Food for Victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda

             Five months after Tacloban, Philippines was ravaged by one of the world’s strongest tropical cyclones, Typhoon Haiyan, life is slowly returning to this devastated city. However, though, rebuilding Tacloban efforts conducted were done in an immense scale, many still needs to be done and many are still in desperate need.

            The Children’s Joy Foundation Inc. that was amongst the first organizations that had responded to the needs the victims right after the onslaught of the super typhoon,  had been sending continuous support to the survivors from the first month until present. And just last April, the foundation sent another team of volunteers and staff to conduct back-to-back implementations for the residents of most affected communities in Tacloban.

            The first municipality visited by the CJFI team was the Municipality of Dulag, Leyte, Philippines on April 14, 2014. The said municipality used to live on fishing as their primary source of income before Haiyan raged through their seas. And as they were a community with quite a distance from the city proper, help from the government and other agencies gains difficulty in reaching the place. People in this municipality survived through the months by renting fishing boats to somehow sustain their daily needs, but their earnings still aren’t enough.

            As soon as Children’s Joy Foundation Inc. learned about their plight, the foundation immediately made the necessary arrangements needed to conduct a project for the said municipality. And during the CJFI team’s visit to the said municipality, ten (10) fishing boats were distributed to fisher folks that were duly identified by the town officials. It was officially turned over to the beneficiaries through a short program organized by CJFI and the Local Government.

The team’s next stop was the Municipality of Mac Arthur, Leyte, Philippines on April 15, 2014. And just like the first municipality, this town also suffered a lot during Haiyan’s attack and waited patiently for assistance to reach their area. They were a lot like the Municipality of Dulag, hardly getting back up on their feet until help from the Children’s Joy Foundation Inc. came.

            In this municipality, which was much more affected by the typhoon, fifteen (15) fisher folks became recipients of the fishing boat livelihood grant of the foundation.

The beneficiaries were delighted to receive the fishing boats. They were all really thankful for the help received for it had given them a brand new hope and inspiration that there will always be a rainbow after every storm.

            April 16, 2014 – The Municipality of Tolosa, Leyte, Philippines was the third destination of the CJFI team. This municipality was situated by the seaside where the official turnover of the fishing boats was conducted. Excited residents of the said municipality couldn’t wait any longer to receive the grant from the Children’s Joy Foundation Inc. Fifteen (15) fisher folks from the said municipality were selected receivers of the said grant.

The town’s fisher folks were very much excited as they eventually started their very first voyage aboard the blue fishing boats from Children’s Joy Foundation Inc. and the generous donors of Global Giving. While they went sailing, their faces were painted with much hope and promises that they will once again get right back on track.

              In the afternoon, the CJFI team went to Mayorga, Leyte another town in the same province, with the same purpose of distributing new fishing boats to selected beneficiaries. And just like the first three (3) municipalities, residents in this area were all enthusiastic to receive their fishing boats. In their faces plastered evident gratefulness and appreciation.

            After the series of livelihood project implementations of the CJFI team in Tacloban, Philippines, the next few days of their stay were directed to the children’s education. On April 18, 2014 at Brgy. 77, Fatima, Tacloban, Leyte, a newly constructed, fully furnished Day Care Center was officially turned over for the benefit of the children from the said barangay. The turnover was done after a short program organized by the CJFI team. The Barangay officials and the day care worker were both happy about the project and were glad to finally receive it. There are eighty children enrolled in the Day Care Center who will benefit from the project.

            April 19, 2014 at Brgy 74, Nula-Tula (Lower), Tacloban, Leyte, another newly constructed day care center for the Haiyan kid survivors was officially turned over. And smiles of hope and gratefulness were once again flashed on the faces of the beneficiaries as a never ending expression of thanks for the Children’s Joy Foundation and GlobalGiving.

            The CJFI team’s last day in Tacloban was spent at Brgy. Sabang, Daguitan, Dulag, Leyte where another newly constructed day care center was officially accepted by the barangay officials and the day care worker of the said area. And again, the residents were all thrilled to receive this great help from the foundation.

Aside from the Day Care Center, CJFI and Global Giving also gave three (3) fishing boats to three families who were identified to have dire need of livelihood assistance.

Helping those who are in need may be a very tiring job to do, but as long as one has the love in his heart to care for them, nothing is ever tiring.

Indeed, there is nothing greater for those who has the heart to give and there is nothing small for those who are in need. As long as generous sponsors and donors are present, the Children’s Joy Foundation Inc. and GlobalGiving will never grow tired of giving hope, love and joy to our fellowmen.

And being part of a mission to help individuals who are in need is a job that is not only fulfilling but also life-changing.