As the pilot bustles for the long-month celebration for social workers in the month of March, the social work department, together with the Junior Social Workers Association of the Philippines (JSWAP) from SLSU-MCC, conducts an outreach program as their inaugural activity for this year’s social work month celebration. On March 17, 2024, aspiring social workers along with their social work mentors gathered at Barangay Dulho, Bato, Leyte, as their rendezvous to extend their hugs of hope outreach program to the Sama-Badjao community. The outreach program somehow became an annual tradition for the social work department of SLSU-MCC, as it is their second time initiating an outreach program in the same community as last year. This tradition of handing out philanthropic deeds to the Sama-Badjao community in Barangay Dulho has become a manifestation of the undying zest of the benevolent people from the social work department to continue uplifting generosity and giving back to the community.

Upon their arrival at the community site, the children from the Sama-Badjao community welcomed them with bright smiles on their faces. The children were ecstatic and excited about the outreach program and are looking forward to the set of activities prepared by the faculty and student leaders from the social work department of SLSU-MCC. The weather was definitely on their favor at that time as it resonates the bright and gleaming smiles of the children which made the word smile synonymous with sunshine. The event went in full swing after settling all the hugs of hope goodies that they have prepared for the Sama-Badjao community. One of the young Sama-Badjao community members offered a prayer in their native tongue to marked the official start of the outreach program. Fun and electrifying party games followed, which elevated the hype and mood of the event and brought even brighter smiles to children in the Sama-Badjao community. Everyone went into competitive mode during the paper dance segment as JSWAP alumna Marinelle Presas aims to defend her title as the back-to-back winner of the said game. Despite her zealous passion for winning, a new pair of contenders were hailed as winners, but sportsmanship prevailed and ended the game with vibrant laughs and lively smiles on everybody’s faces.

As the activity concluded, a photo opportunity with the children of the Sama-Badjao community was taken as a memory to cherish and reminisce. The children were later given food before officially concluding the event that day. Sama-Badjao community representative, Vanessa Sabrani, expressed her boundless gratitude to the social work department and JSWAP organization of SLSU-MCC in choosing their community again as the beneficiaries for the Hugs of Hope outreach program. SDG# 16 serves as a standpoint of the said philanthropic activity as it fosters an inclusive society for the Sama-Badjao community.

(via Amjed Paul Tabotabo | Pulse)