Search for Outstanding Volunteers 2008 - YOUTH Category
(12.22.2008)

EFREN G. PEÑAFLORIDA
Volunteer Organization Affiliation:
CLUB 8586 INC., Cavite City
Dynamic Teen Company, Cavite City
CBN ASIA, Operation Blessing, Makati City

A victim of bullying and and gang fights, Ef decided to be involved in volunteerism so he can promote the cause of the street children, out-of-school youth, scavengers and juvenile delingquents in his province in Cavite. He started his volunteer work in the Cavite City District Jail where he assisted in giving food and reading materials to the prisoners.

To minimize the increase of gang formations in his community, he organized his friends to form an alternative group called Dynamic Teen Company (DTC) in 1997. The group has been actively involved in mentoring teens, training youth leaders and conducting advocacy campaigns in the areas of education and youth reform. With Ef's leadership, more than 100 volunteers have been recruited by the organization. He also trained 50 volunteer youth leadrs to teach the outreach curriculum which the DTC also developed. This volunteering and community service program which started in Cavite City has, so far, extended to other parts of the province and has benefited around 600 school children and youths.

Ef's other volunteering engagements are with Operation Blessing and Club 85896 Inc. As a teacher trainor of Operation Blessing he trained 1,000 volunteer teachers and 10,000 children. With Club 8586 Inc., he mentored more than 150 students, some o fthem troubled teens that need counseling.

Part of Ef's advocacy is his call for volunteerism. His gudiance and inspiration to his trainees motivated them to become volunteers themselves. One of Ef's achievements therefore, are his trainees who are now volunteers and actively assisting different outreach programs. His colleagues in the organization, his institutional partners and the parents of his traninees have all testified to his sleflessness and servitude of spirit which are becomeing a rarity among today's youth.

Ef's exemplary work has been recognized by local, national and international award giving bodies. Among these are the Global Youth Awards given in the United Kingdom, Recognition for Republic Service given by the City of Cavite and the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Leadership Award for Community Service. But most significant of these are the lives of children that were once lost and confused but have now turned about face. There are the faces of tomorrow which Ef envisions to be full of hope.