By Jannina de Jesus Alfante
The second wave of Collaborative Service Learning Program (CSLP) projects for the present school year were officially launched through the signing of the memorandum of agreement between Xavier University’s Kristohanong Katilingban sa Pagpakabana – Social Involvement Office (KKP-SIO) and various community partners.
The ceremony, held on September 4 at XU-AVR 1, was frontlined by XU president Fr Roberto “Bobby” C Yap SJ, academic vice-president Fr Rene Tacastacas and KKP-SIO director Nestor Banuag Jr, and attended in also by students, faculty and staff from different colleges.
CSLP is a curriculum-based service learning experience for the students from various academic disciplines. As part of its dynamics, the program will take the participants to partner communities and institutions in pursuit of facilitating dialogue education — a way of learning that brings theoretical premise into proactive social relevance.
The projects agreed upon were the following:
• Information, education, communication (IEC) production on dengue awareness and urban gardening projects in Gusa;
• Soil Analysis in Tuburan;
• Lantaw sa Kaugmaon Projectin San Simon.
• Practicum to industry and community (organic waste filter) in Bulua;
• Pastoral engagement between of Xavier Kristohanong Kabataan (XRISTKA) and Philippine Island Kids Foundation;
• “Miarayon: Transcending Life in Natural Light”— a photojournalism project of Development Communication students with St Therese High School of Miarayon and the Miarayon-Lapok-Lirongan-Tinaytayan Tribal Association (MILALITTRA ); and
• Patubig Project in San Isidro, Talakag, Bukidnon.
In sum, there are over 30 projects under CSLP aimed at facilitating the learning of XU students while pushing for integral community development at the same time.
CSLP’s underlying principle is entwined with the characteristics of Jesuit education that deems educational formation of individuals as a means of preparation for them to become apostolic instruments “in service of the church and country as it serves the human communities.”