The future looks uncertain for 7.3 Million Filipinos who now find themselves without a job.
One vital part of our projects is livelihood training, making sure that our beneficiaries adapt to the situation and develop new skills to continue providing for their families.
𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻.
https://actionagainsthunger.ph/call-for-donations/
Aldin Beta-A is more than a DRR Supervisor for our MOVE UP 3 Project, he is one of our Real-Life Heroes.
After spearheading the Resilient Livelihood Support turnover for 50 families in Marikina last September 18, he shares his experience as a humanitarian worker and working tirelessly to help others amidst the pandemic.
When did you start being involved in development work?
My initial employment was focused on ancestral domain management after I graduated back in 2000. After that, I was mostly involved in the agricultural field and was also part of an earthquake rehabilitation program. In 2006, I was deployed in Southern Luzon, in Aurora, for a community disaster risk reduction program. Thereafter, I was more involved on humanitarian responses during in 2013 until now.
What were your struggles as a humanitarian worker, especially now during the pandemic?
Well, the normal struggle is how to expedite the process given that time is limited, and especially now that transportation between areas have become challenging. The common way we communicate now is through non-face-to-face interactions which can be challenging when it comes to decision-making.
What motivates you to continue a career in humanitarian work?
As a humanitarian worker, it is common in our DNA to help others and doing no harm, so that motivates me to help others even if it needs more patience or innovative ways of getting things done.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
My hope for the future is for us to continuously adapt. I see that we constantly change as a society, even though we experience many hazards or risks. I see that as we can adapt to these different disasters and emergencies, and cope as human beings.
Moving Urban Poor Communities Toward Resilience (MOVE UP 3) is an urban disaster risk reduction (DRR) project which aims to build resilience among urban poor communities in Mindanao. With funding from the European Union, MOVE UP 3 is implemented by a consortium of partners consisting of Action Against Hunger Philippines, Plan International Philippines, CARE Philippines, and ACCORD Incorporated.
Humanitarian crises create devastating impacts to the communities affected, but what is most scarring is the psychological trauma and stress that these emergency situations leave behind.
We are steadfast in mitigating these impacts and work closely with several conflict-affected communities in Mindanao.
Thus, last August, we facilitated an 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 for 60 community volunteers, leaders and LGU health staff members from the municipalities of Saguiaran, Kapai, Balindong and Madamba in Lanao del Sur, and Municipality of Pantao Ragat in Lanao Del Sur.
Funded by EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid – ECHO, the training was part of our ‘Response to the Unmet Humanitarian Needs of the Most Vulnerable Conflict-Affected Populations in Mindanao’ (REACH) Project in partnership with CARE Philippines and Oxfam Pilipinas.
Subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about our 𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬: https://actionagainsthunger.ph/
𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗-𝟭𝟵. However, around 7 million Filipinos are dependent on unsafe and unsustainable water sources.
In fact, even before the pandemic, those residing in congested dwellings in informal settlements, transitory sites, and evacuation areas were already facing problems with inadequate water, poor sanitation and waste management, and limited access to health care facilities. Now, these vulnerable areas are more prone to widespread virus infection.
Photo by Jasper Llanderal for Action Against Hunger
We help these communities through our programs on 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, & 𝗵𝘆𝗴𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗲.
Learn more about our WASH programs
“I am more afraid that my family will suffer from hunger, than the actual virus,” is a sentiment shared by many Filipinos.
The country is facing an unprecedented hunger crisis as a result of the pandemic. Aside from the immediate impact on people’s health, COVID-19 could create more devastation to more than 13 million poor families in the Philippines.
Faced with this situation, we have provided 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 to 23,686 people as part of our COVID-19 response in the country.
To join our fight against hunger, go to: https://actionagainsthunger.ph/call-for-donations/
“Mother, why are we different from other kids?” asks 6-year old John Rey to his mother, Janisa. John Rey and his two older brothers Christian and Gary Jr., have not been able to walk and run like other children because of a bone condition that started when each of them turned six years old.
Janisa looks at John Rey and finds it difficult to answer his question. Even the doctors that they consulted could not determine the reason why her sons’ bones in their lower bodies were shrinking. All the doctors could recommend was to conduct more medical examinations to determine the cause of the boys’ conditions and how to treat it.
The eldest, Gary Jr. who is now 13 years old, has trouble sitting down and usually spends days lying on the sleeping mat. The father, Gary Sr., earns just enough to get by their daily needs as an on-call carpenter. Janisa stays at home and takes care of the children. As much as they want to have their sons treated, they have limited financial capabilities to do so.
To make matters worse, their community in Balabag, Kidapawan was affected by the series of earthquakes that struck Mindanao during the last quarter of 2019. The disaster affected more than 300,000 people, almost half of them displaced, including Gary Sr. and Janisa’s family.
Despite their struggles, the Lopez family continues to move forward especially after our Earthquake Response Protection Team, together with the Integrated Provincial Health Office – IPHO and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), referred and assisted the Lopez brothers to Kidapawan City Public Hospital and other private hospitals in the area for more extensive check-ups and medical examinations. John Rey, Christian, and Gary Jr. each received wheelchairs courtesy of the IPHO, and the CSWD provided financial assistance for their family. Action Against Hunger continues to monitor the condition of the three children.
Prior to the referral, the Lopezes also received humanitarian support forms of multi-purpose cash transfer, hygiene and shelter kits. Inside their evacuation tent, Janisa watches her two youngest sons play, the eldest brother lies in his back beside them. The boys may not be able to use their legs like other children, but Janisa is hopeful that at least her sons will now be able to walk and run in their own special way with the help of their new wheelchairs.
Life-saving Humanitarian Assistance to People Affected by the Mindanao Earthquake is funded by the European Union, and implemented by Action Against Hunger Philippines, CARE Philippines, and ACCORD Incorporated.
Written by Joayra Gem Balagtas
A rise in cases of psychological distress and gender-based violence is one of the unfortunate impacts of humanitarian emergencies. This is why we are committed in building the capacities of our partners in the areas where we work.
One way of doing this is by training barangay health workers, community volunteers, camp managers and other frontliners on ”𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻,’ which was recently rolled out last September 3 and 4 in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.
Funded by the 𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 (𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗔), the training was implemented under our 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶-𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁-𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗠.
By empowering our partners, these #RealLifeHeroes will continue to serve using their knowledge and experiences, even when we are no longer present in their communities.
To find out how you can help, visit our website:
https://actionagainsthunger.ph/call-for-donations/
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Prior to the pandemic, the Philippines was already one of the top 10 countries worldwide with the highest number of stunted children. This is alarming since the risk of mortality among undernourished children, increases 15-fold if they develop pneumonia.
Because of this, we rolled out nutrition-sensitization trainings for our local government partners and health volunteers who are our allies in ensuring the health and safety of the communities we work with.
Learn more about our programs on nutrition & health: https://actionagainsthunger.ph/what-we-do/#nutrition-and-health
#TogetherAgainstCOVID19, #COVID19PH, #COVID19, #EndHungerPH,
#nutrition, #health, #malnutrition, #childhunger, #filipinochildren, #philippines, #developmentwork, #humanitarianwork, #frontliners
Written by Joayra Gem Balagtas for Action Against Hunger
Merlyn Igaan, 71 year-old, has had a rough year that most of us can only imagine.
Her community in Sitio Embassi, Barangay Perez in Kidapawan City was badly affected by the #MindanaoEarthquake. Ever since the disaster she and her family have been living in an evacuation site. Recently, they had to transfer to another site and build their tent anew because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Earning for a living as a senior citizen is becoming so difficult, especially since the earthquake. Aside from my old age, I am afraid to go back to the farm. I fear that an earthquake might occur again while I’m there,” she said.
To help her through these challenging times, we provided Merlyn with ₱4,560 cash assistance. Accompanied by her daughter, she received the money from our partner money transfer company on August 25 and immediately used it to buy medicine and food from the nearby market.
This is part of our food security and livelihood activities funded by EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid – ECHO for people affected by the Mindanao Earthquake. 𝗔 𝘁𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝟭,𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 from the provinces of 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗼 𝗗𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗿 and 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗼 have been given cash assistance since December 26, 2016.
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗯𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲:
https://actionagainsthunger.ph
Proper hygiene and sanitation practices is vital in the fight against COVID-19. The key is for people to be consistent. Action Against Hunger follow a 3-prong approach to achieve this end:
SUPPLY: we distribute to families Hygiene Kits that include soap, jerrycans and other essential hygiene products. Touch-Free Handwashing Stations are installed in various public areas like evacuation centers, schools and markets. If a community does not have a consistent water supply, we put up water tanks and make sure that this is replenished regularly through water-trucking.
EDUCATE: we talk and discuss with community the importance of proper hygiene and sanitation.
REINFORCE: we resupply the community with cleaning materials to make sure that their sanitation facilities and water source are properly maintained and cleaned. We train volunteers from the community to be Hygiene Promoters and conduct house-to-house hygiene promotion.
These activities are part of our COVID-19 Emergency WASH Response Project funded by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and in partnership with CarePhilippines and Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). Intervention areas are Lanao Del Sur, Lanao Del Norte and North Cotabato.
To find out how you can help us, visit our website:
https://actionagainsthunger.ph/call-for-donations/
(Photos by Muslimin Rias & Franz Hilario for Action Against Hunger)
