By Shui Tsai 

My first contact with AsiaDHRRA was the Farmers’ Exchange Visit in Taiwan in 2003. At that time, I had the opportunity to meet people from different countries. During the FEV, I learned a lot from them because they shared information with me on how they contribute to help farmers in their respective countries. Therefore, when I got information about the volunteer program, I was so interested to join the AsiaDHRRA just to have a better understanding on how they interact with other DHRRAs.

Before I joined AsiaDHRRA, it was called like a “Mission Impossible” since I have never had experience to live abroad, and I also didn’t think that I could survive away from my family. My family and friends asked me, “Why you want to be a volunteer in AsiaDHRRA? If you need to learn something ……………

“Why you want to be a volunteer in AsiaDHRRA? If you need to learn something why do you choose to go to the Philippines? I didn’t pay much attention to what they said. I just tried to do it by myself. I do believe that the future of someone depends on his ability to make the right decision at the right time.

Time passes so fast. I started this OJT program 7 months ago and I can say that one part of my goal is already achieved. In this training program, the objective is to be a contact person for the network that includes AsiaDHRRA, AFA, TaiwanDHRRA, NPUST, and TWADA. To achieve this I have started to learn more about the organization of the network. Again, while trying to get more information, I improved my knowledge in many fields like on rural development work in Asia, communication and coordination, preparation for and documentation of international workshops. Since all these activities are done in English, my communication skills in that language improved.

Now as I look back, I understand that it was good for me to interview key TaiwanDHRRA leaders before I came to AsiaDHRRA. My presence during the 30th DHRRAW Anniversary Conference was great because after that I understood better the DHRRA history and its centripetal force. Again, my working time together with the secretariat team as an assistant during regional conferences was a valuable experience for me to build friendship and relationships with members.

Also, I gained technical skills on editing a website and e-brochure from AsiaDHRRA MIS Officer. I have already written a TaiwanDHRRA brochure in English and have volunteered in PhilDHRRA by providing event coordination support. Consequently I enhanced my skills while doing Internet search about mining news. I also joined a PAKISAMA workshop in the south that gave me an understanding of the different aspects of life in Philippines.

During the Forum and FEV, I had opportunity to be an interpreter for TWADA. It was hard but very interesting because it was a way to have a self-test of my English proficiency. Afterwards, I translated the Rice Declaration from English to Chinese. After the ACSF Forum in Thailand, the diary I kept during the conference was useful in enhancing my skills on documentation.

I remember this sentence that was said by Souleman Konate (2004) during his studies in Taiwan. “To go is to see, to see is to believe and to believe is up to you to have a better decision.”

I still have a few months to spend in the Philippines. I do hope that this interactive relationship between me, AsiaDHRRA, and all my friends in the Philippines continue to grow. I really feel that the experience is valuable and I’m convinced that impossible is really nothing. Trust me!! Together we can do it.

Shu Hui Tsai, a TaiwanDHRRA volunteer, earned her Master’s degree in Agribusiness Management from National Pintung University of Science and Technology. She worked closely with Dr. Wenchi Huang, as research assistant for the agribusiness management department. She joined AsiaDHRRA OJT program last August 2004.