Help Filipino Communities Prepare for Disaster

The weather in Banaba has remained mercifully calm over the past few months.

At Easter a super typhoon called Maysak did form over the Pacific.  But happily, after threatening the Philippines for a few days, the typhoon blew itself out before making landfall.

Our partners Buklod Tao had begun to break out their emergency supplies, which were paid for with your generous donations, but in the end they were able to stand down and return to their day-to-day tasks.

Of course, these day to day tasks still relate to preparing for disasters, although a little more indirectly.

It’s a sad fact that the poor are often most affected by disasters. For example, they can often only afford to live along dangerous riverbanks. Their poorly constructed houses are also washed away easily.

This is why providing livelihoods opportunities for Banaba’s poor is as important for disaster risk reduction as making preparations for an actual response.

And thanks to your incredible support we’re helping to provide these opportunities in Banaba.

Last year we purchased sewing machines for the Banaba Livelihood and Evacuation Centre. These machines are used by local women to make a range of products which can be sold to earn vital income.

Products made by the women include shopping bags recycled from old juice cartons and slippers made from coconut husks. Over the last few weeks however the women have also started sewing cleaning rags made from unwanted clothes and material.

One of the women who uses the sewing machines is 51 year old Marilyn. Marilyn has four children and she hopes they can all finish their studies. Marilyn also hopes that they can find a safer place to live.  But for these hopes to become a reality Marilyn needs a chance to earn an income.

Happily, thanks to the sewing machines you provided, Marilyn now has this opportunity.

Using these machines Marilyn, and the other women she shares them with, are currently earning around $7 a day making the cleaning rags. This may not sound like much but for Marilyn in Banaba, it makes a huge difference.

Working collectively also helps in other ways. Sometimes the women sew, and sometimes they cut and prepare the materials. The main thing is that they work together and share access to the machines so that they all benefit. This spirit of cooperation, developed during the calm, will provide the women with a support network when the next storm does hit.

Thanks so much for supporting Marilyn and her colleagues, even when the sun is shining.

As always, if you ever have any queries about how we’re using your donation, please don’t hesitate to email Andy@IDVolunteers.org. I would be delighted to hear from you.