When times are tough, who steps up to make a difference? In Brgy. Buyo and Brgy. Duyan-Duyan, Sta. Barbara, the Solution Ecosystems Activator (SEA), Inc., did just that. On July 16-17 and August 8-9, they conducted a Participatory Resource Appraisal (PRA) workshop, a powerful tool for fostering community engagement, empowerment, and sustainable resource management. With 26 (Buyo) and 22 (Duyan-Duyan) participants, including representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs) and barangay officials led by Punong Barangay Celso Sonalan and Punong Barangay Carlo Cabigayan, the workshop was a dynamic blend of collaboration, innovation, and hope.
Empowering Communities through PRA
The PRA workshop stands out as a methodology that not only encourages but also empowers communities to actively engage in planning, updating, and managing their resources. By involving themselves in this workshop, the people of Brgy. Buyo and Duyan-Duyan promoted inclusivity, generated contextual solutions, and fostered sustainability. The engagement wasn’t just about participation; it was about ownership, as the community members took the reins in shaping their future.
Crafting Practical Solutions
Throughout the workshop, participants developed various valuable outputs. They created a Flow Chart, conducted a Transect Walk, and updated their Spot Map and Data Analysis of their Household Inventory (HHI). These tools helped in analyzing the community’s resources effectively. A Venn diagram was also included, providing a visual representation of the relationships between different organizations within the community. Additionally, the 24-Hour Recall tool was utilized to understand the daily routines of individuals based on their availability. These visual tools enabled participants to identify the most feasible and available resources within their community.
Punong Barangay Celso Sonalan expressed his optimism, stating, “I hope that working with IPAT-SIAD will collaborate, materialize every decision that is doable and workable in our community. With teamwork, we can develop better ideas and solutions, especially for our water system. I am grateful for having this opportunity in our barangay.”
Punong Barangay Carlo Cabigayan also shared his testament that ” I am very thankful that SEA, Inc. has come in whatever way to help us in our community. I am hoping that we can learn and apply our learnings in our community. I wish that IPAT SIAD will help us to a smooth sailing process to materialized our goals and mission in our community.”
A Spark of Hope and Determination
The sentiments echoed by Teresita Mateo, the Senior Citizen President, encapsulated the spirit of the workshop. She said, “I consider this as a jumpstart for everything. Try while the iron is hot to continuously sustain our goal for our barangay and the whole community. Let’s be open-minded, and through participation, we can learn and gain with IPAT-SIAD.”
The PRA workshop was more than just a series of activities; it was a movement towards empowerment and sustainability. By equipping community members with the tools and knowledge they need, SEA, Inc. has ignited a spark of hope and determination in Brgy. Buyo and Brgy. Duyan-Duyan. This workshop wasn’t just about analyzing resources; it was about building a resilient and self-reliant community capable of overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities.
The PRA workshop in both barangays in Sta. Barbara, orchestrated by SEA, Inc., stands as a testament to the power of community engagement and empowerment. It reminds us that when people come together with a shared vision and the right tools, they can achieve remarkable things. As we look forward to the continued collaboration and success of IPAT-SIAD in this community, we are reminded that real change starts from within, fueled by the collective efforts of dedicated individuals.
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