This post was updated on July 27, 2014.
It’s easy to pay Php250 for a shirt, wear it, have your picture taken, go online and upload it on Facebook.
But it’s another thing to actually practice what you preach – go out on field, do the legwork, sweat it out, get your hands dirty.
Literally.
The Basadours, a volunteer storytelling and reading advocate group, operates under the logical progression that you have to do something to earn the shirt below (modelled by the pregnant me last June 2013).
Photo by Charmie Quiapo
Photos by Doreen Sy M.
It’s a practice that we don’t impose to other organizations. It’s just that we think that if you are dead serious to become a Basadour, you will make it a point to be present in the storytelling activities that we initiatie and organize.
In my entry yesterday, I posted my personal motivation in co-founding and joining the Basadours in early 2012.
Since then we have organized several storytelling initiatives including Storytime at your Library (done every month at the Cebu City Public Library); Istorya-Basa sa Baryo (which we will strengthen this 2014 by partnering with more barangays); Storython (a storytelling marathon); Story Hours (a three-in-one event of storytelling, story writing and book sharing in partnership with the Banilad Town Center and Philippine Daily Inquirer that happened in 2012-2013 and gave birth to a compilation of stories written by children); and various storytelling sessions conducted in tandem with different organizations such as Bidlisiw Foundation.
Photo by Doreen Sy M.
Master storyteller Lorna Eguia with daughter, Rain during the first Story Hours in August 2012. Photo by Doreen Sy M. of the Basadours
Check out the Basadours website at www.basadours.org for more photos of these activities. More details about the Basadours can be found in the website too!
All in all, there are fifteen (15) officers and members comprising what we call the Basadours’ Core. We had an orientation and call for new members last year that generated a lot of interest but only six or seven people returned with fervor burning and became what we call as our probees (yes, as in probationary Basadours). The probationary period is an applicant’s practical exam, where we can also check if she attends to activities, volunteers to tell stories or his/her skills during events.
When given the chance to present Basadours to group, we always emphasize the need to have committed members (quality) than more members (quantity).
Being a Basadour goes beyond wearing this shirt. Photos by Doreen Sy M.
We also have a pool of volunteer storytellers, whom we contact to help us in our activities.BUT…you cannot just be a volunteer storyteller because you are good. You have to also adhere to our CHILD PROTECTION POLICY. Here are the salient points.
Part of the Basadours’ CHILD PROTECTION POLICY as layouted by Charmie Quiapo. Full copy is found in the Basadours’ Storytelling Guide which can be downloaded from the website.
We spent time in crafting this policy because we saw the need to be better child protectors and advocates of children’s rights. Why? Because we work for and with children. Our storytelling sessions have children as participants. After a few storytelling sessions in 2012, we already asked ourselves the following questions:
What do we do if conduct storytelling session with children in conflict with the law? How do we treat them?
What about sessions with neglected and abused children? How do we respond to their gestures?
How do we manage a room filled with noisy children?
I saw a child hitting another child…what to do?
And a lot more.
As 2014 enters – and even if it has not been announced that we are recruiting new Basadours – let me invite you (again) to visit the Basadours’ website to know more about our organizations. There are more than 40 of these storytelling activities that we have initiated and co-organized with partner organizations. You may also check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/basadours.
Yes, we need YOU.
But not just any YOU.
We need a YOU, who will commit to spread the love of reading and storytelling as a passionate individual mindful of his or role in the community he or she belongs to.
We need a YOU, who is motivated and driven to contribute to children’s development.
We need a YOU, who can proudly wear his/her heart on his/her sleeve and have earned the lines declared on the shirt:
“I AM A BASADOUR. I AM A STORYTELLER.”
Photos by Charmie Quiapo
