I wish there is a Part 2, perhaps a 3, too? 

Communicating Sustainability Workshop was truly a transformative experience. I was grounded and guided by the principles of openness, creativity, and agility through Gen and Z’s thoughtful presence. 

All throughout the four jam-packed sessions, we were taught how to drive or facilitate healthy, inclusive, and difficult conversations in an easily digestible way. 

Firstly, they were able to craft the learning tools’ content from a wide array of perspectives even considering personal truths yet deliberately ignore their importance such as the basic “What do I see?” or even “Who do I get to have conversations with?” You see, we don’t really deep dive or ponder about these things but these are relevant asks when we engage in different kinds of dialogues. 

Second is that a lot of new processes were shed light on things like recognizing our inner game, curiosity as a gateway, and shift from simplistic to powerful questioning are elements that we tend to disregard when we speak about sustainability. Then, we were also given opportunities to bond through fun and impactful activities in the breakout groups such as exercising how to reframe mindsets by reconstructing Gotcha to Got You questions. In addition, Life Stories Conversations Cards Sampler was a great finishing touch! 

There were a lot of moments that I needed to pause, reflect, and just bask in all this knowledge not only from my mentors but also from my peers. 

All of the people present in the synchronous meetings are inviting, unassuming individuals which makes attending the workshops even more worthwhile. Even after the program, I was still able to connect and bond with everyone with the help of a Facebook group; post-feedback and sharing of resources were all provided which makes it even more attractive!

Everything about it was refreshing, mind-boggling, and immersive- a feeling like no other given the current situation of the pandemic. 

Ultimately, I eventually realized how sustainability is intertwined or incorporated in all fabrics of society- from one’s own chasing of his or her dreams to how advocacies or solutions are brought across. 

But it is also undeniable that the learning does not end in those four days and that we should extend or re-echo this knowledge in today’s immensely polarizing and dividing times. Thus, it is my fervent hope to continue to grow spaces where discomfort and comfort can coexist.

What a timely session it is to talk about engaging in differences. Especially during these turbulent times full of stark personal, professional, and political differences. 

Last March 31 and April 5, 2021, I was fortunate to join the Intersectional Workshop of Inclusiviteach and SoDF together with student leaders from AIESEC in the Philippines. 

At first, I was awkward and shy since all of them know each other as the heads of the organization, while I am considered as an “outsider” during the workshop. I was observing and participating in our upcoming workshop this June. Despite this, it amazed me how Gen, Z, and Ima from AIESEC, treated and welcomed me like I am part of their group. 

We started Day 1 by introducing ourselves through a game that was interactive, fun, and quirky, while at the same time, it helped us understand that we have differences in choices by making us choose between two choices such as – do we prefer a cat or a dog?

I learned that while our choices may not always be a black or white perspective, there will be times that binary thinking remains prevalent in our society.

After the icebreaker, we dove into a discussion that helps us understand our history and background. I was paired with a team member from AIESEC in Miriam, and we were able to get similarities as we are both from Quezon City, and we studied at De La Salle University for a time. While we have our similarities, differences are seen as well. Through this, I have seen that it is fruitful and enriching to focus on understanding ourselves, building a safe space for self and others, and engaging in differences properly and with empathy. 

We had more small group sessions to discuss question prompts, and engage in discussions. Interestingly enough, the group I’m in had a common predicament or “hugot” on the negative misconceptions of volunteering from other people – especially from people closest to us. 

All of us in the group encountered volunteering misconceptions. We had similar experiences where our parents questioned our decisions on why we continue doing our volunteer work despite the absence of a profitable stream. It made me realize that this is a reality that we are facing, especially with young leaders. Most of us are being ridiculed or being judged for volunteering despite not having enough financial resources to support ourselves. While we understand volunteering will not help us thrive, it helps us gain experience that we can use.

As a youth leader who manages a growing community with 14,000+ members from different backgrounds, the workshop helped me further understand how our personal backgrounds shape our perspectives.

It helped me deepen my understanding of how we can bridge differences with each other as all of us have different motivations and perspectives, both intrinsic and extrinsic, we need to establish safe spaces for us to connect and engage. 

The workshop helped me understand myself, including my perspectives and background towards effectively building safe spaces, and engaging differences with each other. 

About Mark

Mark Jacinto is currently the Curator of the Online SDG Youth Action Forum, an online community that aims to bridge and connect young leaders and youth organizations towards helping them advance themselves, their organization, and their community to contribute to the SDGs. As of now, the community has around 14,000+ members on Facebook, has connected 5,000+ young leaders, and 100+ youth organizations to 300+ international, regional, and national opportunities, and has conducted more than 400+ events and collaborations with 900+ youth groups. 

Since time immemorial, I have grown fond of writing and speaking the phrase “in-between” on messages and even takeaways on many different fronts and levels in life. 

Image credit: Where to Next Ph

This attachment hits home as I have come to realize that I am actually in it for the longest time. Journeying life was so much more of the in-between moments rather than the peak points, but I don’t discredit being here. If anything, I believe the mundane gives me the time and space to grow, and at the same time, just be.

Attending the Navigating Transitions and In-Betweens Virtual Retreat was a gift in itself. At first, I wanted to give myself some type of experience that would help me know how to navigate my life’s in-betweens, but it gave me so much more than just that. 

I found comfort in being seen and heard by people who I haven’t even met in person. This virtual event provided me an avenue to meet new people from different walks of life – who from complete strangers turned into friends, supporters, and even life companions in the midst of this long haul of a pandemic. Every activity in this workshop felt fitting to thematic flow as it was well-curated for everyone. And for the very first time, there was no pressure in mapping out our lives — knowing where we were, where we are right now, and where we want to see ourselves hopefully in time.

All in all, it made me feel so grounded and earthed that this walk is a good mix of both the known and unknown still yet to be fully understood. It is just so reassuring to know that we are not alone navigating these unique (but also same) transitions and in-between points in our lives. Everyone’s presence and life stories made the whole 2-day program so alive and pure that it continues to warm my heart even up to this day.

Now is the only thing we could hold on to. And now is also the time to go sign yourselves up for an event that would help you get to know yourself better with a company that would honor and explore all these and more with you.

About the Writer: Fiel Tugade

Fiel is currently a psychology student who is still in her quest of navigating her life’s in-betweens. As she continues traversing seasons upon seasons, she also goes out and about finding meaning and purpose in different facets of life as she tries to grow up in this world.

She aspires to become a medical practitioner who can be of help and service to the people around her — trying to heal and recover from their battles and scars — even if it’s just through listening to their life stories for the meantime. Reach her at @imfieltugade on Instagram or through email at fiel.tugade@gmail.com