Despite the fact that polarized attitudes towards volunteerism exist in the Ateneo, it cannot be said that charity work has become marginalized. With the multitude of advocacies as diverse as the student body itself, the university has provided multiple avenues for potential volunteers to extend their hand in social service.
Dream Team
Also known as the Disaster Response and Monitoring Team, this group serves as an apparatus that specializes in the mobilization of relief operations for those affected by natural disasters. As a partnership initiated by the university administration and backed by students from the Sanggunian, COA, and ARSA, the Dream Team was recently pushed to action through its participation in the aid of victims during the aftermath of Typhoons Pedring and Quiel.
ArtBeat
Ateneans in this project collaborate with high school students of a community in the creation of a mural that revolves around the theme of hope and its significance for the youth. Not only does ArtBeat aim to show the importance of art; it also showcases how art can be used as an escape from debilitating social predicaments. The venture is planned to come into fruition during Humanities Week.
Blue Christmas
As an affair organized by the entire Ateneo community, Blue Christmas aims to reach out to less fortunate children with food, shows, and other recreational activities in an atmosphere reminiscent of a fair. This year, the event comes with the theme “Bida Star,” to show the children that they are stars in their own right, and will remain such throughout their lives.
Alay Ni Ignacio
Sponsored by Pathways to Higher Education, ANI is an organization that specializes in preparatory collegiate education for public high school students through summer schooling. Providing Math, Science and English classes—along with extracurricular activities—the members of ANI act like a student faculty to facilitate such undertakings.