It’s not easy establishing a volunteer group. But Christian Marx Rivero, together with the other founders of I am Making A Difference (I am M.A.D.), a nonprofit volunteer group for millennials, made it possible.
“Hindi mo kailangan ng budget; ang kailangan mo puso (You don’t need budget, what you need is passion),” said Rivero, recalling how the organization started with a two-hundred peso budget and the times when he sought donations from classmates and friends who also came from poor families.
Rivero said the organization wants to promote volunteerism as a culture and believes that change should start in every Filipino child. He is proud to say that from two volunteers in 2009, the organization has now engaged 346 volunteers, in 39 camps and benefitted more than 1,500 learners.
I am M.A.D. recently held a youth forum event dubbed “M.A.D. Talks: Nagmahal. Nasaktan. Nagvolunteer. (Repeat)” at the Meralco Mini Theater. The forum featured informal, moving story sharing of three I am M.A.D. members whose volunteering experiences were inspired by their personal struggles.
Delivered by Erica Curatcha, “Nagmahal” revolved on her love for service and how this was tested during her last year in college. An active student leader, she was accused of theft, suspended, and lost her scholarship. It was in this turbulent time when she volunteered in one of the camps of I am M.A.D. and met a kid named Jepoy. She reflected on how Jepoy motivated her to move forward and continue on volunteering to inspire more children. Days after her participation in the camp, she was proven innocent and she regained her scholarship.
For “Nasaktan,” Wino Dela Cruz shared the times when he worked on various odd jobs just to make ends meet and encountered numerous heartbreaks. He told the audience that when he surrendered everything to the Lord, he also asked Him to lead him to the right people. His prayer was answered when he met I am M.A.D. and joined its camp in Romblon in 2017.
“Nagvolunteer” put the spotlight on Joyce Armillo, an attendee on the first MAD Talks in 2017 and currently an active member of the organization. Her experience in the MAD camps and her interaction with the beneficiaries inspired her to dream and be an instrument to help the children fulfill their dreams. “Volunteering is a small step for my vision to have a better world,” said Armilllo.