PIA Press Release
Friday, January 13, 2012

Local NGO to conduct “Workshop Courage” for societal change

DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 13 (PIA) -- A non-government organization in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental is inviting interested participants to participate in “Workshop Courage,” an activity aimed at inspiring and motivating citizens to make societal change.

Workshop Courage will be on June 21 to 22 at Lawak Kauswagan, Foundation University Main Campus in Dumaguete City.

Former presidential aspirant Nicanor “Nicky” Perlas will be the main workshop facilitator during the two-day activity.

Perlas, a known speaker, writer, author and environmentalist, has been conducting Workshop Courage sessions in the country and abroad. He was also a recipient of the Right Livelihood Award, also known as the “Alternative Nobel Prize” in 2003.

The workshop is initiated by Movement of Imaginals for a Sustainable Society through Initiatives, Organizing and Networking or MISSION-Dumaguete Node, a group composed of residents from Dumaguete City who are committed to creating a better society.

Members are engaged in inclusive development, environmental regeneration, relevant education, organic farming and bamboo propagation, etc.

“We believe that each of our individual efforts and initiatives, when brought together, can create a transformative impact in our community,” said Esther Windler, a local environmentalist who is one of the prime movers behind the group.

Windler said the workshop aims to awaken the “creative imaginal” within each person.

“The term imaginal comes from the science of biology meaning the cells that are present in the caterpillar of the butterfly that are quiet during the cocoon stage but eventually clumps together to form part of the adult butterfly,” Windler explained.

Windler hopes the workshop will help produce “imaginal individuals” or citizens who will ultimately change society when brought together for social transformation.

Registration fee for the workshop is P1,000 inclusive of lunch and snacks.

Interested participants may call Terry Windler at (035) 421-1125 and 0906-576-7185. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental with reports from Analou Suan)