The National Service Training Program (NSTP) of the Arrupe Office of Social Formation is now laying the groundwork for the deployment of students in their fieldwork covering a total of nine (9) Saturdays. In preparation for this semestral long activity, an orientation was conducted for the NSTP team leaders and the student volunteers on 10th November 2014 at Finster Auditorium from 3:40 p.m. onwards. A total number of 179 team leaders coming from fifty-two (52) NSTP classes attended the orientation. Some fifty-two (52) members of the corps of Arrupe Vols were also present. The Arrupe Vols play a crucial role in assisting the deployment of classes during fieldwork, and they provide the needed support for the NSTP formators in accompanying classes in the different areas in the city.
The NSTP-Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) coordinator Ms. Agnes Sagaral and Arrupe’s Community Engagement Officer (CEO) Mr. Karl Anthony Ebol facilitated the orientation program, together with other Arrupe personnel such NSTP Field Officer Ms. Elcy Keith Debildos and Student Servant Leadership Program (NSTP) coordinator Mr. Noriel R. Rogon.
The orientation was an opportune time discuss the fieldwork’s manner of operation. It oriented students of their role as team leaders and volunteers during actual deployment vis-à-vis the role of NSTP’s identified partner communities. The orientation also discussed the general guidelines concerning the fieldwork, as well information on the minimum required activities expected from the different teams for every fieldwork day.
Last school year, the Arrupe Office did an area assessment inorder to reduce the number of participating communities and partners involved in the NSTP program. The reduction, hence, has made it logistically easier to manage and supervise the massive synchronized deployment of students during fieldwork activities. Fieldwork forms a major component of the curriculum of NSTP-CWTS, and it is the partner communities that provide a receptacle for the students who will be implementing projects in these areas. As a result of the streamlining, the program now covers sixty (60) puroks under twenty-three (23) barangays. To boot, the program also works closely with thirty-three (33) Gagmayng Kristohanong Katilingban (GKKs) under four (4) parishes, as well as four (4) daycare centers under the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO). To complete the list, five (5) non-government organizations (NGOs) also formed part of the roster of community partners for which the NSTP will work with for the whole duration of the fieldwork.
The actual fieldwork days now cover 29th November, then 6th and 20th December. In the month of January, it will be on the 17th, 24th and 31st. The remaining three weekends then will be on 7th, 14th and 21st in February.
The NSTP also schedules for an area scanning on the 2nd and 3rd week of November. The area scanning is important pre-deployment activity wherein team leaders and student volunteers visit their respective area of assignment inorder to be familiar with its geographic location. This activity also provides an opportunity for the students to coordinate with the leaders of the community before the actual start of the fieldwork. (By M. Isabel S. Actub, Arrupe Communications & Advocacy)