Almost everyone can stay excited for 2-3 months, few people can stay excited for 2-3 years, but true professionals stay excited for whatever time it takes to get the job done. The development work of Rural Development Initiatives (RDI) is however never done and it’s remarkable that after 20 years, these NGO (Non Governmental Organisation) members are continuously excited about the tremendous amount of field work they do every day in and around Ormoc City.
Paid or unpaid, they make no exceptions.
Some of the RDI community facilitators. RDI Leyte is a larger team consisting of many volunteers who generously give their time and effort everyday.
Led by Executive Director Josefa Roces-Pizon (pictured above), the team of RDI community facilitators are daily supporting rural communities by facilitating various training programmes including children feeding, disaster preparedness, human and children’s rights programmes.
Since RDI was founded in 1996, RDI has played an important role in rebuilding communities in the aftermath of several natural disasters, herunder Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
Executive Director of RDI, Josefa Pizon reporting in the immediate aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013:
RDI collaborate with various stakeholders on local, national and international levels such as government units, charity organisations, business sectors and funding partners.
The collaboration with Josefa Roces-Pizon and her team is extremely valuable to us! Right through the beginning of our work in the Philippines, we have been met with the greatest warmth and generosity from the Executive Director Josefa Roces-Pizon and her team. After having lived nearly a year with the RDI team being a part of the local community, an understanding of Filipino culture emerged which fundamentally informed our work.
Native Narrative was introduced to RDI through the Sheryl Lynn Foundation, who have been closely collaborating with RDI for the past 10 years.
The never-ending enthusiasm, generosity and kindness of the RDI team is a huge source of inspiration for us!
Read more about Rural Development Initiatives here: