by Patricia Membrebe
As a self-confessed worrywart, I have always been in a quandary over which path I would wholeheartedly take after graduation. With the desire to get a head start in my career discernment, I decided that this summer would be the perfect time for me to get involved and work as a volunteer for any sector that is dedicated to development and passionate for public service. After weeks of searching for the best avenue to dedicate all the passion that I have for the development sector, I stumbled upon ANSA-EAP's website. I have to admit that I couldn't stop reading the articles published on the site. I was so amazed by how creative, dynamic and relevant the network's projects and advocacies are. Without hesitation, I decided to send my resume. I was just so excited to meet the people behind the network, especially the great minds behind the Citizen Participatory Audit (CPA). CPA was one of ANSA-EAP's projects that really piqued my interest. Initially, I thought of CPA as a brilliant way to ensure that the government is doing its job. Eventually, I found out that there is so much more to the project than just testing the government's efficiency.
As a self-confessed worrywart, I have always been in a quandary over which path I would wholeheartedly take after graduation. With the desire to get a head start in my career discernment, I decided that this summer would be the perfect time for me to get involved and work as a volunteer for any sector that is dedicated to development and passionate for public service. After weeks of searching for the best avenue to dedicate all the passion that I have for the development sector, I stumbled upon ANSA-EAP's website. I have to admit that I couldn't stop reading the articles published on the site. I was so amazed by how creative, dynamic and relevant the network's projects and advocacies are. Without hesitation, I decided to send my resume. I was just so excited to meet the people behind the network, especially the great minds behind the Citizen Participatory Audit (CPA). CPA was one of ANSA-EAP's projects that really piqued my interest. Initially, I thought of CPA as a brilliant way to ensure that the government is doing its job. Eventually, I found out that there is so much more to the project than just testing the government's efficiency.
Albeit nearing its conclusion,
the current phase of CPA still had a place for people like me who are
willing to volunteer. Looking back to my interview, I remember one
question that really struck me. I was asked about what I think of the
government in general. Even though I was really embarrassed to tell the
truth, I admitted that I have always been afraid of working for the
government. To me, it has always been a sort of high-walled entity;
therefore, ordinary people like me would find it very difficult to find
their "way in" to see what is really going on in there. Having said
that, I was certain that I still felt hopeful that maybe someday,
something will change my problematic notion. The question bothered me
for weeks, even in my time as a volunteer. But it became my motivation,
my 'why' as I looked forward to proving myself wrong.
As a volunteer for CPA, I was
tasked to layout the practice briefs for the project, write an article
regarding the conclusion of the phase, and organize a database of
contacts. I must admit that I initially thought that the
responsibilities assigned to me were a little bit technical. I
understood that this was because I came at a time when the phase was
already being wrapped up. I used to think that only the field works are
the most important parts of any research or project. But I learned
through this experience that the interviews, the tools, and the findings
would be for naught if they were not documented and communicated. As a
matter of fact, reading the practice briefs made me understand what CPA
is all about. I became even more familiar with the nitty-gritty details
of each phase. On the other hand, organizing the database for the
project made me realize how much an organization should value its
connections. ANSA-EAP is a network after all, so in building bridges and
working together to get to one destination, it is very important to
bank on strong tie-ups. I am really grateful to have had the opportunity
to partake in such a crucial time for the latest phase of CPA.
Moreover, I consider myself really fortunate that I got to witness how
the stakeholders of CPA gathered to celebrate the progress of the
project in the turnover ceremony with the Commission on Audit. The event
looked back to the progress of the Citizen Participatory Audit and
recognized the driving forces of the project. I honestly felt even more
proud to be given the opportunity to volunteer for such an amazing
project. I was just so amused by the great number of people who support and take part in accomplishing the goals of the project.
I admit that I always had too
many apprehensions and doubts about the government and how they
implement policies and projects. But in retrospect, all of that changed
after I volunteered for CPA. Even though I was not able to witness how
the project started out and how it was all processed, I can confidently
say that I have seen enough to conclude that CPA--more than being the
perfect example of social accountability and the best avenue for good
governance-- is also a good way of empowerment. CPA is not only a tool
to check if the government is doing its job well, it is not just a
process of correcting everything that is wrong in a government project.
It is also the best way to let everyone know that even as ordinary
citizens, we have the capacity to voice out our needs, our demands. For
me, it is the very heart of social accountability--that all sides are
empowered enough to be informed, get involved, make an impact; and
inspired enough to work hand in hand to achieve the ultimate goals.
After all, the real power of a democratic government like ours lies in
the ordinary citizens.
This summer has taught me a lot
and I really felt like a changed person. If at the onset I was merely
looking to gain career maturity, I learned so much more about myself,
and what I want to passionately fight for, in the future.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Patty worked as a volunteer for ANSA–EAP in the summer of 2014. In this blog post, she shares about her experience as a volunteer for the Citizen Participatory Audit (CPA) project of ANSA-EAP.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Patty worked as a volunteer for ANSA–EAP in the summer of 2014. In this blog post, she shares about her experience as a volunteer for the Citizen Participatory Audit (CPA) project of ANSA-EAP.
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