by Victoria Melissa C Pulido

One hundred nineteen XU students have chosen to “spend their summer differently” by participating in the Summer of Service 2014 organized by KKP Social Involvement Office. Participants are Psychology and Computer Studies practicumers, KKP student volunteers, officers and volunteers of the different co-curricular and religious organizations, student councils and CSG.

This year, KKP has partnered with different local institutions where the participants will be spending three full weeks of community work in the areas of Values Formation & Tutorials for Children, Survey & Profiling, Database Development, Capacity Building/Training, and Communications.

Here is the list of partners for this year’s Summer of Service:

1.    Pedro Calungsod PEACE Project
2.    Manresa Tagbuan Center
3.    XU Farm Project
4.    City Accounting Office
5.    City Information Office
6.    City Economic and Enterprise Department
7.    Cagayan de Oro City Police Office
8.    Oro Youth Council
9.    St Joseph Home for the Elderly
10.   House of Joy
11.   Balay Canossa
12.   Barangay Talungan Relocation Site
13.   Hapsay Dalan

SOS 2014 started with a Basic Orientation and Skills Training Seminar (BOSTS) on April 11-13. Participants were trained on facilitation, community development organizing and social advocacy to prepare them for their area work. The area work and field exposure officially started on April 13 and will run until May 16.

An Output Presentation is scheduled on May 10 where the participants will showcase the highlights of their engagements in the community or institution they have been assigned to. This will be followed by a Synthesis Seminar on May 17 for a day of deepening and reflection of the experiences and learning from the summer program.
 
KKP Social Involvement Office believes in the importance of empowering students and providing them opportunities to heighten their understanding of society. It is hoped that through this effort of deepening social responsibility, we will be able to take part in the University’s mission of forming “men and women for others.”