From research to impact: The 2024 Ateneo Development Field School’s journey to Siargao

The 2024 Ateneo Development Field School (ADFS) journeyed to Siargao for community-based participatory development. For this year’s ADFS, students went to one of the country’s top tourist destinations, not as tourists, but as engaged researchers and development workers. Partnering with Gawad Kalinga (GK) Pangarap Village in Lobogon, Del Carmen, students transformed theory into practice during their two-week community immersion. Guided by Field Directors from the Development Studies Program—Dr Mark Anthony D Abenir, Nota F Magno, and Maria Victoria F Punay—students collaborated in Participatory Action Research across three community sectors: KapitBahayan (community leaders), Youth, and Children. This approach not only deepened the students’ understanding of the community’s context but also empowered them to co-create solutions with the locals.

The first team, Team Aktibong Bata Kauban sa pagDamgo (ABaKaDa), consisted of eight Development Studies majors–Reine Christine S Brioso, Zoe Julianna S Castro, Klariz Monica S Chanyee (all 3 AB Development Studies), Napia Faye B Begtang, Audrey Dizon, Raphael Martin D Jimenez II, Monica Isabel Jose (all 4 AB Development Studies), Christian F Dasalla (5 AB Development Studies)–and one international student, Liang Qianyu, a Doctoral Candidate from the Institute of Area Studies in Peking University, Beijing, China. They worked with the children’s sector in GK Pangarap Village.

On the other hand, the second team, Team Maayong Ugma Gidamgo Natong Angkonon (MUGNA), was comprised of eight Development Studies students—Isabella C Cruz, Arabela L de Leon, Jo Franci I Mapalad, Kaira Maria Maxine R Ventura (all 3 AB Development Studies), Jameelou M Maramag, Karl Cedric Opeña, Anahata Joselle Perez, Andrea Gayle Rosales (all 4 AB Development Studies)–and another international student, Khatheeja Fathima Gulam Ghouse, an undergraduate student taking up Bachelor of Commerce with Computer Applications from Lady Doak College in Tamil Nadu, Madurai, India. They collaborated with the youth sector in GK Pangarap Village.

Finally, Team Kaibanan sa Kalambuan (KK), the third team, composed of eight third- and fourth-year Development Studies majors–Glenn Derwin T Dela Torre, Emirozz Czarlene D Labaria, Chae Eun Lee, Maria Fiona Marguerite R Salazar, Erika Celine E Villanueva (all 3 AB Development Studies), Christine Noelle T Choo, Pio Francisco B Ramirez, and Loraine Gabriel A Sumaylo (all 4 AB Development Studies). They engaged with the KapitBahayan leaders and members of GK Pangarap Village.

Ateneo Development Field School 2024

The ADFS program spanned four weeks, from 17 June until 12 July 2024. The first week was set for classroom-based learning which included lectures and discussions about the context of GK Pangarap Village as well as important concepts and techniques for doing participatory action research, innovation management, creative capital search, and knowledge partnering for community development. Additionally, Mr Miguel Angelo Gaddi (AB DS 2018), Project Coordinator at the Philippine Action for Community-Led Shelter Initiatives, Inc, delivered a lecture on the self-housing approach and socialized housing. Dr Cecilia Francisco, former Director for Programs of Save the Children Philippines, also conducted a workshop on child sensitivity training, providing insights into interacting with children in field settings.

At the conclusion of the first week and armed with a solid grasp of classroom-taught concepts, the students, under the guidance of Dr Abenir, Ms Magno, and Ms Punay, immersed themselves in the GK Pangarap community from 24 June until 7 July 2024. During their stay, they lived with host families, employed various data collection methods, and engaged representatives from different community sectors in participatory action assessments. Each group implemented localized community development initiatives tailored to their assigned sectors. Activities included community farming, on-site lectures, life-skills training sessions, and bonding sessions that nurtured meaningful interactions between students and community members.

To close the students’ 4-week journey, Mayor Alfredo “JR” Coro II, mayor of the Municipality of Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte, along with Ms Alnie Espiel, GK Area Coordinator for Siargao and Dinagat Islands, Mr Jerry B Salino Jr, Startup Specialist of the WAVES Technology Business Incubator of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Surigao del Norte State University (SNSU), and representatives from GK Ateneo attended the ADFS culminating event last 12 July 2024. This hybrid event, held in the Ateneo campus, featured student presentations of their research findings along with their Digital Impact Stories. Recommendations were also made to enhance the well-being of the different stakeholders and sectors within the GK Pangarap community.

Gawad Kalinga Pangarap Village

Established in 2013, GK Pangarap, located in Barangay Lobogon, Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte, houses 100 families, primarily from Lobogon and some from the nearby municipality of Sta Monica. As with other GK villages, residency in GK Pangarap involves contributing sweat equity in house-building projects and participating in values formation activities. This approach fosters a strong sense of ownership and collective responsibility among community members, who adhere to the community’s rules and regulations.

Students collaborated with community members to identify issues and design interventions to address various development needs across sectors. In the children’s sector, they piloted various interest clubs such as sports, reading, and drawing to harness the potential of village kids and foster intergenerational activities for talent and skills development. Simultaneously, they organized a clean-up of the GK community library (Aklatan sa Kabukiran), rekindling interest in reading among villagers. Many children expressed eagerness to explore the books arranged in the Aklatan. The clubs are envisioned as a catalyst for a more vibrant and multifaceted Linggo ng Kabataan (Children and Youth’s Week), an initiative led by the Sangguniang Kabataan or youth council of the Barangay.

In the youth sector, a team-building and leadership workshop entitled ‘GKamp’ was held to boost camaraderie and organizational skills among the local youth. The GKamp aimed to empower the GK youth to organize a Community Solidarity Night,  serving as the culmination of the two-week field experience of the students with the GK community. The local youth took the lead in planning the event, with minimal guidance from the Ateneo students, showcasing their capacity to initiate and execute community activities independently. This initiative not only strengthened community bonds but also provided a platform for youth empowerment and leadership development within GK Pangarap Village.

Through consultations with local experts and Kapitbahayan leaders, the Kapitbahayan sector adopted a participatory approach to community development, resulting in the creation of the Less-Smoke Stove—an innovative solution tailored to local needs that harnesses existing knowledge and skills. To encourage its adoption, the ‘Salo-SaLutuanan’ program educated residents on smoke exposure risks, demonstrated the stove's construction for replication, and provided cooking demonstrations using the stove. This initiative showcases the power of effective community collaboration and mobilization in driving meaningful change.

The Ateneo Development Field School partnered with GK Pangarap village with a shared mission: to research and implement sustainable development interventions that empower the community, fostering capabilities that align with their own vision of a brighter future.

Photo Gallery

Photos courtesy of the ADFS Students