Accomplishments:

In the Philippines

• developed a child sponsorship program;
• established and staffed health clinics and two schools in remote villages;
• provided academic and vocational education as well as leadership trainings for hundreds of youth;
• developed a Montessori-based day care program in several remote villages;
• established a demonstration farms and agro-forest nurseries;
• initiated irrigation and reforestation projects;
• developed and operates a preschool to grade six program for indigent children;
• organized income generating activities for women and out-of-school youth;
• established animal distribution programs for income generation for poor families;
• initiated back yard fish ponds and organic gardening;
• supported local initiatives in community organization and project management.

Hundreds of youth who have participated in the program have returned to improve conditions in their own villages. Many others have assumed leadership positions in local government or with non-governmental organizations in the Philippines.

One of our major accomplishments is that IAT-Philippines is now being managed and administered by a group or indigenous professionals, many of them educated through IAT's sponsorship program.

Cultural Documentation

Several co-op students from the University of Victoria and Simon Fraser University have volunteered to work with IAT's program in the Philippines, during these past two years. They conducted and documented their research on various aspects of the Kalinga tribes people.

Upon request by the aboriginal elders, who see their culture rapidly changing, IAT has begun a video series documenting their customs. Our first 35 minute production is titled, "The Spirit of Torcao" - a story of how a village got its name - depicts several cultural practices.

You may purchase a copy of this unique presentation in either DVD or VHS format.

For centuries the tribes people of the northern Philippines lived close to nature and in harmony with their Earth mother. They planted rice in paddies terraced out of the steep hillsides, grew their sweet potatoes, and defended their ancestral lands. They respected and supported each other and cherished their children. Life was centered upon sharing the bounty nature provided.

Today these indigenous people scramble to adjust to the problems of the 21st century - problems of population explosion, cultural and racial unrest, decaying cities, crumbling social institutions, plant and animal extinction, global warming and massive destruction of the Earth's environment.

The Elders are concerned for the future of the planet and its human and non-human inhabitants. They describe how colonization has affected their lives. Early missionaries from more-developed countries shamed them into covering their bodies - they were told that to be natural was 'evil' and a 'sin'. The colonizers called them heathens and savages.

In previous times they wore little clothing and all bathed together naked in the rivers. Rape, incest and abuse of women and children did not occur amongst their people and divorce was unknown. The Elders point out the irony that in the 'developed' countries, where everyone wears clothes and considers themselves 'civilized', there is so much sexual abuse and family breakdown.

The Elders mention other paradoxes: how people in the 'civilized' world have multiplied their possessions but have reduced their values, have learned to make a good living but not a good life, have more knowledge but less common- sense, more medicine but less wellness, many specialists but more problems, environmental experts yet a polluted planet.

They ask that we put aside our frenzied obsession with material accumulation and listen, with our souls, to the cries of a planet pleading for humankind to take a gentler approach to living on its surface.

In Canada:

IAT recently helped the Tsartlip First Nation women to establish a Montessori-based day care facility on their reserve at Brentwood Bay, B.C. IAT volunteers have assisted in several conferences for Indigenous Elders and youth. IAT-Philippines co-founder, Petra Durrance, was invited as an Indigenous Elder to participate at the International Indigenous youth Conference held in Vancouver in 2005.

During the past 25 years, IAT has worked to increase Canadian awareness of global issues through talks, slide and video presentations to service clubs and schools. Many Canadian volunteers, out-of-school youth and university students have had participated in IAT's overseas programs in both the Philippines and Costa Rica.

In Costa Rica:

Our current focus is upon the initial stages of developing an Eco-Village and Global Youth Training and Development Centre in Costa Rica.

• Property has been obtained in Socorro, Costa Rica;
• A land use plan has been developed;
• Linkages have been established with local communities;
• A caretaker's cottage on the property has been renovated for the use of volunteers;
• Fruit and forest seedlings have been planted by Canadian youth volunteers and local high school students;
• A leadership training seminar for Costa Rican youth has been conducted by Canadian youth volunteers.

IAT is seeking funding and volunteers to fully develop this unique initiative in Costa Rica. A similar centre will be considered for British Columbia, if substantial interest and support are shown.