Ateneans win at 2022 PolyU’s Global Student Competition

Loyola Schools students Franklin Duane Madriñan, Trisha Anne Mandap, and Andrina Mukhi won at the 2022 Global Student Competition: Leadership and Serving the Community organized by Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in partnership with the University Social Responsibility Network (USRN). Participants were asked to submit either an essay or a short video highlighting their social commitment and community participating on the two themes: "Leadership for Future World" and "Serving People with Knowledge." The three Ateneans submitted essays under the first theme. 

Madriñan (III-AB DS) clinched First Prize for his essay. He was inspired to write about his experience working with the indigenous people (IP) of Bukidnon.

"Having worked with the IP youth leaders of Cabanglasan made me realize that there are narratives worth sharing and realities worth confronting that have long been sidelined in mainstream discourse. I found the competition as an opportunity to share their story and the work we have done with them to a global community who can help rally our cause."

Mandap (III AB DS) received the Oustanding Award. Mandap said she was inspired to see people her age "create pockets of difference within their setting, utilizing their strengths and resources." 

"Being in Ateneo, and being a scholar at that, I understand the immense privilege of the education I am currently receiving and the importance of making it count. This experience has taught me the gravity of hard work, perseverance, and the utmost importance of placing people at the heart of development, our kapwa at the center of change," she said. 

Mukhi, also a junior AB Development Studies student, won Third Place. 

“I was eager to take the opportunity to share my experiences and learnings from our Service-Learning project internationally. Our project is a training program entitled Project MAlakas at MAtatag (Project MAMA). We designed and implemented it in partnership with the Ateneo Center for Educational Development and a community of young underprivileged mothers from Quezon City. Through the project, I have been able to reflect on the wrong notions many have about development — such as that it is simply about entering a community and telling them what to do or that it is about economic progress only without regard for who is left behind.” she said. 

Dr Mark Anthony Abenir, an associate professor in the Development Studies Program, served as their mentor. He stressed the importance of student participation in these competitions.

"Aside from gaining recognition and winning prizes, I have always encouraged my students to join in Community Engagement and Service-Learning conferences and competitions. Aside from being confident that I have prepared them well for meaningful Service-Learning engagements, I tell them that joining such conferences and competitions is part of one's accountability to humankind. This is because we are able to showcase such wonderful engagements, but this also serves as an opportunity for others to learn from what we have done and be inspired to replicate the experience and even find ways to do it better based on their local contexts. In this way, we inspire others to serve better and engage with communities more meaningfully."
 
Winners are accepted to the PolyU International Summer School 2022, which will run from June to August. PolyU's program is an experiential learning pedagogy that integrates community service with academic study and reflections, providing students with an enriching learning experience.