July is KAPINTIG Month for IPDI

KAPINTIG is an annual intercultural learning experience of young Austrians in the Philippines towards building global solidarity.  It highlights the instrumental role of DKA partners and Austrian delegates in the whole process of intercultural learning.

The theme for this year’s KAPINTIG is “The Picture of the Other” (Global information about the world context).  IPDI together with the KAPINTIG Network crafted the whole program for ten (10) young Austrians. 

Guided by the theme “Faces of the Pearl of the Orient”, they will experience and understand the Church of the Poor and the Basic Christian Communities in the island province of Marinduque.  Likewise, they also become familiar on how natural and human induced hazards affect the people and habitat of the island and how as a community respond to these. And finally, be able to have a better understanding on how the people in Marinduque more particularly as a church, respond to their life situation.

They will also experience the different faces of urban poverty in Metro Manila, especially the children, to gain a deeper understanding of the situation of the children and the youth in the Philippines.  Live with them and join them in their journey of daily survival amidst the challenges.  See how they respond to these challenges and how they empower themselves and their community.

Lastly, they will embrace the life in an indigenous community as the discover the Faces of the Indigenous Inhabitants of the Land.  Discover the origins, culture, dreams, and aspirations of an Agta/Dumagat  community in the province of Aurora.  Share in their struggles for identity and self determination.  Discover their traditional skills and be in solidarity with them as you share their indigenous culture as shown by their dances, rituals, chants, and IP education. 

The whole journey will be facilitated by the following DKA partners: The Asian Social Institute, Christians for Social Reforms, and Salvatorian Pastoral Care for Children for the Manila and Urban Experience designed as “Aninag at Pintig ng Sambayanan” (Refelction and the Pulse of the Nation) and “Mukha ng Kamusmusan” (Faces of the Children); the Diocese of Boac for the Marinduque experience designed as “Mukha sa Likod ng Maskarang Morion” (The Face Behind the Morion Mask); and the Tribal Center for Development and the Prelature of Infanta for “Mukha ng Mga Unang Nanahan sa Bansa” (Faces of the Indigenous Inhabitants of the Land).

This year, the participants are: Silvia Kreczy, Robert Eggenhofer, Sarah Mayer, Christa Lasslberger, Karoline Payreder, Katharina Brothaler,Nani Ferstl, Martha Bauer, and Agnes Hillebrand.  They wil be accompanied by Manuela rader, the team leader for theis year.  Manuela first visited the Philippines as part of KAPINTIG 2008.