By Maurice Librea, past president of the Rotary Club of Cubao Edsa, Quezon City, Philippines
As a public relations professional, my work involves building and maintaining relationships between organizations and their target audiences. On a personal level, working in public relations has opened my eyes to many beautiful moments. Life truly looks much richer through the lens of public relations.
Recently, I had the opportunity to witness the impact of our service project in the Municipality of Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija. The project provided help for 250 Katutubo (Indigenous) families, including 150 children. It was led by our club president, Shirley Dionisio, and members of the club implemented various aspects of the project in a single day.
The project included a talk on breastfeeding, life skills, and disaster preparedness, as well as basic literacy and education for children. The club distributed books, notebooks, and other learning materials as well as hygiene kits for children. To ensure access to clean water, water pipes were turned over to an Indigenous chieftain.
I was particularly moved by the distribution of food packs to the 250 families, containing four kilograms of rice, canned goods, noodles, and organic coffee. The club also set up a soup kitchen to feed more than 300 people and distributed clothing.
Beyond these tangible benefits, the club provided intangibles that were just as valuable: joy, hope, and inspiration. The smiles on the faces of the Katutubo families, especially the children who received the gifts, were priceless.
Witnessing this project was truly inspiring. It reminded me of the power of Rotary to create a positive impact in our communities. The Rotary Club of Cubao Edsa is using their skills, resources, and networks to create a brighter future for those in need. Behind every successful project, there are people who serve, inspire, and uplift others. I feel blessed to be surrounded by individuals who continually inspire me to do better, and be better, in every aspect of my life.
Find out how to use public relations to increase your community’s awareness of your club service projects in this Learning Center course.
https://blog.rotary.org/2023/05/12/rotary-service-is-the-best-public-relations/