity with R2R despite obstacles that they encounter.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Weaving With the Weavers<\/p><\/div>\n
After try to weave and participating in the community engagement day I felt like I was truly able to understand this and see the humanity that each product represents. I remember telling one of my teammates that I wished everyday of the fellowship could have been community engagement day. Interacting with artisans helped me to re-learn something that I already knew; I need to have relationships with those that I aim to help or serve because accompanying these people is what sustains my passion for compassion. From my experiences with R2R I have learned that I need a sense of community engagement in the vocation that I pursue.<\/p>\n
As I approach the next phase in my life, I will value these experiences of learning as I try to rid my mind of expectations when I enter new experience, adopt gratitude in all situations, and engage with communities that I serve. Although I do not know what job I would like to pursue, I know that working with people is something that I am looking for in my vocation. Whether I seek future fellowship opportunities, teach English abroad, or work toward a graduate degree, I hope to live an intentional and purpose filled life.<\/p>\n
And so I will leave the reader with this Mary Oliver quote that I am using to guide my further vocational reflection: \u201cTell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?\u201d. We only have one, so I plan to chase the opportunities and to take the risks that will allow me to make an impact on the world in some way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My time in the Philippines has taught me to abandon expectations when you enter the door, or the country in this case. Before getting to the Philippines I thought, \u201coh I\u2019ve worked with artisans before, I totally know how that … Continue reading