The Experiences from: Miia Koivusaari, Finland

I have always been interested in the Environment and during the last few years I’ve been worried about it too. So when I got an opportunity to travel to the Philippines and assist in Environmental project, I packed my bags.

On my first week, I got to know more about the local culture and got to know my fellow participants. Thursday was our first day in our projects and I knew I would enjoy. We worked on the mangroves 4 to 5 times a week and during my 3 weeks we planted 5000 seeds of mangroves. Moving between mangroves into the forest was sometimes challenging and we got muddy and wet, but it was so much fun. Our team was amazing and our coordinator Mary Jane was very friendly and helpful. When we weren’t in the mangroves we cleaned the beach from plastic and other trash, prepared lessons about environment and presented them in local schools. Seeing the children listening to us when we told them how they can help the environment by throwing their trash in a bin and turning off lights made me forget that I don’t like teaching.

I also joined construction project for a day. I was really impressed about the work of other supporters together with the locals. We we’re plastering a wall of the building they built, a building that will become a school soon. A lot of participants helped to make it and I could see from the villager’s faces how much they appreciate the work.

My three weeks were well spent. I learned so much more about mangroves. I got to see the local culture and I met lots of pretty, amazing, cute and crazy people while helping and working. I will miss my new international friends from Australia, Netherlands, Germany, Canada, France and England and of course my amazing Filipino friends. Leaving this place and all these beautiful people will be heart breaking.

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