Our homework was to do a persuasive speech. I thought about doing a speech on pearls but realised that I cannot sell it. Then I decided to talk about All Hands Volunteers and persuade the class to join. I looked for some old photos and researched about the organisation, on where they are at now. I enjoyed putting together this speech. I was again very nervous. I used a PPT presentation, selecting a few photos to help visualise the experience. The class was entertained and the teacher said that I did well in helping the audience relive my experience. I didn't look nervous to them. They said i engaged the audience and that i looked calm, and that the message was clear. This took about 4 minutes to deliver. Here's my speech:
13 July 2006, Mayon Volcano started erupting, followed by a
quiet effusion of lava forcing at least 40,000 people to evacuate from the 8km
danger zone. In my lifetime, this would be the second major volcanic eruption
that I have experienced. The first being the Mount Pinatubo eruption back in
June 1991.
Mount Mayon is 490km from Manila, where I lived. It’s roughly
an 11 hour drive.
8 months since the eruption, I found myself within what used
to be the 8km danger zone. There were still remnants of mudflow, charred
vegetation and ruins.
That weekend, together with these lovely people, I was there
as an All Hands Volunteer.
We took part in Project Sto. Domingo which was the
rebuilding of the local primary school.
I had no experience with using a hammer and nails. And the
first task given to me was to put up the classroom ceilings. I learned how to
use the hammer, and how to avoid hitting my fingers. And got the job done!
It was an early start the next day and this time, it was to do a
paint job.
I am afraid of heights and I have never done any painting
before let alone painting the roof! Yet there I was, raising my hand, happy to
have accomplished something because I just wanted to help. I was exhausted in
those two days, and oddly enough, I also felt elated!
I was just there for the weekend, then a month later, I came back with a different set of friends, spending another
weekend to help out. There was this incredible sense of camaraderie from
working side by side with fellow volunteers and local community members. It was
hard work but that experience changed me.
Some of these volunteers have already helped in Project
Katrina. There were those who were just passing by, staying on from a few days
to a couple of weeks, as they backpacked across Southeast Asia.
Whenever there’s a natural disaster, we’d ask survivors what
they needed. We cleared debris, we built simple shelters, we rebuild fishing
boats. We get our hands dirty.
All Hands is a volunteer-powered disaster relief
organization dedicated to Rebuilding Hope for people impacted by natural
disasters all over the world. By giving ordinary people the ability to make a
difference, we have enabled over 39,000 volunteers to donate 200,000 days impacting
500,000 people worldwide in the past 12 years.
You never know when the next disaster would strike, but when
it does, All Hands will be there. Make a difference! Be an All Hands Volunteer!
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