A Unique Opportunity to work and learn alongside the poor in the Philippines

2010 HOPE (UNION) Trip to the Philippines

HOPE Japan's UNION trip for 2010 is planned for August in the city of Davao, in the Philippines. UNION stands for Understanding Needs In Other Nations and, just like its name, this trip will provide an opportunity for participants to see first-hand how issues of poverty are being dealt with in the developing world, and how we can be a part of helping people out of poverty. Union can also be described as a Study Tour.
 
The team will spend two weeks in Davao at a university founded especially for the indigenous people groups of the Philippines. Among these groups poverty is often so severe that the opportunity to go to university is completely out of reach. However at the university we will visit, all students are chosen by their villages and attend on full scholarships. When they are finished they will return to the villages to lead the way in lifting themselves out of poverty.
 
Through friendships formed and experience of life in the Philippines, UNION team members will get an idea of how they can partner with the world's poor to make a difference. Days will consist of learning about issues of poverty in the Philippines, helping to build a new herbal medicine clinic and garden at the university, and of course time to interact and enjoy new friendships. The trip will conclude with a couple days on a beach near the university, reflecting and enjoying a wrap-up time with the Pilipino students.
 
There is also a shorter version of the work project/study tour arriving the same time as everyone else and leaving august 10th.
 
If you are interested in going on one of these trips, please send an e-mail to union@hope.or.jp and tell us which UNION (long or short) you are interested in joining, a little about yourself, and your motivation for going.
 
Below are the details of the 2010 UNION to The Philippines.
 
Dates Capacity & Application Deadline
Long Aug 4th - 20th 12 participants (minimum 6 participants required)
Deadline: (Mon) July 5th, 2010
Short Aug 4th - 10th
 
Schedule (Starting & finishing points: Manila)
Long - Aug 4th - 20th Short - Aug 4th - 10th
4th arrive in Manila 4th arrive in Manila
5th AM: Briefing by Assisi in Manila
PM : Fly to Davao		 5th AM: Briefing by Assisi in Manila
PM : Fly to Davao
6-19 Davao 6-10 Davao
20th fly to Manila and Japan 11th fly to Manila and Japan
 

Costs

Participation Fees:
  • Long UNION: 56,000 JPY
  • Short UNION: 45,000 JPY
Participation fees to cover all in-country costs including :
food, accommodation, Internal Flights and travel, management fee
 
Plus:
  • International flights and travel insurance, estimated at 100,000 yen, can be booked through HOPE Office.  Participants are welcome to arrange their own travel if they want to go early or stay late, but must be commit to being at the rendezvous point in Manila at the prescribed time.
     
  • JPY 50,000 Fund raising target per person to cover materials and building costs of clinic.  Fund raising is an important part of this project.  We encourage all participants to actively share the message and seek donations.  We can give you some ideas as to how to do this.  Some participants choose to simply donate the JPY 50,000 themselves
Volunteer in Cambodia with HOPE UNION