Beautiful Eastern Samar

Last week, my work took me to Samar Island in Visayas.  I was expecting the area to still be reeling from the effects of Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest and most destructive typhoon that hit the earth more than 2 years ago.  However, during the 4 hour drive from Tacloban to Borongan, I cannot help but notice the lush hills.  As if nothing happened.  Except for a few ruins of what used to be houses or buildings. 

On the way to Samar..at the San Juanico bridge, which connects the 2 island provinces of Samar and Leyte.

But I am only talking about the vegetation and infrastructure in the area.  I could not talk about the emotional scar left by a typhoon which left around 6,000 people dead. Nor the trauma encountered by the surviving residents having to watch, in shock, the raging water eat up their villages, their houses, their everything, Or of having to helplessly watch their neighbors, friends and family disappear in the water or carried by the wave to the open sea.

Harvest time...

But I would like to talk about how resilient the people in Samar are.  And how help came from all over the world to help them get back on their feet, and start to live their lives again.

The weavers of Basey, Samar..back to doing what they do best.. weaving the best, the most colorful mats.

The vegetation has grown back.  The landscape is as beautiful as it was before the typhoon, except for a number of “dead” coconut trees. And it is a reflection of how the province was able to rise above the calamity. Many people have already had their houses fixed, and are carrying on with their lives, despite their losses.  For those who cannot afford to build their houses, there were many organizations (both local and international), governments (ours and other countries), corporations and many individuals who helped build houses and latrines- either in their communities, or in relocation sites. They also now have more, and better, school buildings.  Roads have been fixed.  And this was made possible by the many people and organizations all over the world who extended their help. 

The lone boatman....

I visited 2 of the villages and while they still talk about their experience during the Typhoon, they were more eager to express their appreciation for the help they received. I cannot help but be proud about what our organization has done.  Through the help of our many donors, we were the first, among the many, to bring help to these 2 villages and many other villages. We distributed food, cooking and eating utensils, and also hygiene kits.  We likewise provided them with temporary housing, right after the typhoon, as well as supported them with counselling to help them, especially the children, overcome the trauma. We also gave the families a chance to earn through cash-for-work program, which ran for 1 month, where they help clean up the debris in exchange for compensation. After the relief operations, many organizations (including ours) also embarked on rehabilitation initiatives.  Houses, latrines, roads and schools have been built or rehabilitated.  Livelihood programs were also carried out to help them recover financially. All these were done through working together with the people in these communities, and with our donors, including those who do not even know where Philippines is. 

One of their beautiful rivers...

This trip to Eastern Samar has showed me what beauty meant... it's not only about the limestone mountains, islands and beaches. It is about the beauty of those who choose to rise above their situation.  And the beauty of being a part of a global community of kind hearted individuals who, maybe unknown to many of them, have left an imprint of their kindness all over Samar.   

Beautiful, beautiful sunset...

A visit to a village in Siem Reap

There is life outside of Angkor Wat - and a very different one at that. Side by side with the glamour of the Angkor Wat ancient structures, are villages where much is  to be desired in terms of social services.  And here is where I appreciate the work that my organization does.  Our projects are able to provide, maybe not all, but some services that are necessary for the health, growth and development of the children.

Part of the agenda of our network meeting is a one day field visit to the villages we are supporting.  We wanted to see the process by which our Cambodia office is carrying out our projects.

At the Village Center

We visited a village where we had a discussion with the village leaders and village volunteers.  They only speak Khmer language so we needed our Cambodian colleagues to translate for us. From what they shared, it is impressive to see that even if most of them did not finish or did not go to school, they are very knowledgeable of the situation in their village. I am also impressed at how they are involved with all the stages of project management.  Their participation is very important because that is their training ground so that in the future they will be able to implement their own projects for their villages.

One of the village leaders confidently discussing to foreign delegates
about their situation and the programs implemented
to address some of their problems

After the meeting, they took us to an on-going parenting session.  This project is part of the Early Childhood Care and Development Project.  They organized Parents' Group in the village and they are taught the different aspect of proper child care.  

Parents being taught about nutrition

A Cambodia collague talking about nutrition

The on-going parenting session was cooking nutritious food for the children.  They were taught about the different available vegetables and ingredients in their village- and the nutrients that they will get from them.  They were also taught some recipes of nutritious, but good-tasting dishes. The parents were actively participating and asking questions. There was also a cooking demonstration. 

The cooking demonstration

We also got to ask them some questions after their session- and they were all happy about the things that they are learning from the Parenting Group- which made them realize their roles in the development of their children.  We have noticed however that most of the participants are mothers. Our office is slowly trying to educate the fathers that they are equally responsible in child rearing.  In that village however, most of the fathers are still not that involved.  

The next project we visited was the pre-school that we, together with the villagers have set up.  We provided them with the materials and parents helped build the school.  Class has already ended when we reached the place but we were able to talk with some parents. They shared how happy they are that there is a pre-school where small children can learn and play and be prepared for primary school. The pre school also allows them to go to work because there is somebody who can take care of the children while they are earning for the family.

Inside the well ventilated pre school

Happy colleagues

Pre school playground. 

It is during times like this that I appreciate my work.  I do not have the chance to meet with people we help everyday.  However, knowing that our projects are making a difference, is enough for me to be thankful that I have the chance to be part of an organization which helps poor children live a better life.  

Day 6- Pakistan Visit: Fulfilled

April 11, 2014. Our police escorts were again with us the next day when we went to the other community.  The second community was closer to our Chakwal office than the one we went to the day before- we reached the place in 45 minutes. Another convoy joined us- the local police.

In this other village, we met with the members of the community based organization (CBO) and the beneficiaries of the Girls Power Project.

After 15 years of working in this community, the CBO is finally ready to mobilize their own community, and  have learned how to link with other institutions to generate funds to continue their projects and start new projects. They have learned how to come together to discuss their and also to listen to the voices of children and to get them involved. This just shows that we are indeed ready to phase out in 2 years and move on to other communities who would need Plan assistance.

Listening to the presentation of the community leaders

Me during the meeting with the leaders

Given the context of Pakistan, especially in a remote area such as the village we visited, the Girls Power Project is a breakthrough. The Girls Power Project, a Plan-supported project, is for the girls who are unable to continue to high school because of extreme poverty or because the parents only allow the boys to go to school or because the school is far from the village. Through the Girls Power Project,  a teacher comes to the village to teach them high school subjects.  After they completed the modules, they will be able to apply to colleges and universities.

At present, 30 girls are in participating in the Girls Power project. I particularly liked the discussion with the beneficiaries of said projects.  The young girls were very eager to share their experiences.  They shared with us what they are learning and how their lives have been changed because of the project.  One of the girls the girls shared that initially, her father did not want her to be part of Girls Power.  The other girls shared that they even had to go to her house to convince the father.  It was, however, when she asked for her brother’s help and her brother helped convinced her father, that he allowed her to attend the classes (which also show how much influence the boys have in the household, as compared to the girls). Now, her father wants her to go to college after she completes the modules.  The other girls confirmed that one of the changes brought about by the project is that the parents are now aware of the importance and now value girls’ education. All the girls want to be able to go to college. Hurray to Girls Power!

During the meeting with Girls Power Project beneficiaries.

Photo ops with the girls after the meeting

It is stories like these that keeps me going. This is all worth it. Yes!

Photo session with the village leaders after the visit.