Send Raisa to HPAIR 2017 Harvard Conference

Hi! I am Raisa Serafica from the Philippines and I graduated from the University of the Philippines – Diliman with a degree in BA Broadcast Communication in April 2013.

I am flying to the Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts this February to participate in this year's Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR). I hope to share the challenges and milestones the country has so far experienced and achieved in the fight against disasters and climate change.

A country located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines is no stranger to natural calamities. Yet, the nation still struggles with the devastating impact of typhoons and other natural calamities. As a community manager for MovePH, Rappler’s civic engagement and advocacy arm, I have been heavily immersed in this issue in the past four years. I have learned the harrowing experiences of people affected by typhoons and the demands that disaster managers face in their line of work.

But the most valuable lesson I have perhaps learned so far is that the fight against disasters and climate change is a responsibility shared by all its stakeholders – the public, private sector, and the community. As much as we want to strengthen our laws protecting the environment and our workflows during disasters, we also need to engage the citizenry to do their own part.

At HPAIR, I hope to share our experience to a wider audience and learn from other youth leaders from all over the world.

I know that getting accepted as a delegate to the HPAIR conference is a huge opportunity not just for me but also for the country. I hate to miss the conference just because I failed to raise enough money to fund my airfare ticket. I would definitely appreciate all the help I can get!

Thank you very much.