COAST-TO-HEART COLLABORATION: I am MAD, Alon and Araw unite for youth and ocean advocacy

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What began as one volunteer’s dream became a ripple of hope—now transformed into a wave of lasting impact.

In a meaningful collaboration between nonprofits, I am MAD (Making A Difference) Volunteers Inc. (I am MAD) and Alon and Araw Club (AAC) recently brought together 27 volunteers and 50 children beneficiaries to the 102nd MAD Camp in Cabangan, Zambales. MAD Camp is a values-driven, youth-focused program designed to ignite purpose, passion, and change.

A leader’s dream, realized

This milestone camp marked a first for I am MAD—a full co-creation model with another nonprofit. “What’s unique about this camp is that we didn’t just partner with Alon and Araw Club to bring in participants, we co-designed the entire experience,” said Maco Ravanzo, co-founder of I am MAD. “We came to share our core values with the kids, but we also gained so much from our friends at AAC, especially their environmental advocacy and how they empower communities through ocean protection.”

The initiative was co-led by Teacher Lourie Garcia, project manager at AAC and a graduate of I am MAD’s 2025 Builders Training Program, a leadership immersion designed to equip volunteers to hold MAD Camps in their local communities. With deep roots in Cabangan and a heart for its children, Garcia spearheaded the camp’s planning and execution, supported by I am MAD mentors, volunteers, and local partners.

“It was exhausting to prepare, but deeply fulfilling,” Garcia shared, adding that seeing the children rediscover their power to dream and make a difference even in small ways made it all worth it. “All this was for the children’s smiles. For them, I endure. I always will.”

Two missions, one heart

Alon and Araw Club (AAC), a nonprofit based in Cabangan, Zambales, champions both ocean protection and the empowerment of underprivileged coastal children through holistic community support. For this camp, AAC brought together youth from its adopted fishing village in San Isidro and students from Sapangbato Elementary School, uniting them for a weekend of learning, connection, and advocacy.

While I am MAD led sessions on values formation, storytelling, reflection, and team-building, AAC grounded the experience with environmental education, highlighted by an immersive eco-village tour and beach cleanup led by founders Gabi del Rosario and Donn Quintos. Volunteers witnessed how AAC’s plastic upcycling program rewards families for properly segregated waste, turning trash into resources and diverting over 25,000 kilograms of plastic from the ocean to date.

“Environmental issues aren’t always a priority when families are focused on survival,” said Del Rosario. “But when you engage youth through values, sports, and storytelling—like we did with I am MAD—you spark interest and ownership.”

A defining moment of the camp was the MAD Circle, where children shared emotional letters to their parents after sessions on love and reconciliation. “This was the moment that truly pushed me to build this camp,” Garcia shared. “It’s a beautiful reminder that change starts at home.”

For volunteers, the experience was equally transformative, deepening their understanding of coastal challenges and strengthening their commitment to environmental stewardship.

Leaving ripples beyond the shore

Garcia’s journey through I am MAD’s Builders Training Program empowered her with the skills and confidence to bring her vision to life. Thanks to the support of generous sponsors and a committed community, she successfully gathered the resources needed to cover the camp’s logistics, from meals and transportation to school kits alongside various in-kind donations.

“This experience showed me that when you believe in something and act on it, the right people and resources will follow,” Garcia said.

The 102nd MAD Camp stands as a powerful reminder of what’s possible when people and purpose align. From shared values to shared action, I am MAD and AAC nurtured a spirit of compassion, empowerment, and unity—a space where dreams were affirmed, hearts were healed, and change gently took root.

And it all started with one volunteer willing to say yes.

Registration is ongoing for MAD Camps 2025, I am MAD’s flagship volunteer outreach program focused on values formation, education, and community-building for children aged 10-12 in underserved areas nationwide.

To join or support, visit bit.ly/MADcamp2025reg, donate to BIDA Eskwela AmBAGan at bit.ly/bidadonate, follow fb.com/IamMakingADifference, or email iammadph@gmail.com. Learn more about Alon and Araw Club at fb.com/alonandarawclub.