SWANSEA - The Filipino Community-Wales (FCW) was conferred The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2010.

The group is one of 103 UK volunteer groups to receive the award, which recognizes outstanding contributions made to local communities by voluntary groups.  

The award is the equivalent of MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for voluntary groups.

At a special ceremony on Friday, the Queen sent her representative in West Glamorgan, Lord Lieutenant D. Byron Lewis, to deliver the certificate signed by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and an exclusive commemorative crystal.

“The award is given for voluntary service groups who make a difference in their society and their local regions. The Filipino Community-Wales is one because they make a huge difference to communities in and around this area and not just to Filipino community but other nationalities as well. Their work and dedication is quite outstanding. They truly deserve the Queen’s award, which is equivalent of a national honor which is an MBE,” said Lewis.    

Royal accolade

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest accolade that a voluntary organization can get in the United Kingdom. It embraces the whole spectrum of voluntary work in the UK, not only voluntary work for ethnic minorities.

Winners for this year were selected from 341 groups across the UK, nominated by members of the public who benefited or have been helped personally by the group’s work in the community.

“It’s not easily got, by the way. It is something that has to be applied for, it has to be evidence-based and, in great detail outline what the organization has done on a voluntary basis to make a difference in the community,” explained Mel Jehu, a member of the panel of judges for Wales.     

Judged on the basis of highest standard for excellence in community service, FCW received the award for consistently providing community services and trainings for new skills, helping and improving job prospects to the Filipino community as well as with other ethnic communities in Wales.

“It was the commitment they have shown in many years to voluntary work, in improving their community, along in making a difference in supporting other communities. That was the key. Also, the endeavor and the hard work that each and every member had shown in supporting, in making themselves integrate well in their communities, in this case--Swansea,” said Jehu.

Breaking the barrier

FCW has some 320 registered members composed mainly of Filipino migrant workers who have settled in Wales. The group was founded in the early 90s by some 20 Filipinas who moved in Wales when they married Welsh men.

Amy Moore, chairperson of the organization since 1998, said the group was formed out of the common desire for a support group for Filipinos who have moved in the area.

“Malakas dito  ang racial discrimination kaya ginawa namin ang lahat [ng] makakaya namin para maki-integrate sa iba’t-ibang community and we have to break down the barriers of racism. From then on, para ba yung nakilala kami dito. Di naman kami katulad ng ibang community na nanggugulo. Nakilahok kami, nakisalo kami sa lahat ng bagay-bagay na dapat naming lahukan,” said Moore.

The problems and needs of Filipino migrants as well as those from other ethnic minority groups have evolved. The group makes sure that it caters and adjusts to those needs.

“Nakipag-link kami sa lahat ng local government, sa Wales assembly. Yun ang umpisa ng aming pakikilahok at pakikipag-ugnayan sa iba’t-ibang ahensiya ng gobeyerno,” she added.

The group is making a difference by embracing diversity, social cohesion and multiculturalism.

“Ang award na natanggap ng Filipino Community-Wales is for the whole Filipino [community] in UK. We are very proud na kami sa Wales ang unang Filipino Community na nakatanggap ng award for voluntary service from the Queen,” said Moore.

More than 850 groups around the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man have now won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, since it was created by Her Majesty to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002.