New World, a Flemish NGO in Belgium, has been convening an annual meeting with its partners in the Philippines namely ALCADEV in Mindanao, EVRAP and OFFERS-PANAY in the Visayas, and TABI-Masbate, PNFSP, and CDPC in Luzon.
Started in 2010, the holding of the annual meeting of New World partners in the Philippines is held in the project areas of partners then one of the partners will host. This annual activity of New World partners is not just an official meeting but also a venue for exchanges of experiences of partners; enhance skills and knowledge; and integration of partners with the community peoples. This is a weeklong activity because aside formal meeting are training and project visits.
For this year 2011 from September 5-11, the partners have once again gathered themselves in Bulo, Balantoy, Balbalan in the province of Kalinga, Cordillera, Northern Luzon for this annual meeting. The hosts for this year’s meeting of partners are the Center for Development Programs in the Cordillera (CDPC) and the Balantoy Farmers’ Association for Development (BFAD).
In their arrival on September 5, the community of Balantoy through BFAD warmly welcomed the partners. The first three days of the meeting had started with training on Feasibility Study. Aside New world partners, representatives from the BFAD and some barangay officials have participated to the training. Sharing of participants of their rich experiences highlighted the training. TAWID Consultancy Services- based in Baguio was tapped as resource persons for this training. Felix Baluga- the Barangay Chairman and member of BFAD, and Pablo Dungga- the Press Relations Officer of BFAD, formally welcomed the partners.
After the training is visit by all partners to the projects implemented by CDPC-BFAD in sitios Bulo, Kilayon and Ligayan. Partners were so enthusiastic and inspired so that the 3-4 hours hike under the heat of the sun and strong rains after was undermined.
The actual meeting of partners was on the 5th day September 10, 2011. Reports of accomplishments, updates on the program, and immediate plans of each partner including New World were shared and discussed in this meeting.
The weeklong activity was concluded with a Solidarity night with the peoples of Balantoy. Each partner as well as the community members has prepared presentation in the form of song, dance, and solidarity message that they shared during the solidarity program. And in behalf of New World, Pascal Van Driessche- Coordinator of New World program in the Philippines had expressed his gratitude to BFAD and has commended the strength of the organization.
As in the previous years, the just concluded meeting of partners was successful and very fruitful.
The unity and strong cooperation of the community members through their organization BFAD and the commitment of all partners in service to the peoples has contributed most to this success.