Annually, iVolunteer Philippines recognizes outstanding volunteers in the country by giving the iVolunteer Champion award, which is anchored in the organization’s five (5) core values: Integrity, Inclusivity, Nationalism, Professionalism, and Changed Leadership.

In 2024, Armir Encarnacion, a teacher, civic leader, and filmmaker who has been volunteering for more than a decade, was awarded the iVolunteer Champion 2024 for Nationalism.

Encarnacion’s volunteering journey started when he was exposed to different outreach activities during his high school years. The experiences he had from those activities led him to start his own project called “Project We Give Back,” a gift-giving annual event during Christmas for a certain community. Armir considered the project as his outlet to give back to the community, as evident by the name itself.

Armir also became a part of JCI Batangas Balisong, where he has been a member since 2020 and became President in 2024. He was able to do online and on-ground projects that are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

He deeply treasures his volunteering experiences as they are the things and moments that helped him improve his personality, communication skills, and the way he interacts with the people around him.

When Armir received the iVolunteer Champion 2024 for Nationalism Award, he was glad because for him, it meant that, finally, people are starting to recognize the work that he does. However, the award also brought so much weight as it is something that shows how he loves this country, the Philippines, so much. Despite everything, he hopes to inspire more people with the award he received, for it is something that shows he is working on something he described as “pro-Filipino.”

Additionally, the recognition given to Armir made him more aware of his surroundings and paved the way for him to think of more projects that are not only aligned with the UN SDGs but also the essential ones needed in the Philippines, and how they can champion Filipinos in general.

When asked about his message to those who would like to volunteer, he said, “The first steps are the hardest. Do not be afraid. Sometimes, it feels shameful because in an organization, when you are a newbie, you feel ashamed, you feel like you don’t belong, or you think that you will be judged by others. But you have to remember that when volunteering is really in your heart, you will no longer think of what others would say, you will no longer think of the doubts and fears, but you will focus more on serving the community and your willingness to serve the people. So, don’t be afraid. Do what makes you happy, and I hope you can change as many communities as you can.”

Armir also shared how grateful he is to the leaders before him who served as his inspiration, including the teachers and fellow leaders who taught him how to follow and helped him become who he is now. He called them the relevant people in his life who truly made contributions to the development of his leadership skills.

He may have already developed his leadership skills; still, Armir has dealt with challenges, especially in the financial aspect and support of the people close to him. There were times when he had already exhausted everything, asked for assistance from his friends, private communities, and Local Government Units (LGUs), yet he felt that there was still something lacking. Faced with those circumstances, he created volunteer groups in their place, yet those groups would just fade after months. However, those challenges did not stop Armir from continuing his volunteering journey because he had learned, especially from his experiences with their gift-giving activity, that even a small thing, specifically a pair of slippers, can still make a mark in the mind of a child who received it.

As a volunteer, Encarnacion really believes that volunteering is serving without seeking. It is love in action. It is pure, quiet, and powerful. For him, when a man volunteers, he should not wait for something in return because the act of volunteering must be done wholeheartedly for a community, for a cause that is really close to one’s heart. Thus, his favorite quote is from Mother Teresa: “A life not lived for others is not a life.”

Truly, Armir is an example of how people can take even small steps to help their kapwa (fellow) Filipinos, for the country, through volunteering.