Silsilah Dialogue Movement is always open to face the new challenges of society guided by its vision and mission. One of the programs of the movement is Silsilah Peace and Development Services (SPDS). It is the social action of the movement with different programs and advocacies like; education-formation for the prisoners, Harmony Zones, emergency assistance and other social services. Silsilah Dialogue Movement is always open to face the new challenges of society guided by its vision and mission. One of the programs of the movement is Silsilah Peace and Development Services (SPDS). It is the social action of the movement with different programs and advocacies like; education-formation for the prisoners, Harmony Zones, emergency assistance and other social services.
One of the attentions of the SPDS is to face the reality of millions of Filipinos who are abroad and those who are planning to go abroad searching for a job because working opportunities are limited in the Philippines. There is nothing wrong to search for new jobs and opportunities in life because the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) will be able to provide financial support for their families, gain life experiences, and have better quality of life.
The issue of immigration is not new in the world, but the Philippines are among the nations that have higher percentage of Filipino going abroad and in the context of this reality many become victims of human trafficking and illegal recruiters. Despite of this reality, we hear that they are considered the new heroes of society because they bring money to the country.
Silsilah has reflected on all of these issues and some years ago we have started a program under SPDS called Filipino Overseas for Dialogue and Peace (FODP). We are interested to give our contribution and to help Filipinos in the process of working abroad, guiding them with the proper requirements and to help prepare the would-be OFWs face new realities at the same time remain the true character of being a Filipino. Hopefully, when going overseas these Filipinos will not lose their identity as they become part of a new society. Guided by this principle Silsilah has prepared a Primer to educate and form would-be OFWs, especially the young people who plans to go abroad or any members of their family. Facing this reality with a new spirit, Silsilah desires to take part in the development of a well prepared OFWs, not only as ‘modern day heroes’, but also as a “NEW HEROES OF PEACE THROUGH DIALOGUE”. Thus, this Primer will be presented to students, especially college students and groups in communities who might be interested to know more about this reality of the OFWs.
The Primer is divided into two parts: The First part is a short presentation of the Culture of Dialogue which will inspire people to have a journey of personal and social transformation giving priority to the centrality of love in society, this is possible for Muslims and Christians and people of other living faiths. The Second part of the Primer provides reliable information about the recruitment, deployment and welfare process with details on how the would-be OFWs can prevent from being trapped in the human trafficking and illegal recruitment. This Primer will eventually help them to have self respect and dignity as overseas workers and empower them to be real heroes, as an “instruments of Culture of Dialogue and Peace”.
It is our intention to launch soon this Primer and to spread this new concept of becoming heroes in the new society not so much for the money that one can gain or the success in the career, but especially for taking the opportunity and the challenge to live and promote the best of each culture and religion, giving example of honesty and promotion of the common good in a society polarized often by secularism and radicalism/fundamentalism. This emerging and alarming realities challenges us to promote the basic principle of ethics that each person has to nurture and share. (See the Primer starting September 2012 on the website www.silsilahdialogue.com)