“Strong Heart”

Ms. Edna T. Crisostomo has been a volunteer of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Kapit-Bisig Laban Sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services – National Community Driven-Development Program (DSWD KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP) since 2014.

Ms. Crisostomo
is best described by the residents of the community as a dedicated volunteer.
According to Marrian Nikki Tuanio, Former Municipal Community Empowerment
Facilitator (MCEF) DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS, Quezon, Nueva Ecija, “Masasabi ko na siya ay one call away, kasi
kapag po sinabi kong may meeting, kahit ano pong ginagawa niya pupunta siya
agad sa barangay para gampanan ang pagiging volunteer niya (Ms. Edna
Crisostomo is very dedicated with the volunteer work, because she is always
present during the meetings related to the program).”

Her volunteer
work gives her self-fulfillment which motivates her to actively participate as
a volunteer of the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS and to their barangay.

She is a mother of five, widowed, and a resident of Barangay Sto. Cristo,  Quezon, Nueva Ecija. Despite her busy schedule in the barangay as a barangay health worker (BHW), a volunteer of DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS and a sewer, she still manage to be a responsible parent. In fact, her children are honor students in their respective schools. This indicates that their sacrifices  pay-off. As a BHW she ensures that the residents of the community is aware and well informed to the different programs and health services of the barangay even those residents in the remote area. Her volunteer work also inspires the community to get involve to the different activities in the barangay.

Moreover, Ms. Crisostomo is also an active community volunteer of DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS since 2014 and one of her  most significant accomplishments as community volunteer was the funding of their first cycle sub-project through DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS and local government of Barangay Sto. Cristo, Quezon, Nueva Ecija.

When they
started volunteering in the program, the struggles they faced were 1) apathetic
residents in their barangay, and 2) doubtful community members. Edna know she
must do her best to encourage and change their behavior towards the program…
and she did. Despite these struggles, she, together with other active community
volunteers of the barangay became more motivated to participate until their
sub-project (Road Concreting) was funded. Now, the project has a total number
of 266 household beneficiaries and it’s helping the residents to market their
products.

In addition, their proposed sub-project for the 3rd cycle, Solar Powered Street Lights also funded by DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS will be also be beneficial for the 266 households of Brgy. Sto. Cristo, Quezon, Nueva Ecija, especially with their livelihood.

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