Food and Shelter for Philippine Typhoon Survivors

Typhoon relief during 2018 has been challenging and rewarding.  Villages in the Visayas, Philippines region suffered heavy flooding, damaging winds and massive landslides throughout the year beginning last December with Typhoon Vinta and most recently Typhoon Mangkhut and heavy rains during this pre-Christmas Season. Asia America Initiative remains actively assisting communities affected by natural disasters.  We have chosen public schools as the centers of communities where we can focus on both nutritional support and psychological post-traumatic recovery.  A little love goes a long way.

AAI's Global Giving donors have been generous and supportive. Thanks to a Global Giving corporate grant and many heartfelt donations from every-day people, we have been able to help communities begin to rebuild and recover.  AAI structurally assists in rebuilding schools and repairing classrooms. We also provide food, hygiene supplies, clean drinking water and medical kits to impacted school populations. More than 12,000 individual school lunches per month are cooked on-site by caring Mothers and Grandmothers. Once again this Christmas, AAI has provided hundreds of children from impoverished families with toys, stuffed animals and artistic supplies that help to make their Holiday Season joyful.

Returning to relative normalcy is key to keeping communities together after a disaster. The longer recovery takes, the more likely families will become displaced and migrate to other regions due to poor living conditions and food insecurity.  "What AAI has done affects children in a positive manner on every level of their lives," says Principal Rowena at Catig Lacadon Elementary school in the highlands of Cuartero, Capiz.  "A gift as simple as a stuffed teddy bear or a coloring book with crayons, keeps the children active and replaces nightmares of tragedy with the joyful magic of Christmas. "

AAI believes in the dignity of the individual and keeping those impacted in a positive frame of mind. In order to keep children healthy, we continue to sponsor school lunch to some of the poorest areas in Visayas that were already below the poverty line.  We also wish to share with you in pictures some highlights of children receiving relief items from AAI staff during December 2018.  In January 2019, we will continue with new school supplies and to assure that every child in our schools receives a gift of Hope.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  We ask you to please feel that you are a part of this wonderful effort.  Your continued involvement is much appreciated.

Links:

• Asia America Initiative Website