Build Rescue Boats in Flood Prone Communities

Thank you so much for helping Filipino communities prepare for disaster.

As we explained in a previous project report we’re raising funds this Holiday season to help improve and maintain the Banaba Livelihood & Evacuation Centre after our charity closes. We then shared the stories of Rheanna, Michelle and Walter to show how this vital building provides shelter to residents during typhoons and helps them earn an income at other times.

Opportunities to earn an income are critical in helping people to prepare for disaster because poverty and vulnerability are closely linked. One livelihood project based in the building is the manufacture of products for sale, including shopping bags and slippers. A resident who’s benefitted from this project is 72 year old Nelia (pictured above).

Nelia lives in Banaba Extension and has been able to use her sewing skills on a number of occasions thanks to your support. Nelia explained as follows:

"I earned some money for sewing tasks given to me, like sewing curtains for the second floor family cubicles, sewing coco feet slippers and tetra shopping bags. Much appreciation for the help".

We echo Nelia’s thanks. Without your support, the building wouldn’t be watertight today. Your donations also enabled us to provide Buklod Tao with the funds to purchase the sewing machines and to pay Nelia for her services.

We know money is tight right now but we hope you’ll consider making a further donation to this project if you can. In doing so, you’ll help ensure that residents like Nelia better protect themselves from disaster.

You can find out more about our plans to close down IDV on our website, and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email Andy@IDVolunteers.org. I’d be delighted to hear from you as always.

Thank you so much for helping to build rescue boats for flood prone communities.

In a recent project report we explained how we’re raising funds this Holiday season to help maintain our vital fleet of rescue boats in Banaba, just outside of Manila, after our charity closes. We then shared the stories of Felisa and Monica to show just how vital these boats really are.

Since launching this appeal on Nov 29 donors like you have given an amazing $500 to this project, and in this report we wanted to highlight yet another resident who’s been rescued by these boats in the past.

Rolando (pictured above) is 45 years old and lives in the Sition North Libis area of Banana with his wife, sister and three young children - Reynaldo, Raymart and Raven. 

When Tropical Storm Karding (known internationally as Yagi) struck in August 2018 the youngest, Raven, was just 4 years old and the other 2 were both under 10. Heavy rains caused nearby rivers to overflow and the flood waters reached the roof of their family home, placing the children in real danger.

Thankfully, one of the rescue boats provided by this project was nearby to help. As a result Rolando and his children were rescued and also received hot soup from a “Community Kitchen” (supported by another of our GlobalGiving projects)

Rolando had this to say about the help donors like you provided:

“I will pray for IDV donors for their continuing good health. Salamat po! (thank you!)”

We echo Ronaldo’s thanks and hope you’ll consider making a further gift to this project if you can. We know you’ve already given so much, but 100% of your donation (after GlobalGiving’s fees) will go directly to maintaining the rescue boats. So, you really can help ensure that residents like Rolando and his children can benefit when the next flood inevitably strikes.

You can find out more about our plans to close down IDV on our website, and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email Andy@IDVolunteers.org. I’d be delighted to hear from you as always.