+Modern Day Heroes Exhibit 2011 Project Report

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+What is the Modern Day Heroes Exhibit?

The Modern Day Heroes Exhibit featured today’s eight most inspirational but not fully recognized Filipino and international advocates of humanitarian affairs.

By viewing artistic installations and trying out the exhibit’s interactive displays, exhibit-goers opened their eyes to people who have made their mark on the world in the most noble of ways.

With a total of nine displays (eight for the heroes and one for registration and evaluation), the Modern Day Heroes Exhibit included detailed descriptions of the featured heroes as well as an activity to accomplish per booth.

Unlike other exhibits, it encouraged active participation from passersby and kept people busy with simple yet enjoyable tasks. Its interactive appeal helped to inform visitors of the humanitarian efforts of the eight modern day heroes by doing a little something themselves.

+Promotional Materials Used Distributed through online means

Description:

What place do you call home?

It is in a home where one's sense of belonging resides. Take that away and we are displaced. We are robbed of some dignity. 

When the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam was set for construction in Brazil, the Kayapo tribe felt exactly this. With the threat of displacement looming, their Chief Raoni Metuktire fought to preserve his tribe's sense of belonging. 

Learn more about his noble battle and the advocacies of seven other humanitarians in the Modern Day Heroes Exhibit in the LS Promenade from December 7-9, 2011. 

Brought to you by the Humanitarian Affairs Club

Description:

Education serves an important role for every individual. For victims of prostitution and human trafficking in the Daughters Education Program (DEP), it saves.

  The DEP was established by Sompop Jantraka, a modern day hero in every right. Through it, he has saved thousands of girls from prostitution and human trafficking in Southeast Asia. 

Get to know Sompop and seven other remarkable humanitarians in the Modern Day Heroes Exhibit in the LS Promenade from December 7-9, 2011. 

Brought to you by the Humanitarian Affairs Club.

Description:

To every artist, the blank canvas is waiting to be filled.

But this sentiment is not exclusive to artists alone. In the StartART project created by visual artist Nikki Luna, the canvas belongs to everyone, especially those in need of emotional release.

The StartART project provides victims of human rights violations with a means to expel difficult emotions in a non-violent manner.

Learn more about this innovative project and many others in the Modern Day Heroes Exhibit in the LS Promenade from December 7-9, 2011.

Brought to you by the Humanitarian Affairs Club.

+The Modern Day Heroes Descriptions of the Heroes and Display Activities

+Geraldine Cox Country Director, Sunrise Children’s Village

Geraldine Cox was born to be a mother, regardless of what doctors say. Despite her womb’s misfortune, Cox’s motherly instinct courses strongly through her veins. And clearly, it’s all she has ever needed. Born to a milkman and a housewife in Adelaide, Australia, Geraldine Cox came a long way from her humble beginnings. Her career began with her first posting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 1970 under the Department of Foreign Affairs in Australia. Her strong connection with the Cambodian people often convinces her that she was Cambodian in a former life. In 1993, Cox co-founded Sunrise Villages, an orphanage for the children during the war. Since Cambodia’s post-war period, Sunrise Villages has received support from the Cambodian government and the international community. Thanks to Cox’s undying commitment to her “children”, Sunrise Villages has grown to include learning centers and recreational facilities, and continues to cater to more children in need today

Childhood Revisited- Baby Mobile: Think of an element of your childhood, may it be a memorable person or favorite toy or even a memorable experience. Share it with the kids of Sunrise Villages in Cambodia by writing it down on a piece of paper and attaching it with string to the baby mobile.

+Dr. Hakim Founder, Afghan Youth Peace Volunteer

Although he has a Masters degree in Family Medicine from Singapore, Dr. Wee Teck Young is not just a man of mere intelligence. By volunteering as a public health doctor in a refugee camp during the US-Afghanistan war, he is a firm believer of peace. Working in the camp endeared him toward numerous Hazara refugees from Bamiyan, Afghanistan. He eventually accompanied them home and eventually taught in a university in their area.  Soon after, he founded the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers group which aims to advocate peace and reconciliation among various ethnic groups in Afghanistan and the Taliban. Together with the volunteers’ help, Dr. Hakim (as the Afghan people fondly address him) established a peace park in Bamiyan in spite of the disapproval of others in the province. They continue to advocate innovative ways to cease surrounding conflict and seek the support of the youth around the world. 

Make Letters Not War!- Letters to Dr. Hakim: Compose a short note on the paper provided addressed to the Afghan children affected by the war in their country. Let them know you’re listening.

*Letters will be mailed to Dr. Hakim after the exhibit

+Sompop Jantraka Founder and Chief Advisor, Development and Education Programme for Daughters and Communities Centre Thailand

In poverty-prevalent Thailand, most families see only a few options for survival. Having worked as a temple boy to fund his education, Sompop Jantraka knows the story well. Daughters and sisters are sold easily to prostitution because their relatives remain unaware of better choices in life. To stop this, Jantraka sees the bigger picture in education. In 1989 he established the Daughters Education Program (DEP) to provide education to the underprivileged. Volunteers also work with involved families to convince them to send their children to school instead. The DEP also provides alternative safe shelters for victims. In 1993, DEP became part of a bigger organization called the Developmental Educational Program for the Daughters and Communities where its reach expanded beyond Thailand, to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Yunnan Province. Jantraka has been nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize and named one of Asia’s leading heroes in Time Magazine. Truly, he is a hero for many.

Take Control- Wire Maze Game: How much control do you have over your own life? Sometimes one wrong turn can mean the end of it. Trace the copper wire through the wire maze without letting the light bulb spark.

+Chief Raoni Chief of the Kayapo People of Brazil

Chief of the Kayapo People in Amazon Rainforest of Brazil, Raoni Metuktire dedicated a lifetime to protecting the rainforest. Supported by international communities and environmental foundations, Chief Raoni went against the recent construction of Belo Monte hydroelectric dam that threatened both the welfare of his tribe and the preservation of the rainforest. Born in the Amazonian forest in the 1930s, Chief Raoni grew up in a nomadic lifestyle. While his advocacy now still subscribes to that way of life by sending him all over the world to globally broadcast his campaign to stop deforestation which threatens both the last Indian tribes and Brazil’s future. His act was both supported by different world leaders and inspired the creation of 12 foundations aiming to protect our rainforests. Now, Chief Raoni represents the tribe leaders fighting for the rights of their tribes while also those who bear the responsibility of guarding our modern day rainforests.

Out of Place- Photo Reflection: Being forced out of one’s homeland is not the only form of displacement. The homeless, refugees, and people who don’t fit in are also considered displaced. Take a few moments to look at the photo display. Where do they really belong?

+Gang Badoy Founder, Rock Ed Philippines

In a society as diverse as ours, music has the power to bridge cultural divides. Realizing this, Rock Ed Philippines founder Gang Badoy launched Rock Ed Philippines, a 10-year program that “aims to rock society” through alternative education with musicians, artists and entrepreneurs. RockEd uses a radio talk show called Rock Ed Radio, forums that live-stream online, feeding programs and other school-based activities. And through these approaches, it unites the youth in art and recreation. Badoy has recently received the distinction as one of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) and as one of the Philippines’ Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM). A true visionary and leader, Badoy has paved the way for the organization to forge a bridge to the youth, acting as a translator—explaining pressing, national issues into a language understood by the younger generation. 

Education Evaluation: How much do you value your education? What is it really to you? Use the tape recorder to record yourself saying: My name is_______ _and education is ____________ for me.

+Atty. Carlos Medina Director, Ateneo Human Rights Center

The field of Humanitarian Affairs is not a stranger to the academe. What is however, is someone like Atty. Carlos P. Medina Jr. who incorporates humanitarianism in his profession and daily life. A true academic, Atty. Medina completed his education at the Ateneo de Manila University, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Harvard University. However, with a thirst to transcend his pursuit of scholarship, he worked in the Legal Aid Office of the Prelature of Malaybalay, Bukidnon. In 1985, he acted as defense counsel for apprehended prisoners at the Manila City Jail. Today at the Ateneo School of Law, Atty. Medina passes on years of knowledge to students of Political Law, Constitutional Law, Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law. As the current Secretary-General of the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism and Chair of the Ateneo Human Rights Center among other positions, Atty. Medina shows that work and passion do go hand-in-hand.

Do Something Good Today!- Everyday humanitarianism: Channel your inner humanitarian. Inside the box are papers each with a simple good deed. Pick one, accomplish it within the day and stick it on the display once you’ve finished.

+Nikki Luna Founder, the StartART Project

Art has the power to eloquently communicate an artist’s most complex feelings through her tangible medium. Its power of release is what Nikki Luna through the StartART Project aims to share. The StartART Project provides art therapy to youth victims of human rights violations and war by using art as a means to help them address adversity. After volunteering in a rehabilitation center for sexually abused children, Luna realized the need to create a program to facilitate a healing process through art. With psychologists she designed art therapy programs, integrating medical practices with more artistic tools. She is also an accomplished visual artist herself. Her work entitled Unmentionables  sold for more than double its selling price in a prestigious art auction in Hongkong. Her talent as an artist is undeniable, but what is most inspiring is how she uses her gift to touch people’s lives beyond her art.

Having a Tough Day?- Art therapy: Use art as a form of release. Take a paintbrush and some paint and do some strokes. Fill the canvas with your emotions.

+Dr. Christopher Guerrero Founder, Global Medical Center

Dr. Christopher M. Guerrero is a Filipino born in Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan Valley. Although he is now based in Chicago, USA, he has dedicated his life to serving his own people first. He was a clinical investigator in the Treatment of Presbyopia on Indigenous Filipino Population in 2008 and co-author of the book “A Model Health Outreach in an Indigenous Filipino Population”. Undoubtedly a man for others, he joined several global medical missions and soon established his own called the Global Medical Foundation in Illinois, Chicago. It fosters a global exchange of medicinal knowledge and skills among different countries for the benefit of underprivileged people. One of his successful medical missions in Nueva Vizcaya involved 3,600 patients, 13 volunteers, and 42 US-based medical practitioners in a span of 6 days. A humanitarian through and through, Dr. Guerrero received the 2011 American Academy of Family Physicians Humanitarian Award.  

What Can You Do To Help the Sick? Paint scratching activity: Don’t worry. You don’t need a medical degree. Simply scratch the “illnesses” or the black layer of paint to reveal the healed persons in the pictures.

+Photos from the Exhbit

Photos for Chief Raoni Audio Recoding for Gang Badoy

Wire Maze for Sompop Jantraka Art Therapy for Nikki Luna

+Photos from the Culminating Activity

HA- ADMU President Wowie Catabijan speaking about what being a humanitarian is about.

HA-ADMU’s VP for Internals introducing the Modern Day Heroes Exhibit to the audience

HA-ADMU’s Treasurer, Mike Pelobello sharing her thoughts on her advocacy

for victims of armed conflict

HA-ADMU’s core team member Andrew Cua speaking about his advocacy for public education