Support Disaster Affected Filipino Youth

On August 18th, a typhoon passing to the northeast of the Philippines caused a phenomenon called “Enhanced Monsoon”. An enhanced monsoon occurs when the wet air from a nearby typhoon sends the Philippines’ monsoon rains into overdrive.

Here in Banaba, the enhanced monsoon brought rain for most of Saturday and all of Sunday. On Sunday night, the rivers began to overflow and vulnerable families were forced from their homes. Many members of youth group Buklod Ng Kabataan were among those who had to leave their homes and shelter in nearby schools.

Despite their own worries about their own homes the young people of Buklod Ng Kabataan are taking the lead in comforting others in the evacuation centres. One of their officers – Rachiel – is shown above serving food to the younger children in her centre.

The rain’s slowed for now, but we’re not out of the woods yet. At the time of writing, up to 30 mm of rain are expected in the next 24 hours, and the effects of the enhanced monsoon could last for up to four days. Unless the weather forecast changes, there will be more evacuation in the coming days.

We’re supporting Buklod Ng Kabataan’s youth leaders as they work to make evacuation easier on their friends and neighbors, and we hope you’ll help as well.

It costs just $3 to prepare a bowl of nutritious, warming oatmeal as breakfast for 10 evacuees. That means that when you give the minimum donation that GlobalGiving will process - $10 – we’ll be able to give more than 30 people breakfast.

If you’re not in a position to give, please share this update with friends and family so that we can help disaster affected youth in Banaba!

Thanks so much, and very kind regards!

Emma Taylor
IDV Director
www.IDVolunteers.org

We’ve been telling you all about Buklod Ng Kabataan for some time now. We’ve told you how this group of youth leaders are working to help teens like Arlyn stay in school and how successful their theatre workshop was.

You’ve heard a lot from us, so, for this update, we decided to let Buklod Ng Kabtaan do the talking. American grant maker Burners Without Burners have given the youth group their own blog, and their first post is live!

“We are teenagers who live in a high-risk area here in Banaba San Mateo, Rizal Philippines. Why are we a high-risk area? It’s because there are two fault lines near Banaba, the west and east valley fault line and we are also in a water catch basin area. These factors make us particularly vulnerable to floods, erosion and earthquakes. “  Click here to find out what Buklod Ng Kabataan are doing about that risk. 

The kids are planning an autumn and winter full of activities. We hope you’ll help us ensure that those activities succeed by giving what you can to fund these kids’ great work! 

Thanks so much and take care! 

May has seen Buklod Ng Kabataan as busy as ever! With the kids back in school, we’re now switching gear from summer enrichment to afterschool activities. We’re planning to open reading centres where young people can gather to study and hold activities for younger kids in the community, planning art afternoons, language classes, and much more!

These fun, enriching activities are essential for the at risk young people who are part of Buklod Ng Kabataan. These kids come from communities where dropping out of school and joining gangs is the norm. That means that many find themselves in jail – or worse – before reaching 20.

Our activities will not only help at-risk young people succeed in school, but help them resist the lure of gangs and build a bright future but we need your help!

Today, your donation to fund afterschool activities for to keep kids like Arlyn out of trouble will go even further because GlobalGiving will match your donation by 50%! A meal only costs $1 here, so when you donate just $10, we’ll be able to feed 15 kids! Please give what you can to Arlyn and all her friends.

We’re delighted to report that our first major youth activity in the Philippines is under way! Local youth group Buklod Ng Kabataan – which means “Youths Bonding Together” – is currently running a six-day theater workshop for 30 marginalised youth.

The workshop has two goals: to provide a fun, enriching week for at-risk young people and to involve more youths in Buklod Ng Kabataan’s environmental activism. The workshop will culminate in a showcase where the kids will present skits, songs, and dances that they created during the week.

This is the first time that Buklod Ng Kabataan has enjoyed the support of funders like you, and the impact of your support goes far beyond the value of a dollar. Knowing that donors like you believe they’re worth a donation has given the kids a new confidence, and we are delighted to see them growing! 

Buklod Ng Kabataan has big plans for the future including campaigning with Greenpeace for clean water, holding art workshops, and learning IT skills. If you’d like to support these exciting initiatives, this mother’s day is a great opportunity for you to combine a gift for mom, an extra donation from GlobalGiving, AND support for Buklod Ng Kabataan’s youth leaders.  

If you donate in your mom’s name before May 12^th, your mom will receive a beautiful card, and GlobalGiving will add $5 to your donation! Click here to send your card! 

Thanks so much for making Buklod Ng Kabtaan’s summer workshop happen, and we can’t wait to see what else we can accomplish together!