Food and Shelter for Philippine Typhoon Survivors

In the storm ravaged areas of central Philippines, close to 500,000 people, predominantly infants, children and youth, remain displaced by the destruction of their homes, schools and community livelihood systems during the November 13, 2013 super-typhoon Haiyan [named Yolanda in the Philippines.] The impact on children includes rampant waterborne diseases and widespread malnutrition.  Most international charities that made up for slack government recovery operations have now transferred to areas of the world with new cataclysmic refugee and internally displaced persons [IDPs] crises.  Asia America Initiative (AAI)has continued our work on a very modest budget thanks to the hard work and partnership of local community members and public school teachers.  On the island of Panay, which includes Iloilo and Capiz provinces, AAI continues to feed close to provide water and food assistance to ten schools with close to 3,000 pupils at 20 cents [US] per student per day.  

In many situations around the world, no matter how many people remain in dire need sustainable aid is precarious. Usually following a flood, an earthquake or an armed conflict, funding support from politically expedient governments and the kind-hearted donor bases usually dries up in  6 to 12  months after the most dramatic images vanish from the media spotlight.  Two key factors we have learned to sustaining aid in international humanitarian crisis have been strongly supported by Global Giving’s corporate and private donors. First, is the need for consistent oversite and reporting by local implementing personnel and groups. Second, is to tightly budget all grants and donations and encourage local self-sustaining fund raising by credible institutions such as churches and schools and civic organizations.

We emphasize communitydignity, especially among hard-hit families.  We request of school leaders and PTA parents that they at least perform necessary labor for rebuilding homes and schools, as well as improving nutrition for malnourished children through lunches cooked by parents, and families can grow nutritious vegetables and fruits in home or school-based gardens where AAI assists with gardening tools, additional seeds and irrigation.  With those “wheels in motion”  it is more possible to assistance growing programs for a necessary 12 to 36 month period of reconstruction and health infrastructure, as well as emotional trauma recovery. 

In August 2015, Project Leader Albert Santoli made an oversite and assessment visit to AAI programs in the Visayas region. He witnessed first-hand the impact of the ongoing hygiene and nutrition programs. Hundreds of children at many schools presented Director Santoli with hand drawn cards thanking AAI and our international donors for their support. The cards were heart-felt and amazingly cute with colorful crayon-drawn care-bears, happy dinosaurs, flowers of all colors, hearts with smiley faces.  Here are some of the children’s comments [their grammar unedited]:

“Thank you for giving so many books and many school supplies and many children are very happy.  Because in afternoons students come library and read books.”  Arlyn P, Grade 6

 “Thank you for the school bags, rubber slippers, books, seeds, toothbrushes, lunches and many more.  Thank you for your kindness.  May the Good Lord bless you with with good health.  GOD BLESS YOU!!”  - Cheerie Tina B, Grade 5

"Thank you very much for giving support to us students at Auroira Areaneta Memorial Elementary especially the books that we learn to read things every day to finish our studies…” –Jona P, Grade 4

“Thank you very much for the school supplies, food and clean water, and books we read every day. Many children need your help. Many teachers, classmates and my best friend is very happy. You are an inspiration for me.  I will always remember you. God love you.” – Trixie B., Grade 3

“Thank you for giving the food to my classmates and other children in our school Catig-Lacadon.  Thank you for the many beautiful things you give the children. I love you and will always remember you.”  – Juna Lyn, Grade 5.

“Thank for the school supplies,, school bags, feeding program, tooth paste, tooth brush, pencils, notebooks and other things.  Thank you so much.  We Love You.”  --  Rhyleen ., Grade 4

Links:

• web site
• news: Philippines: long-term recovery challenges remain in the w

Food and Water are essential for Life and Learning.  They are the staple provisions to public schools supported by Asia America Initiative. Many areas of Visayas, Philippines were devastated in late 2013 by 200 mile-per-hour winds, floods and surging tidal waves caused by the historic typhoon Haiyan.  Many communities are still in the midst of a difficult recovery, including hundreds of schools.  Although we cannot help everyone, we set realistic goals. Our objective Number One:  Be consistent with food and water for at least ten schools with around 2,500 childen per day or 10,000 lunches and clean water per week. Number Two:  Assist parents and local farming and fishing coops regain their self-reliance as food providers for their communities.  We now call this innovative but practical program "Mom and Dads to the Rescue" [where government fails].

According to the United Nations and Red Cross, during the first half of 2015, some 3 million persons remain internally displaced or destitute from the late-2013 storm that swept across the central Philippine islands.  Government support has been inconsistent and foreign organizations have mostly departed after running out of funds needed to assist millions of people per month.  Asia America Initiative is still in the midst of providing meaningful support with the aid of impoverished school children's parents, thanks to three factors: Consistent donors such as from our friends at Global Giving; strict budgeting and oversight; and community action with everyone working together to do their fair share of work and sacrifice for the good of their children.  

Catig-Lacadon Elementary School in Duenas, Iloilo.has 190 pupils on a steep hilltop surrounded by forests.  6 months after Typhoon Haiyan most children at the school were malnourished and clean water was severely lacking.   Principal Rowena Ortizo says,  "Our community has always been made of simple farm laborers who have been satisfied with the basic neccesseties of life.  But Typhoon Haiyan dealt us a terrible blow that took even our modest comforts and destroyed our farm fields and water wells, denying us the ability to feed ourselves properly.  Being is the remote countryside we received no international aid or support except from Asia America Initiative.  Because AAI staff is made of local people, especially Nurse Faith Dela Torre, their leadership in Washington such as Mr. Santoli became familiar with our difficult situation.  When he heard our story, AAI did not turn their backs to the needs of our children and community.  They did not have much money, either.  But they asked us what we needed and the parents were willing to work hard to do the labor to rebuild and mothers volunteered to cook school lunches every day."  

The entire school year, AAI kept our promise to provide funds to buy fresh vegetables and chickens and eggs for daily school meals.  Vitamins and milk were also distributed at least tweice per week.  AAI's Nurse Faith bought weight scales with Global Giving donated funds to do monthly charting of all children's weight and height. By the end of the 2014-15 school year, thanks to "Moms to the Rescue" backed with funds raised by AAI through Global Giving, less than one percent of children had malnutrition in the school.  

In the new 2015-16 school year, our goal is to have no malnutrition at Catig-Lacadon and in six additional schools in the surrounding rural area.  School gardens are being planted  by parents.  And a partnership between AAI and the Philippine Department of Agriculture has provided farming tools, irrigation hoses and workshops in organic gardening attended by close to 100 parents.  The weekend of May 30, 2015 following the organic gardening workshop, the local mayor loaned a water buffalo to each of 3 schools in Duenas District who had received the Department of Agriculture and AAI training. 

"The people may have suffered a  terrible blow," observes nurse Faith, "but they have pride and love for each other.  AAI treats everyone with equal respect and our donors like Global Giving encouraged them not to give up. As a result, they have risen to the occasion."

Links:

• Asia America Initiative web site
• Asia America Initiative Facebook page