Runggiyan Social Development Foundation, Inc

Still curious who are Run-Run and Gi-Gi? Find out more about our vision, mission, aims, our history and some of the people who make Runggiyan a very special organization.

History

Runggiyan is an archaic Waray term for "force" or "power". It is the name of the oldest student organization in the University of the Philippines, Tacloban College. The UP Runggiyan (UPR) was organized on July 30 1977, after the lifting of martial law in the Philippines, to enhance the intellectual and social well-being of its members (known as Runggi's) and the student body.

The spirit of volunteerism and social responsibility among the Runggi's flourished with the organization of the Runggiyan Social Development Foundation, Inc. on December 30, 1985. A group of youthful and idealistic UPR alumni pooled their talents, skills and resources to pursue the empowerment of poor communities. The Foundation was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 30,1986. Through the years Runggiyan Social Development Foundation (RSDF) has served 1,364 youth and children; built houses for 730 families of disaster victims; provided medical assistance for 2,000 people; provided health and family planning education to 70 barangays; constructed 26 school buildings; installed potable water pump for 825 households; extended livelihood assistance to 700 rural poor, and trained about 500 government and non government personnel in Region Eight.

People

Over 40 volunteers, 75 members and 5 full time staff help Runggiyan deliver it's mission to people in need. The Foundation is lead by a group of seven elected Board of Trustee members and managed by the reputable development specialist Pauline Lawsin-Nayra, the Executive Director.

Our dedicated volunteers help the organization to deliver cost effective services in a locally appropriate way. 27 Adolescent Teen Educators help Runggiyan to train young girls on sexual reproductive health through peer education. Other volunteer teachers and lawyers help to provide educational assistance to learners of the home study program and legal advice to survivors of abuse.

Members and Sangkay han Runggiyan (Friends of Runggiyan) help the Foundation to raise funds and are our political voice, campaigning for issues which we care about.

Two other important personalities at Runggiyan are Run Run and Gi Gi, our mascots. They help us in our advocacy for women's rights and child friendly, violence free societies, as seen below.

If you want to get involved with Runggiyan there is information on this site. Click here.