International travel for all groups including sporting, AFAS and Music will not occur until a vaccine is readily available. The risk across the globe is too high and it is necessary to take a very cautious approach. In 2021 there are no plans to take groups from Villanova College overseas.
There will be no AFAS Elders trip for 2020, that is already the obvious. There has been a good number of AFAS alumni who expressed their intention to have a different experience of solidarity and social justice through this trip however the circumstance has stopped everyone else from travelling. We will give updates as soon as restrictions will ease in both Australia and Philippines, and as soon as Philippine government has already given the vaccines to their own citizens too.
AFAS Elders (see below for details of the 2020 Elders Experience)
is a response to those who have called for Villanova College to give adults a similar experience in the Augustinian Philippines to that of AFAS students.
The adults on an AFAS excursion to the Philippines spend several days in the one community working on a project of importance to the local community and in cooperation with that community.
Mr John Holroyd, Dean of Mission and Identity, had this to say about the concept - “AFAS Elders is a group of adults, consisting of Villanova Old Boys, staff and parents, who undertake projects in the Philippines. The group complements the work of AFAS but does not overlap with AFAS Students in terms of communities visited nor in terms of funding. Like AFAS Students, AFAS Elders seeks to establish a good relationship with a local community where the Augustinians have a presence. It also offers an alternative to ‘Schoolies’ for graduating students. “
In November 2016, four staff members, four Villa Old Boys and a Villa parent inaugurated the first Elders Philippines experience.
The group worked with the Augustinian community on Kinatarcan Island to assist in the construction of a building. This hot house for the drying of the moringa plants is the first stage of a long-term development plan that the Filipino Augustinians and Fair Trade Philippines have designed for the Island. The project benefits all families on the Island.
Kinatarcan Island is approximately four hours’ drive north of Cebu City, followed by a one-hour boat ride. During Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, every building on the Island was severely damaged or destroyed.
Above: laying the foundations, 2016.
2020 AFAS ELDERS EXCHANGE – KINATARCAN ISLAND
Planning is underway for the 2020 AFAS Elders Exchange to Kinatarcan Island. This exchange differs from the AFAS Student Exchange in that it is open to staff, parents and Villa Old Boys (Elders)-no school age students are able to participate. The group goes to Kinatarcan Island and undertakes a building/construction project which is totally funded by Villa Old Boys.( In 2016, the group constructed the drying hut (hot house) for the use of drying the moringa leaf and in 2018 a mat weaving facility for all the island community to use.
Whilst the actual project has yet to be determined, we will be guided by Fr Aladdin osa (who is in charge of what the Augustinians are doing on Kinatarcan) as to where we can assist.
PROPOSED SCHEDULE:-
DEPART Saturday November 28 ARRIVE CEBU Sunday November 29
DEPART for Kinatarcin Monday November 30 RETURN for Kinatarcin Wednesday December 9
DEPART Cebu Friday December 11 ARRIVE Brisbane Saturday December 12
(whilst most days are work days, Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 are lay days. Each day there will be interaction with the local community, the weekend will have a lot more interaction.)
COST $2500- includes all transport, accommodation and food costs
ACCOMMODATION:-
CEBU Fortuna Hotel KINATARCAN Dorminatory styl
If you are interested in attending and would like more information or would like to enquire about contributing towards the project, please contact Tony Hindmarsh at - thindmarsh@vnc.qld.edu.au
AFAS Elders 2016
Back row (left to right) - Mark Edgerton (past parent), Timothy Kelly (OB 2015), Tony Hindmarsh (staff), Kate Alexander (staff), Phill Hiley (ex-staff)
Front row (left to right) – Campbell Muir (OB 2015), Chris Martin (OB 2015), Liam Edgerton (OB 2015)
2016 Elders Slideshow
2018 Elders Slideshow
