In January 2025, IPED students had the opportunity to participate in a two-week Project Assessment course in the Philippines. They spent the first-week studying monitoring and evaluation methods and receiving lectures on the Philippines’ history, politics, economics, and sociology. The second week allowed them to utilize this knowledge while evaluating a local development project. Half of the students spent this time in Antipolo, Rizal, Philippines, while the other half visited San Felipe Sinto Lalec, Zambales, Philippines.
The teams in Antipolo assessed MARIWSKA Integrated Farm. MARIWSKA is an NGO focused on promoting organic farming and environmental protection. Fordham students looked at their training program and assistance for financially viable farming. The training program allowed farmers to take a month-long course to receive a certification in organic agriculture. The assistance provided farmers with start-up materials, land tenure support, and help marketing their products. The teams received a fully immersive experience; they stayed with members of MARIWSKA, participated in farming activities, and practiced producing organic products like ube jam and insulin tea.
The teams in Zambales visited GASAK. This area is home to the indigenous people Aeta, who were forced off their ancestral land at the top of Mt. Pinatubo when it erupted in 1991 and resettled by the government to the land they live on now. The team in Zambales assessed two projects in an Indigenous community. One team evaluated how their community micro-financing, backed by their community farm, GASAK, operates. The second team evaluated the solar lights installed around the village and provided to households. The teams had the opportunity to help plant crops on the community farm, tour the village to map where the lighting was available and enjoy a community night where they learned local recipes and techniques. One team member even got to go to a private family farm to harvest turmeric in the early morning hours and then process and package it for sale!
This experience allowed students to see firsthand how information learned in the classroom can translate into real-life projects. They gained experience visiting a developing country and learned about the development challenges faced by the Philippines. The group had a great time bonding, traveling together, and discovering who was skilled in soccer (and who wasn’t)!
