On November 30, 2024, FundLife convened a vibrant celebration of progress and advocacy for Gender Equity and Inclusivity at Colzon Serenity Resort in Tolosa, Leyte. This event, part of the Equal Play Effect - Asia Pacific (EPE-APAC) initiative of Women Win, brought together FundLife Youth Mentors and staff to celebrate and reflect on milestones and strengthen their commitment to a gender-inclusive future.
This local convening was inspired by the participation of FundLife representatives, Ms. Rojie Mae Valiente and Ms. Angel, in an earlier EPE-APAC training on Gender Equity held in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2023. During this training, they gained insights into gender equity concepts, shared strategies, and explored ways to integrate these into FundLife’s policies and sessions. A re-echo session with FundLife Youth Mentors and staff was subsequently conducted to disseminate what they had learned. This also paved the way for the creation of the Gender Action Plan (GAP) and the conduct of the Gender Equity Policy Review.Â
Following the Jakarta training, successive webinars were held to evaluate and reflect on the participants' proposed projects. FundLife’s representatives presented the Girls Got This Pathway for Girls in Dulag, Leyte. This initiative includes activities such as the Girls Community League (GCL), which features mentorship sessions, a futsal clinic, and capacity-building training for 25 youth mentors and teachers on gender equity. Additionally, a Futsal Tournament scheduled for December 7, 2024, is part of the program.
Equipped with insights and tools on gender inclusivity, the local convening aimed to share these learnings, assess achievements, and celebrate the organization’s collective progress toward fostering gender equity.
The event opened with lively icebreaker games, setting an engaging tone for the day. Participants creatively designed gender-sensitive name tags, symbolizing their identities and aspirations in the context of inclusivity.
Ms. Kimberly Lopez, Head of Operations, and Ms. Rojie presented FundLife’s accomplishments under the Gender Action Plan which highlighted practices and policies implemented to foster equity. A thought-provoking session followed, led by FundLife’s Gender Consultant, Ms. Julie Ruth Martija, RSW. Using the story of Maria—a fictional girl navigating stereotypes in various aspects of her life—Ms. Julie encouraged participants to reflect on societal biases. Group discussions and interactive activities brought these reflections to life, fostering deeper understanding.
Creativity took center stage with a poster-making activity where groups illustrated FundLife’s gender-inclusive measures. Each group presented their outputs in a fun and creative way where some showcased their work through dance while others recited poems. This captured the collective commitment to inclusivity and empowerment. Participants also penned pledges, promising actionable steps to further gender equality at FundLife for 2025.
In the afternoon, the agenda shifted to critical topics designed to educate and inspire. Teacher Renzo and Ms. Mavic facilitated an engaging session on menstrual health, fostering understanding around this matter. Meanwhile, Ms. Kim led an insightful discussion on leadership styles, encouraging participants to explore and embrace diverse approaches to leadership.
The day concluded with a spirited beach football competition—a testament to FundLife’s core belief in the transformative power of play. Amid cheers and camaraderie, Ms. Mavic’s team emerged victorious, embodying the joy and teamwork that define FundLife’s programs.
The convening ended on a high note with the distribution of tokens and prizes, honoring every participant’s role in advancing gender inclusivity. This day was not just a celebration of achievements but also a reaffirmation of FundLife’s vision: to build a world where every child, regardless of gender, is safe, empowered, and inspired to dream in color.
Through events like these, FundLife continues to ignite meaningful change, one inclusive step at a time.
Kommentare