In celebration of the International Volunteer Day (IVD), Redefining Activism through Volunteering and Education (RAVE) launched its first “Youth Educators’ Workshop on Creative Interfaith Teaching Strategies” in Culiat Elementary School, Tandang Sora last December 5, 2008. 

The project, implemented by the group as part of its Global Youth Education Series, seeks to take steps in bridging cultural and religious gaps among Filipino children in Manila, Philippines through the promotion of mutual respect and understanding. 

The project began in 2007 with a campaign to mobilize resources for the themes of Global Education and Interfaith, as spearheaded by VSO’s Global Exchange Programme (GXP) returned volunteers.  

Through various fundraising events by the volunteers and their supporters, resources were raised to purchase copies of “My Muslim Friend,” a colorfully illustrated book featuring the true-to-life story of the author and her best friend.  The story details how two girls from different religious backgrounds in Cotabato, Philippines were able to go beyond the walls of religion to develop a lifelong friendship.  

The book was the main material used during the Youth Educators’ Workshop wherein selected teachers were empowered to learn and explore how story-telling can be used as a creative and effective strategy to discuss important topics such as interfaith. 

The workshop was followed with a practicum involving over 80 students from Culiat Elementary School.  The school was chosen by RAVE volunteers in cooperation with local partners Service for Peace (SFP) and Ninas Kwentistas as the pilot partner of this initiative for the spiritual diversity of its population.   

The activity has now spawned related events, with SFP replicating the book reading activity in a marginalized community in Manila and Ninas Kwentistas set to conduct a story-telling workshop in Mandaluyong Women’s Correctional this Christmas 2008. 

Redefining Activism through Volunteering and Education (RAVE) is a start-up volunteer organization committed to helping foster a culture of active global citizenship where young men and women are enabled to create positive change in their communities.  It is a primarily volunteer-run initiative, composed of alumni of the Global Xchange Programme, a youth exchange programme run by VSO, British Council and Community Service Volunteers.