Junior Chamber International chapters all over the world recently gathered together in Kanawa, Japan for the 71st JCI World Congress. The congress also coincides with the celebration of the 100th year of the JCI Movement. JCI, with over 200,000 members worldwide, is an international organization that transcends beyond race, religion, and countries in order to effect positive change that leaves a lasting impact for their respective countries.
40 representatives from JCI-Manila Chapter attended the 6-day congress and went home with the prestigious Most Outstanding Local Organization In The World award, besting out over 5,000 chapters worldwide in over 100 countries from different continents. JCI-Manila is the record holder as the most awarded JCI Chapter in the 100-year existence of JCI, winning a total of eight awards, with the earliest one given in 1963 in Israel followed by several more wins in 1966, 1967, 1977, 1982, 1983, and the last one in 1984. An added crown to an already historic year, this adds to their first two wins in the national level and in the Asia Pacific, and now, also worldwide.
JCI-Manila went beyond the norm of service and extended its reach not only to those in need but also inspiring a generation to step up and help. This remains consistent with their vision of shaping up future leaders of the country.
JCI-Manila, in their bid to win the Most Outstanding Local Organization Award, showcased their community development programs such as 2Big Impact, which brought potable water to a community of over 2,300 residents in Nueva Ecija and Health Festival in Smokey Mountain. They also had livelihood programs such as Urban farming, which developed a sustainable farming solution in Smokey Mountain and Dream to Weave where they taught housewives of Smokey Mountain to weave indigenous banigs made from eco-friendly water lilies.
JCI-Manila is also highly involved in education programs including an international immersion program with Duke University to provide primary education to the out-of-school youth of Smokey Mountain. Another is the Paradise Heights Music Academy and Likha ng Kapayapaan: Music Peace Camp, which shared the gift of music to the children of Smokey Mountain in an effort to promote peace.
For 2015 JCI Manila President Steve Baltao, the success will only be meaningful if it is passed on to the next generation. He shares: “We, at JCI-Manila, have always believed in inspiring a generation of leaders to stand up and help the nation in any way that they can. If we have inspired them to do so, I believe that is the greatest achievement of all.”
For more about JCI-Manila and their projects, you may visit their website www.jcimanila.org or like them on Facebook at JCI Manila PH.
