MAD (Make A Difference) Courses

Thank you to the Aeta communities of Yangil and Banawen for working with us on restoring their ancestral land, and for helping build a green economy based on agroforestry where taking care of nature builds wealth. Cashew, tea, honey and calamansi are some of the exciting agro forestry products that will provide income for all. Maraming salamat sa katutubong Aeta ng Yangil at Banawen na kakampi namin para ibalik ang kalikasan sa kanilang lupaing ninuno. Salamat sa tulong niyo para mabuo ang kabuhayan na galing sa gubat, kung saan pwedeng yumaman ang tao sa pag-alaga ng kalikasan. Kasuy, tsaa, pulot at calamansi ang magagandang produkto na magdadagdag ng kabuhayan para sa lahat. Extra info for those asking: What trees were planted?: Forest trees used: Kupang Narra Yakal Tibig Palosapis Lauan Agro forestry: Calamansi Cashew Bamboo Jackfruit Sampaloc (for Sinigang) Fuelwood: Madre de cacao planted close to the village - the tree regenerates so it's easy to use this for cooking instead of cutting above native trees. Flowers also used for food. This project is part of a bigger plan to reforest 4,000 hectares of ancestral domain and to create wealth for farmers and indigenous people while healing the environment - empowering them to be entrepreneurs in their own land. Who helped in this project? Through the years we have worked with different branches of governement. Very helpful in this project was the guidance of the NCIP Zambales office (through Atty Roman Antonio), who helped us work with the community and seek permission, the San Felipe LGU who introduced us and who continue to help the Aetas. The province also helped support the community through health and livelihood programs. Also thank you to IPMR Iking De San Juan who first guided us through the Aeta villages and learned reforestation with me. Also grateful for Tourism Promotions Board who has continued to support by visiting them. For private sector we cannot thank enough The Circle Hostel team, MAD Travel team, Tuminugan Farm, Hineleban Foundation, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, For The Future, Bioten and Nadine. If interested to partner, learn and/or help speed up restoration, please email info@madtravel.org or visit www.madtravel.org as we need to raise funds for more trees and we need volunteers for different kinds of reforestation planning and work.

Big shout out to my business partner, Rafael Dionisio, at MAD Travel (Make A Difference) for his relentless dedication to the Yangil Aeta tribe in the Philippines. His efforts are truly making a difference. As Raf would say, we're deeply grateful to the Aeta communities of Yangil and Banawen for their collaboration. Together, we're revitalizing their ancestral lands through agroforestry, which supports a thriving green economy. This initiative is bringing valuable products like cashew, tea, honey, and calamansi to market, providing sustainable income for the community. Thanks to everyone - the corporate and school partners, as well as all the amazing individuals who have supported our mission - who has been part of our mission over the past decade! In particular, thanks to For the Future Philippines (https://lnkd.in/eHfn23yS) and the Lighthouse Legacy Foundation. Here's to more #adventures and #storiesthatmatter, leading to demonstrable real world impact! MAD (Make A Difference) Courses

Hi! We know it's summer holidays for many of you -- enjoy your well earned rest! AND...if you are a Grade 5 teacher who is eager for something fun for the coming school year, the team at MAD (Make A Difference) Courses is looking for 2 or 3 more development partners for a cool pilot of our Junior Docathon course. Your students will help us improve our course while gaining awesome documentary #filmmaking and #storytelling skills!! Contact suji@madcourses.com for more info. Or refer us to innovative G5 teachers you know and love!

Docathon Global 2024 winning team Ana, Hena, Kalin, Eli, and Kiaan of Shanghai Community International School talk about why they made her film "Raindrop," telling the story of Justin, jiu-jitsu, and meaningful waves of change. This is a group of changemakers lending the voice to a fellow changemaker through their film! Have you seen the Docathon Global 2024 winning film "Raindrop" yet? If not, watch it here: https://lnkd.in/gtfTUAPy

I felt so lucky to be in the room, seeing and feeling the emotions and connections brought out through these films. #storiesmatter

We received films from all over the world for our Docathon Global 2024 competition--Germany, Hungary, Peru, China, Mongolia, and Ireland! One film came out on top: "Raindrop" by Ana, Hena, Kalin, Eli, and Kiaan of Shanghai Community International School. "Raindrop" is a beautiful film about Justin, jiu-jitsu, and how each one of us can create ripples of change. We feel so incredibly fortunate to be the recipient of inspiring local stories made by youth around the world such as this! Bring Docathon to your school and let's create more powerful, impactful stories together! -- A special thank you to our MAD Courses mentors Andrea Legaspi, Suji DeHart, Roxy van der Post, Roslynn Lemmer; to our Docathon Global 2024 judges Tim Logan and Jennifer Bahrami of Festival Of Hope Foundation, Inky Nakpil, Simon Mundy, Timothy Thomas of Munich International School e.V., and Sophie Peccaud; Kathryn Berkman for hosting the awards ceremony; and John Haakon Gould for giving this Service Learning opportunity and guiding the winning participants!

"I’ve wondered for a while now: Why do schools promote global citizenship and service learning in their mission statement but don’t fully support this with money, time, or messaging? Additionally, even when Global Citizenship Education (GCED) and service are part of the accreditation process, GCED is given short-shrift– it’s baffling! So, I asked everyone I could, and got some truly interesting ideas from fellow educators for funding your service learning and GCED initiatives, which I’d like to share here with you." So if you want to learn how to get funding for your school's GCED initiatives, this is a good compilation of ideas by our very own Suji DeHart! 🙌

Another inspiring summit comes to a close, leaving us with more drive, motivation, and inspiration to #makeadifference. A massive thank you to Kathryn Berkman and her team of solutionary student leaders at Munich International School e.V. for inviting us to host our first DOCATHON GLOBAL ceremony. It was great catching up with fellow Changemakers stars, discussing innovative approaches to bring sustainability to the center of education. ✨The next summit and Docathon will be hosted by Dom Verwey and marc lavoie. ✨Shoutout to Julie Meltzer for her amazing work with Zoe Weil at the Institute for Humane Education ✨ catching up with my friend Nkoba Ismael Matovu for his innovations in access to clean water ✨ concluding some filming with Phil Keech and Fabien Moussay for growing service programs at their school ✨ learning with Shei Ascencio and Dom about brain connecting to service ✨Happy to meet again the amazing team at Frankfurt International School represented by Dr. Michael Johnston and @alicia chaplin who hosted the conference last year #inspiration #sustainability #education #changemakers

Docathon Africa 2024 winner Katie of International School of Tanganyika talks about why she made her film "A Girl with a Dream is Fire," featuring the inspiring organization Msichana Initiative. Now we know where the heart of Katie's inspiring film of hope, community, and female empowerment came from! Have you seen the Docathon Africa 2024 winning film "A Girl with a Dream is Fire" yet? If not, watch it here: https://lnkd.in/gM3PtbcC

🚄 Live from the train, Suji DeHart and Sophie Peccaud are already on their way to Munich! We're thrilled to be part of the Munich International School e.V. Solutionary Summit—a summit about service learning for students, by students. Throughout the summit, we’re excited to: 1. Meet our amazing students who joined the Changemaker Launchpad and will present the projects they developed through the program. 2. Run a session on Ikigai for all students, helping them reflect on their roles and futures. 3. Host the DOCATHON Ceremony, announcing the big winners of the global competition. Let's do this! 🎉 #SolutionarySummit #ServiceLearning #ChangemakerLaunchpad #Ikigai #Docathon #StudentLeadership