Stone Soup Leadership Institute
Fact-Finding Mission in the Philippines

Actions Taken

I. Investigative Research Process

• Organized meeting with Mrs. Goco and Trude Lash to explore her experience of working with Mrs. Roosevelt in the development of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

• Collected press coverage Mrs. Goco received after award; created VIP packages with photo gallery of Awards Ceremony, background information to recruit support for FERI mission.

• Conducted a series of interviews with Mrs. Goco on her personal journey and process of integrating Eleanor Roosevelt's legacy and vision into her work in the Philippines.

• Conducted interviews with Zinnia Cariasa-Arcinue, Sambayanihan's Executive Director about lessons learned in how the demonstration project connects anti-poverty policy and programs, to national policy and the vision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

• Conducted interviews with local coordinators of the Sambayanihan's demonstration project. (see Success Stories of Local Heroes from the Demonstration Project)

• Visited and photographed four micro-finance projects in the demonstration project.

• To invite FERI to the Philippines and present Mrs. Goco's award to the Philippine people;

• To engage strategic Filipino leaders and the international diplomatic corps;

• To design innovative fundraising strategy targeted to international foundations;

• Conducted resource analysis and identified potential global partners;

• Held meetings with leaders of major Filipino organizations to explore the feasibility of designing an annual recognition event honoring Filipino women.

• Produced inspiring videotape for the event and as a presentation/fundraising tool (Event was postponed due to the war.)

II. Historical Perspective Review

• Reviewed various publications that contributed to the development of the demonstration project (see supplemental reading list of publications).

• Studied FERI website and www.udhr.org to track the historical process that Eleanor Roosevelt experienced in creating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

• Prepared monthly updates for FERI to report on progress and opportunities.

III. Planning Sessions to Design Major Event in the Philippines:

• Conducted series of meetings with Rene Lawenko, Executive Director, Enrique Zobel Foundation and community leaders in Calatagan, Batangas to explore the feasibility of replicating the demonstration project in other provinces in the Philippines.

• Attended EZ Foundation's micro-finance trainings and explored which entrepreneurial livelihood projects would best support the Calatagan community.

IV. Explore feasibility of expanding upon and/or replicating demonstration project

• Conducted series of planning sessions with Mrs. Goco and Sambayanihan to explore the feasibility of expanding upon the original demonstration project in Pangasinan for possible replication and best practice models in the Philippines;

• Presentation with Mrs. Goco of the Sambayanihan demonstration project to Calapan, Mindoro's Vice Governor and 75 grassroot women leaders (representing 2,000 women).

• Conducted interview with MBN trainer Vic Pascua to explore the redesign of the MBN Survey to address youth development/leadership issues in Calatagan.

• Distributed Sambayanihan books to grassroots in other provinces to receive feedback.

V. Witnessed the impact of Mrs. Goco receiving the FERI award
Attended People's Summit on Constitutional Reform with Mrs. Goco, co-convenor, Consultative Group for Constitutional Reform with coalition of country's leaders.

VI. Prepared report for the Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Institute
This report features a colorful narrative describing Mrs. Goco's amazing journey and the fascinating similarities between her life and Mrs. Roosevelt's. It also includes the success stories and photos of a few brave Filipino women from the demonstration project who are on the front-lines of war on poverty and terrorism. The report includes an overview of the Institute's efforts to carry on Mrs. Roosevelt's legacy (1996-2003) as well as an overview of the Institute's support of the Philippines (1987-2002) along with a summary of actions taken and recommendations for future collaboration to carry on Mrs. Roosevelt's legacy.