Build Rescue Boats in Flood Prone Communities

Thanks to your generosity we’ve been continuing our efforts to provide a rescue boat workshop at the Banaba Livelihood and Evacuation Center, just outside Manila.

Since our last report, when work had just started, the main structure of the workshop has now been completed. All of the remaining windows have been installed, and the last of the walls have also been rendered.

This means that boat builder Drissa now has a place to focus on his work fabricating life saving rescue boats for his flood prone community. The boats Drissa builds will then stand at the ready for when the next typhoon and flood inevitably hits the Philippines.

We asked Drissa if he had a message for the amazing donors who made this possible, and he had this to say:

“For us your action has been done in the right way, because it has come at the right time and at the right place. For the brotherhood of man please continue always on our side. Your help has been so much needed and without it we could not stand [alone]. Thank you so much”.

The new workshop is now in constant use, and over recent weeks Drissa’s also been continuing to train members of other flood prone communities to build their own boats. He most recently worked with community members from Barangay San Isidro in nearby Montalban.

This training amplifies the impact of Drissa’s own work, and of your donations which provided the workshop - thank you for helping Drissa to share his important knowledge and skills with others.

But while the workshop is usable in its current form there are further improvements we’d love to be able to help with. We asked Drissa what else was needed:

“I like the new workshop but the floor is only roughly finished and I worry I will trip sometimes. For my health I would also like an additional exhaust fan to chase away dust coming from work.  Work would also be easier if we improve the lighting fixtures including provision of lamps”.

We’re keen to continue helping Drissa by better equipping the new workshop.  He’s so committed to his work, and the boats are proven lifesavers, so we’ll continue fundraising right here on GlobalGiving to make this possible.

Thanks so much once again for all you’ve already given! As always, if you ever have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email Andy@IDVolunteers.org. I would be delighted to hear from you.

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