Aid to the Philippines after Typhoon Yolanda

On November 8th 2013, the Philippines were devastated by what is being called the most powerful typhoon to have made landfall in modern times. Ever since, IsraAID's team works in the Ormoc area, one of the most affected areas from the typhoon. Since the typhoon, IsraAID has developed programs mainly on the area of: Psycho-Social Support, Agriculture and livelihood and reconstruction. 

The Agriculture and Livelyhood Program

On Thursday, July 6th, a 6.5-magnitude earthquake shook Ormoc City. Another earthquake—this time a magnitude of 5.4—struck again Monday, July 10th. Due to the earthquake, significant portions of the main pipeline supplying water to IsraAID's farm was damaged. The team quickly started working with local partners to create a short- term solution by laying down new pipe in a safe area and using a gas pump to get water. The team also worked with the local university and farmers to establish a more long- term solution by using special pipes from the university that will allow them to establish a safer route for the pipes while using the momentum of the water to allow it to climb uphill, where there is a safer route. 

Psychosocial Support in the Schools of Ormoc

Currently, IsraAID Philippines, in cooperation with the Ormoc city Department of Education, is institutionalizing the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Program for the second school year in all of the schools in the city and duplicated the program in to an additional city - Maasin.

The Psychosocial Support program provides capacity building, supervision and support to school teachers, guidance counsellors, community volunteers, social welfare and health workers in the following ways. First, equip a core team of 40 with the critical  tools to manage trauma. The core team will become the city’s trainers and providers of MHPSS. Next, train 180 'caregivers' from each institution, who will develop mental health and psycho-social services in every institution. Third, develop mechanisms that will enable the trained 'caregivers' to turn the tools acquired in the training to effective psycho-social services offered to 'caregivers' and students. Lastly, train 90 health workers and 90 community volunteers, 90 social workers and 90 first responders, who will then develop mental health and psycho-social services in the communities of the Municipality. 

Completing the evaluation process for Ormoc's MHPSS program first school year initialization, here some of the main results:

• 81.3% of the school principals believe that the activities help the students on how they process trauma and other personal issues. 
• 81.3% of the teachers who in their classes undergo the MHPSS program say that students improved their class dynamics and support.

By 2018, IsraAID Philippines aims to:

• Expand its activities nation-wide, conducting new programs and duplicate the current ones based on IsraAID’s successes:
• Expand IsraAID Philippines activities national wide, conducting new programs and duplicate the current ones based on IsraAID’s successes 
• Expand the scale and scope of IsraAID’s Philippines operations in the core sectors, creating new partnerships with country actors and increasing beneficiary reach.
• Promote IsraAID Philippines visibility, network, awareness, and fundraising supporting national wide programming towards targeted populations.

These programs would not be possible without your kind donations. Thank you so much for your continued support!