John is 6. He lives with his parents, two sisters and younger brother in the Armpac area of Banaba, just outside Manila. Their house is dangerously close to a riverbank. John and his family live in constant fear of heavy rains which cause the river to quickly burst its banks. When this happens John and his family could easily become trapped by the rising water. Without a rescue boat to evacuate them they could sadly lose their lives in a major flood.
The Philippines is one of the world's most disaster prone countries. In an average year it's affected by more than 20 typhoons, and that number is rising because of climate change. The community of Banaba is very flood prone and when rivers burst their banks its residents are often trapped by the quickly rising water. Elderly residents and young children, like John, are the most vulnerable and their lives are often in most danger during floods.
Your donations to this project will help provide a large fiber-glass rescue boat. These boats are crewed by local residents, trained in first aid and swift-water rescue. These crews jump into action during floods and help their neighbours who have become trapped. We already have some funding for this boat, but we need another $1,500 (GBP 1,165). Your donations will meet around a third of the remaining cost, as we continue to fundraise towards the total.
The boat you provide will help keep John and other evacuees safe during floods for years to come. Your donations will continue to protect his family from the worst impacts of disaster, even as climate change causes ever more frequent flooding.