The Good We Build Together: A Volunteer's Perspective
Love, Neighbor: Sabina’s Volunteer Journey from Taiwan to the Philippines
I always wanted to understand how international NGOs operate – their work, challenges, and how they make a difference. When I visited Good Neighbors Philippines’ website, I discovered many projects that made me feel I could learn a lot from them. So when an opportunity that suited me came up, I grabbed it!
My Most Memorable Experiences
During my time volunteering from May 2024 to January 2025, three experiences really stood out for me.
First was when Korean visitors came. I had just arrived too, so I was experiencing everything for the first time, just like them. I went to the Community Development Project Areas of Good Neighbors Philippines, met the locals, and saw their living environment for the first time. I quickly gained an overview of the ongoing programs and projects, it felt like a crash course in understanding all the work being done here.
Then there was The Good Run. It had the highest public participation and was a new challenge for everyone. It had been so long since I felt that collective passion of people working together for a common goal. Behind this short event, a lot of effort was put in by so many people. Although it was challenging, we successfully brought together more people to voice their advocacies and increase awareness of Good Neighbors’ life-changing work in communities.
The volunteer documentation visits also left a deep impression on me. We visited different families in their homes, I witnessed firsthand their living conditions. Capturing these moments on camera—the laughter, the conversations, the exchange of care—I could feel their sincerity through body language and tone, even though I didn’t speak their language. The children, in particular, were so natural and content—their eyes, untouched by societal and material influences, made me reflect deeply about what truly matters.
How This Experience Changed Me
Through volunteering, I learned to see things from different perspectives. Many issues are not simply caused by one or two factors; some are interconnected, layer upon layer.
After returning to Taiwan, I realized that I had learned something valuable from the children in the Philippines—that happiness doesn’t come from material things. Being able to smile sincerely and live with contentment is what truly matters.
During my time at Good Neighbors, I witnessed how everyone tirelessly dedicated themselves to helping those in need. That’s when I understood—it was never about whether someone needed help, but rather whether we were willing to understand and take action.
Becoming a Good Neighbor
Once you truly start connecting with different worlds, you realize that what you give eventually becomes what you gain. Volunteering is never just about one-sided giving—it’s a two-way journey of learning and growth.
I hope more people will take part in volunteer work, sharing kindness where it’s needed most and lending a hand to those around us. Being a Good Neighbor is a process that starts with small actions. Even the smallest gesture of compassion can open your eyes to a whole new world and create ripples of change that reach far beyond what you might imagine.
Sabina Shih volunteered with Good Neighbors Philippines from May 24, 2024, to January 18, 2025.