Targetting the root causes of issues
November 29, 2023
Sister Theresia Tina
Last month, Sister Theresia Tina travelled to the Philippines to present at the International Federation of Social Workers Asia – Pacific Conference. She has shared some of her experiences below of her well spent time there.
Firstly, I am grateful to Sister Angela Reed, Marietta Latonio (Program Coordinator of the Mercy Emerging Leaders Fellowship (MELF)) and the MELF team for putting forward my MELF research to the Conference organising Committee, which was accepted to be presented. I am also grateful to former Institute Leader, Sister Eveline Crotty and her team for their support.
The conference was an event that widened my understanding of millions of people across the globe who invest their lives for the common good. Social workers came from all over the world. There were about 1,500- 2,000 people in attendance. The participants came with their own specialist areas such as human trafficking, homelessness, climate change, degradation of earth, gender biased issues, domestic violence – just to name a few. Some were invited to share like I was in the share out rooms.
Most of the keynote speakers, as well as in the panel presentations, emphasised how important and powerful it was to start at the grass roots and target the root cause of issues. For example, one panellist, who presented on the rivers being polluted in Cebu, said the five universities in the city had come together to target this issue. While they had spent several years doing this, no change had happened. This time they joined with the communities living on that part of the river in deciding to focus only on one part of the river, starting from the top of the river and going down stream.
Left – Marietta Lotonio and Sister Theresia Tina. Right – Sister Theresia Tina presenting her research.
I was there with Marietta to present my MELF Research on the ‘Degradation of the Earth and Waterways: Where have the Forests and Rivers gone in Oamug?’. Our presentation was very simple, practical and grass roots based. We discussed how ordinary grass root communities for the purposes of surviving are damaging the earth and waterways without recognising that their day-to-day actions are contributing to the disappearing of the waterways, forests and wild life.
There were three presenters on the panel including me. Another panelist presented on the pollution of the big river in Cebu city and the other presented on the work of insects in the environment.
While I was there, I was also able to visit a hub for trafficked women which is supported by Mercy Works. I was heartbroken by the stories of some of the women, ages ranging from seven onwards. I could not believe what I saw and heard from these lovely women who are the images of God. One night they took me to an outreach program and that was even more heartbreaking to see what they were having to do to survive. I thought I was imagining or dreaming, but it was real… I felt handicapped in not being able to do something for them on the spot and in my heart I offered a silent prayer to God.
I am grateful for the work which Mercy Works does in reaching out to the trafficked women there and I felt connected with them.
Messages to: communication@ismapng.org.au