Nieuwsbrief B nd Newsletter

Dear Bond friends,

Here we are again, a bit later than expected, but nevertheless with updates of our Bond activities during the last months. In this edition, the first one since our 1^st Bond-Birthday (congratulations to all!), you will find a short summary of finished, ongoing and planned activities of Bond members, as well as more general information, interesting links and “agenda on the stocks”. We kindly invite you all to send additional information to [email protected] to complete the agenda and articles.

BOND wants to promote an ecological friendly lifestyle, therefore our request to read this newsletter from your computer if possible, to save paper and ink. This edition, we choose to write only in English to save human energy as well. Please, don’t hesitate to contact us if this causes problems.

Enjoy reading!

This newsletter is designed for representatives and for members and sympathizers from support groups as well. All written information is based on what have been sent to us. So, if you want to share your findings, comments or corrections, please send it to [email protected] and [email protected] 

NEWS FROM THE PHILIPPINES

BOND general

BOND 1^st Birthday Celebration and member meeting in PAYOGA-KAPATAGAN

As most of us know, last August 21 & 22, we celebrated our first year of Bond operations. Not a birthday without a fiesta! so all members in the Philippines went to Gamu (Isabela) to celebrate this happy moment together. An excellent moment for the host organisation Payoga-Kapatagan to introduce their organisation - history, purpose, targetgroup etc. - and to show their compost- and working place. In the mean time, this was a good opportunity to hold an intense and fruitful member meeting. The main character of the meeting was a consensus that Bond is growing as organisation, is expanding its operations, becomes more qualitative and professional, but also the awareness that Bond can become stronger only if individual weaknesses (per organisation) can be addressed and the ties of the network can be strengthened. These findings resulted in planning future activities and individual/organisational tasks and agreements.

 For detailed report, please consult the minutes of this meeting which can be acquired at the Philippine secretariat - [email protected]

Visit of Francis (secretariat Belgium) to the Philippine Bond-partners

Francis Leyssens, administrative volunteer of the Belgian Bond secretariat, visited the Philippines last July 2005. He was able to attend a core-group meeting at Cabiao where he met most of the Bond members personally. As much as possible, he visited the Bond members their home-operations as well, and also other organisations who are linked to Bond and Belgium. Some impressions after his visit: “…In advance, even when I would have done it, I could not imagine myself how the situation is in reality. No problem, because everything is going far better then I could imagine. I am overwhelmed really and truly. Things are going well, very well. We have to trust them because they are doing marvellous job. I even think that now evolutions are going on which can bring a complete new view on development co-operation…”

 More information can be acquired at the Belgian Bond secretariat – [email protected]

Bond website in the Philippines

Through friends of Pomcat, Bond was able to start its own website in the Philippines. Please, have a look at www.geocities.com/atombond04 and give your comments!

POMCAT - Bicol

The visit of students and teachers from Nijlen (Belgium) to the Pomcat-projects in July was very fruitful for all parties involved. The boys from the technical school helped to implement the use of the coconut-husk-coal-maker and to build a waterwheel, while the girls were involved in educational and pedagogical activities in elementary schools. These projects benefit the communities who have a long term cooperation with Pomcat. The students were guided mainly by the Pomcat members who also facilitated the practical matters and who brought the students better insides regarding sustainable development.

Teachers and Pomcat board members also held a meeting on July 22, mainly to plan the next steps for the Garden School Project. The process was brainstorming of ideas, open for suggestions and other relevant issues. Also the possibility to continue (to be the pilot of?) exchange programs and/or eco-visits was raised and will be discussed in future meetings.

 Detailed minutes can be acquired at Pomcat office – [email protected]

SALIS - Cavite

Salis continues its regular work as growing school and even increased their efforts in the community Freedom Ville during the last months, especially guidance in livelihood-setups and educational matters (LRC and preschool). They facilitate / coordinate the possible future permaculture-training in Cabiao for Freedom Ville members and leaders, to implement those principles in their community development plan.

After the (Belgian) summer break, Salis restarted the exchange with the Belgian school De Rank through email- and letter communication. Main purpose is to ‘discover’ each other culture and country, differences and similarities, and to create a Bond-ing of solidarity on students’ level between a southern and northern country, and to give teachers the possibility to exchange educational and pedagogical methods and tools. The Belgian NGO De Wereldschool follows up.

CABIOKID – Nueva Ecija

“… 2005 is the most challenging year, inspiring, fruitful and busy time for the organization. A time of collaborating / networking to different government agencies and institutions, Local Government Units, NGOs, POs, schools and individual advocates of sustainable development through permaculture in the country and solidarity among peoples' organization from the other side of the world…”

Last September the training with the municipality Libon has been planned. In Soliven the mayor has died and so our cooperation will slow down because of the circumstances.

We have also decided to adopt someone to work together on Cabiokid with Tholits. Ernesto is a young graduated agronomist. We get further also still a lot of visitors and the reactions remain warmly and positive. The government will give soon the deer which were already long promised to us and other joint operating agreements were already developed. We try now nevertheless also finish the perimeter of Cabiokid, certainly now the animals are going to come soon.

PGX, People’s Global eXchange – Manila  email address: [email protected]

PGX continues its regular activities and searches for trade possibilities among and with Bond members. They also keep options open to facilitate the possible exchange-visit from Gros-members (Belgium) in July next year.

LARIDE, Labour Rights and Democracy - Manila

Despite the garbage- and waste-segregation problems facing in Antipolo, Laride continues to support the community. They asked Salis advice regarding the feasibility to start an elementary school.

Last September, they also finished their module on advocacy in SSS (???). During the previous months they continued their advocacy work and to conduct trainings for contractual labourers. In the spotlight later on (-see news from Belgium-) the work of Ching on the gender-issue.

PAYOGA-KAPATAGAN – Gamu, Isabela Province

The request for bio-compost is still growing which makes Payoga-Kapatagan more self-reliable. It’s growing so fast that Payoga-Kapatagan considers to lower their own production process, but to concentrate more on coordination of co-producers in bio-compost, to control the quality and marketing of the products.

TOMMUNANAN – Kidapawan, Cotabato Province (Mindanao)

Beside the two fishponds and the victory of the Tommuanan project of a stove on fuel thanks to the help of the technology of Pomcat, we have started with pig raising. We continued to visit the regions which have started with permaculture, and gave recommendation to the different communities.

June 2005, we continued to succeed the developments of the participants to the permaculture course (Cabiokid). Now they have also started with long-term plans of a permaculture farm and no longer unilateral planting of corn or mono cropping.

Tommuanan supported the Mandadtam Ancesteral field in their fight against the AJMR banana plantation. The Mandatan Ancesteral field asked to be allowed to become member of the permaculture development. Other Ancestral field inhabitants – the Aromanen Manobo (IAM) – could return to Toronan and neighbouring villages. This was possible thanks to an agreement between Muslim leaders, the original population and NGOs, which resulted in the possibility that ordinary people can take their life in their own hands again.

Tommuanan seeks Bond for assistance in project proposal writing as well as other expertise which they can use in the farm.

VOLENS – Manila and Coron Islands “Saragpunta” project (Palawan)

Volens continues to make a ‘practicum’ on exchange visits and searches for possibilities of short term cooperation-intervention of Belgian volunteers. There is also the continuation of advocacy on different development issues.

In Saragpunta-project, a first eco-design course was conducted on ‘Tending Island’ last September in co-operation with U.P architects and Bert Peeters (Cabiokid and Volens). The main goals were to teach skills and to create insides in building an ecological- and human- friendly training site (alternative school for Tagbanua).

PPA , Philippine Permaculture Association - Manila

No updates available.

NEWS FROM BELGIUM

In general:

At Saturday 2^nd of October 2004, the first meeting of the Belgian wing of Bond took place in the office of the ngo Volens in Brussels. This was the effective start for BOND in Belgium. In imitation of our Philippine partners we made clear appointments: giving support to Bond, our Philippine partners and to reinforce the mutual links between our support groups in Belgium.

At organisational level we want to keep it very simple: a yearly general meeting, a workgroup and a contact-office (voluntary). All participants evaluated this meeting as very positive, as a valuable model for development cooperation. Bond is a small seed that was planted and that will develop for a long time. Our aim is to collaborate with the South !!! …

Now we are 1 year later… The seed sprouted and started to grow, dreaming and working to become a great tree. Bond in Belgium 1 year. happy anniversary !!!

Last September 11, the core group had its first meeting in Brussels. (Francis, Roger, Karen and Mieke attended) The purpose of starting the core-group in Belgium is: To fulfil a close follow-up of the developments of our Philippine Bond-partners and their co-operations, to be able to make a clear picture which developments need to be done in Belgium to support fully the Bond-network. This includes: Organisational structure in Belgium, networking, activity planning and task dividing, preparation of the agenda (General Assembly), …

Main agenda points were

Update Bond Philippines: 3 reports from Bond / Francis (namely Bond meeting in Manila July 2005, visit Francis to the Philippines, Bond meeting in Payoga August 2005)
Update Bond in Belgium: how is the situation today?
Core-group Bond: role & working-method

The core group decided to visit all support groups / individuals to discuss and talk about the question: “What are their expectations within Bond-network regarding 'giving and taking?” and other related topics. These visits will be finished before next core group meeting in December.

 The minutes of the 9/11 meeting can be acquired at the Belgian secretariat – [email protected]

Bond website in Belgium: Surf regularly to http://volens-bond-filippijnen.skynetblogs.be where you will find updates about the situation in the Philippines and developments of Bond in the Philippines and in Belgium, Bond newsletters, agenda, information.

Support group POMCAT - Nijlen

After the visit to Pomcat last July, school started again September 1. Last month, the participating students and teachers evaluated their visit and prepared a presentation about their exchange. This coming Friday November 18, the result of their work will be presented to all interested individuals: family, friends, schoolmates, colleagues, neighbours, Bond-members, … Welcome!

(Praktisch: om 20h in het Gemeenschaps-centrum 't Dorp, Berlaarsesteenweg 2 te Kessel. Dat is in het centrum van Kessel, vlak aan het gemeentehuis de pijl richting Berlaar volgen en je zit op de Berlaarsesteen-weg, dan een van de eerste huizen aan je rechterkant)  info - [email protected]

Point of support SALIS - GROS- Beveren-Waas

Last September 20, Gros members made a presentation for people who are interested in the exchange visit which Gros wants to organize in July 2006 in cooperation with Bond. It was an informational evening where purpose, preparation, practical matters (financially, medical, …) and ‘possible travel schedule’ were presented. Gros also made a brochure with these data and placed it in the local community-halls, libraries, fair-trade shops, cultural centres and youth movements. On November 8 and 14 this activity will be announced as well in the deanery and in the general assembly of the umbrella organisation of youth houses in Beveren-Waas.

The project proposal Salis submitted last August is approved. By March the budget will be released.

GROS has its own busy agenda these days with the solidarity campaign of 11.11.11.

FNF, Filippijnen Noodfonds (Philippines Help Fund) – Hasselt www.filnood.tk

The last months, several festivals and events gave us the opportunity to give information about our work in the Cabiokid foundation, as well as about Bond and Volens: at the end of August, we took part in the World festival in Bokrijk together with Volens. In the beginning of September, we participated with Swos to the exchange in the Cultural Center of Hasselt, and on November 19 we will be present at the world festival in Hasselt. At the end of September we also took part in the “Blikopener” (‘eye-opener’)-event organized by Het Limburgs Platform Ontwikkelingssamenwerking (Platform for Development Cooperation of Limburg).

Mid October we organized together with Openworld the visit of two Philippine social workers in charge of children from the slums. We owe this to funds granted by the City of Hasselt.

Back from the Philippines, Francis discussed with our collaborators about all the positive he experienced during his visit to Bond in the Philippines and his stay at the Cabiokid Foundation. This, of course is reinforcing our enthusiasm to go on working with more zeal in the future.

Our project for 2006 in favor of Cabiokid has been accepted by the Province of Limburg; we are hopefully waiting for the same reaction from the City of Hasselt. We do hope that our request to sponsor a visit for people from the Cabiokid - planned for spring 2006 -will be accepted.

We are also thinking of planning –for 2007 - a visit to the Philippines for our members to give them an opportunity to visit Cabiokid and to appreciate the work realized by Bond in the Philippines.

Point of support LARIDE - Gent

Constantly we are looking out for financial support for the different aspects of the work.

The most urgent need today is the allowance of one of our co-workers Ching Bejeno. She has the main task to protect the process of gender sensitivity (40% of the contractual workers are women). Ching conducts courses on gender sensitivity, the right of the children in the family and women’s emancipation. She also develops specific women’s projects, like credit and consumers’ cooperatives among women.

We are seeking for sponsors – in Belgium and even more afar - who are willing to pay minimum Euro 3 monthly for Ching her work.

If you want to support: The money can be donated to: “Steunfonds Roger Daenekindt” (736-4020399-07) which is an account with Volens. For every 30 Euro per year you will receive a yearly attest of payment tax deductible. One time donations are also very well appreciated. Thank you very much!

 More information can be acquired at ‘point of support Laride’ – [email protected]

Point of support PAYOGA – West Flanders

They coordinate very closely with all activities happening in Payoga-Kapatagan. The lobby work with the Dutch embassy in the Philippines was fruitful and resulted in a one year contract with the Belgian NGO Plan International.

OPENWORLD vzw – Borgloon, Limburg

The visit of two Philippine social workers active in the sponsorship-program of Openworld (Erda - Gabay -Openworld) was foreseen for autumn 2004. Due to many reasons it has been postponed to October 2005. This visit could finally take place thanks to the request of the “Filipijnen Nood Fonds vzw” to the City of Hasselt-Swos. The municipality of Hassalt approved the request and provided funds.

Pierre and Julieta (Erda - Gabay -Openworld) were able to visit Belgium on October 11 to 21.The purpose of the visit was to make the people of Hasselt and Limburg aware of the situation in the Philippines, how local developments take place, and to exchange experiences.

We have had four meetings with sponsors and other people interested in our activities in several cities in the country. Furthermore we visited the municipality of Hasselt, the NGO Volens, and many more

 More information at Borgloon Limburg - [email protected]

VOLENS – Brussels

October 8, Volens organised a formal / informal meeting for all their support groups and –individuals. Also Bond support groups and sympathisers were welcome. (Due to sickness, some of them couldn’t attend). In this way, Volens wants to bring together people to exchange experiences, to provide updates and ‘education’ of related topics.

Volens continues to provide logistics: office space for the secretariat of Bond once a month, help in bookkeeping, annual financial support, space for Bond meetings etc.

Every time that Volens is promoting their organisation (e.g. on festivals, events), Bond representatives can join them to announce and promote Bond netwerk.

BOND agenda and links to websites: see next page

AGENDA & LINKS

Agenda:

Not enough updates available. We kindly invite you all to send additional information to [email protected] to complete the agenda and articles.

Belgium:

Friday November 18: presentation of the exchange visit Nijlen – Pomcat in Kessel (Antwerp, Belgium)
Saturday November 19: World Festival Hasselt – Center Godsheide from 14-18 h
During November: visit of core group members to Bond support groups and individuals
Friday December 9: 2^nd core group meeting in Brussels.

Links:

BOND wants to promote an ecological friendly lifestyle, therefore our request to read this newsletter from your computer if possible, to save paper and ink. This edition, we choose to write only in English to save human energy as well. Please, don’t hesitate to contact us if this causes problems.

Enjoy reading!

NEWS FROM THE PHILIPPINES

During November: visit of core group members to Bond support groups and individuals

Friday December 9: 2nd core group meeting in Brussels.

Friday December 9: 2^nd core group meeting in Brussels.