THE KINABUKASAN STORY

Inspired by the example of selfless service of Christ and heeding the challenge of the Gospel to follow the Lord, a group of youngprofessionals and college students banded together and agreed to share and offer their skills, personal talents, strengths and time to serve, give and inspire others through individual vocation and profession characterized by selfless service, social justice and faith.

Coming from all over Bulacan, students heavy with school work and professionals at the start of careers in business, medicine, law, engineering, and other professions, saw an opportunity to share their God-given talents to the poor, deprived, depressed and under-serviced fellowmen.

With only scant funds coming from voluntary contributions, projects were initially focused on volunteer formation. Little by little, the organization took baby steps and launched projects in small and hard-to-reach communities. Project after project, the organization traced a very steep learning curve as it charted its way up to more challenging programs.

This is our story.

VISION

KINABUKASAN envisions itself to be a growing fellowship of young people dedicated to the task of social action and community building by promoting volunteerism and rendering responsive and faith-driven service.

MISSION 

Through formation, organization and active mobilization of youth volunteers, KINABUKASAN will work on highly significant and valuably helpful projects for the community.

GOALS

• Opportunities for Social Action
  
  To give the youth opportunities and ways to respond to the noble call of social responsibility by providing them will the support to engage in meaningful and selfless service.

• An Agent of Faith, Hope and Love
  
  To bring hope and love to the hearts of the poor, the needy and the oppressed, and be able to share with them the Faith.

• Sense of Purpose and Belongingness
  
  To build genuine fellowship and a formidable team of young men and women, working together, making serving and volunteering fulfilling, simple, direct and even life-changing, capitalizing on the idealism and energy of its youth volunteers.

• Growth and Expansion of the Organization
  
  To promote and advocate the values of the group so as to inspire and encourage others to join and carry out its various programs and activities.

• Network for its Volunteers
  
  To become a venue, not just for interaction, but for professional opportunities and personal development through a network of connections and associations with the volunteer base.

PRINCIPLES AND VALUES

KINABUKASAN will base its activities on Catholic social teachings on human dignity, community and common good, human rights and responsibility, option for the poor and the vulnerable, dignity of work, stewardship of creation, the role of each person to serve his/her neighbor and the promotion of peace and social justice.

The organization will be an experience in the joy of giving. Being volunteer-run, it will be an avenue for compassionate action.

THE NAME

Filipino for ‘tomorrow’ or ‘the future’, KINABUKASAN reflects the ideals and principles governing the organization. It signifies hope for a better and brighter future for our people and our community. It reflects the inspiration and motivation for change and action. It also poses the challenge for the youth to work for this clearer future.

RECRUITMENT AND VOLUNTEERISM

The key to volunteer recruitment is to make potential volunteers believe in the cause of KINABUKASAN. It is better to make the volunteers rally behind the cause rather than the personalities behind the organization.

The heart of KINABUKASAN is volunteerism; therefore recruitment is taken seriously by evaluating each potential recruit on three criteria:

• Volition – implies that one must agree to and believe in the cause of the organization driving it.
• Capacity – competency and availability of time or space for a volunteer to deliver work.
• Identity – closes the loop, leading to action and performance.

Each volunteer experience is unique. Therefore the benefits of volunteering can vary from project to project. Some benefits of volunteerism can include:

• The opportunity to serve.
• Growth in spirituality.
• The opportunity to truly understand what it means to be “Christ for others.”
• Community support and work for social justice.
• Education.