‘Leadership Sea Expedition’ program tests the mettle of RAFI’s micro-finance team

Sunday 7th of August 2011

CEBU, Aug. 7 (PIA) –- The micro-finance team of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) got to experience its “Leadership Sea Expedition” program as 25 of its managers, supervisors and officers paddled their way across the Hilutungan Channel to the Islands of Olango, Pangan-an and Caohagan, braving the big waves and rains recently.

A fleet of 13 kayaks travelled an average of 20-km per day for four days (July 14-17) to experience the Leadership Sea Expedition Program of the foundation’s Kool Adventure Camp that were held in Cordova, Cebu and Olango Island in Lapulapu City.

RAFI Micro-finance supervisor, Nineveh Mascarinas described the program as a “challenging experience and an adventure to the highest level. It was tiring but definitely worth it.” She said that the RAFI Micro-finance team camped out on the shores of the Island when they reach it in the evening.

Food was rationed and water was scarce but they were able to go through the experience as a team, she said. According to RAFI, the Leadership Sea Expedition program was designed in such a way that the bond among team members is strengthened and tapping personal development in the process.

Life and leadership skills were also promoted through experiential learning and discussions, Mascarinas noted.

She compared the Leadership Sea Expedition to a metaphor of leadership. "The tides, current, weather, and waves all bring about the true experience of how the leader brings the group to a sense of oneness," Mascarinas stated.

The bugsay (paddle) principle of RAFI President Roberto Aboitiz also connects to the experience of the response-ability of a leader in a crisis situation and in still waters.

It brings out real leadership, its challenges, and how one influences the fleet in a given formation and direction,” Anthony “Totits” Ocampo, Kool Adventure Camp deputy director for adult programs, explained.

RAFI Micro-finance is a program under the Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship focus area of RAFI, providing financial resources and know-how to women micro-entrepreneurs to nurture financial independence and entrepreneurship. (PIA-7/mbcn & RAFI)