Main fundraiser photo

Rotaract Helping the Disaster in the Philippines

UoR Rotaract Club & Rotary Club of West Bay

Raising funds for Typhoon victims

It is 6,666 miles from England to the Philippines. During the Covid-19 pandemic, they have been hit with five typhoons bringing major disaster upon families already struggling with the restrictions of pandemic. Emergency aid was delayed due to isolating. 

One of our fellow Rotaractors from the University of Reading has returned home and relayed his personal experiences. The UoR Rotaract club are now joining up with the Rotary Club of West Bay to help those who have been affected the most. Funds we raise here in the UK will be sent directly to the Rotary Club of West Bay for immediate provisions of tents, solar lamps, food and water. Remaining funds raised will go towards constructing a housing facility.

Please support us by completing an activity of your choice covering 6.66 miles or 66 repetitions. Your activity can be a run/walk/row/cycle or anything that is fun and gets you moving. Ask your friends and family to sponsor you and make a donation on this page. Our aim is to make £6,666 which is £1 for every mile reaching to the families in the Philippines.

All activities must be completed in a safe environment and at your own risk. They must also be within your own capabilities and you must ensure your own safety and seek your own medical advice before completing the activities. No extreme sports or activities and please follow all the correct guidelines for your chosen sport.

On behalf of the Rotaract and Rotary, we thank you for your support.



A brief coverage of the Philippines Typhoon disaster

The Philippines, being an archipelago in the West Pacific Ocean, has been at the receiving end of strong typhoons brought about by various climate change phenomena in recent years. 

In October and November 2020, the northern island of Luzon where half of the Philippine population live, was hit by five typhoons one after the other. Three of these typhoons were massively destructive — "Quinta" (Molave), "Rolly" (Goni), and "Ulysses" (Vamco) - destroying lives and livelihoods and leaving billions worth of damages in infrastructure and agriculture. 


According to Philippine government data as of November 21, 923,236 families have been affected by the typhoons in 6,273 barangays (towns). A total of 9,291 houses have been totally damaged and another 74,892 have been partially damaged. Of the families that have been displaced, 34,744 are temporarily sheltered in 731 evacuation centres.

Affected families are now struggling to rebuild their lives as their assets have been washed away, forcing many to seek shelter in evacuation centres and rely on relief goods. The situation is made even worse as the country is still grappling to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Zeroing on Malilipot

One of the most badly hit areas is the town of Malilipot in Albay province which suffered immense landslides, with a portion declared as a "no man's land". The collapsed area at Barangay San Roque near Bulawan River affected at least 65 families or 261 people who are now temporarily sheltered at San Roque Elementary School. This area, incidentally, is also near the famous Mount Mayon Volcano which also released lava during the Typhoon Goni. 



Due to the displacement of the affected families, the local government is planning to permanently relocate them in a 2.5-hectare land owned by the government. However, they currently do not have the funds to construct the housing facility. 

To initially address the needs of the typhoon victims, RC West Bay is taking part in the relief operations of the Eon Club Laguna Chapter in coordination with the Eon Club Bicol Chapter and the Rotary Club of Iriga (Albay). This activity also allows the RC West Bay President Timothy John Clemeno to visit the area and engage with the community.

As a long-term response, RC West Bay will mobilize resources to help build typhoon-proof houses for the displaced families. This project will be in collaboration with the rest of the Rotary Clubs in District 3820 where each club will mobilize funds to raise the amount needed for houses construction. Initial calculations put the cost of constructing one house at Php 150,000 (£2339 in GBP).


What do the people need?

As with any typhoon victims in the Philippines, the community's basic needs are of utmost importance. Families need clean water and easy-to-eat food packs due to limited resources to cook, hygiene kits, and new clothes. Portable solar lamps will also help these families' mobility during night time as electricity has not been restored in the area. 

 School supplies for children who are now into modular learning modality who were not able to save anything will also need replenishment of notebooks, pencils, and crayons. 

 For the displaced families in Brgy. San Roque, the long-term support they need is the construction of permanent houses in the hazard-free area provided by the local government.

How to help?

There are several ways to help our cause: 

●     UoR Rotaract club is organising a fundraising event through a Go fund me challenge (Run/Walk/Row or any activity for 6.66 miles). For details, please visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UoR-Rotaract-100816811422704/

●     Donate through a GoFundMe account (place link here).

●     Donate through Rotary Club of West Bay (D3820) c/o Immediate Past President Pamela Joyce M. Eleazar (BPI Family Savings Bank - Los Baños Branch SA - 5806423264)

The collected funds will be used to purchase food packs and hygiene kits as a rapid response, and the rest will be used to construct houses for the displaced families in Brgy. San Roque as a long-term response.  For more information, you may visit the Facebook Pages of the Rotary Club of West Bay (https://www.facebook.com/RotaryClubofWestBay) and University of Reading Rotaract (https://www.facebook.com/UoR-Rotaract-100816811422704). 



Organizer

Valerie Robinson
Organizer
ROTARY CLUB OF READING MATINS' CHARITY
 
Registered nonprofit
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