TACLOBAN CITY—Four years after the massive devastation brought about by Super Typhoon ”Haiyan,” this city’s local folks and its leaders continue to strive in earnest to help transform not only its land but likewise its people, particularly the youth that experienced the harrowing experience of a massive disaster that almost totally displaced their otherwise normal growing-up years of their lives.
Save the Kids PH recently launched its initial program in the city with a host of activities that more than anything else provided hope and empowered the young populace of this city.
Rep. Yedda Romualdez, together with the Save the Kids PH officials, led in the ongoing efforts to promote and solicit massive participation among the younger generation of the city, in their quest to boost the trademark resilience of Filipinos specifically the people of Tacloban.
“Empowering the kids emotionally and financially, at the same time enlivening their spirits and enhancing their self-worth are key components of the Save the Kids program,” Romualdez said.
“Through teachings and subsequent immediate implementation of livelihood projects, the youth’s financial and self-sustaining abilities could, by and large, get them to stand on their feet and help in building a better future for themselves as well as their beloved homeland,” she added.
Another critical aspect of the program is to prepare them to become both physically and emotionally fit through various fitness, wellness and programs.
Typhoon Haiyan’s impact was so much more than just the city’s environment; the natural disaster affected a recorded 9,679,059 people in total and left more than 10,000 dead in Leyte’s small capital alone. Almost four years after the devastation the residents are still reeling and trying to recover from the devastation.
The ‘Save the Kids’ council felt that donating food and clothes to suffering victims was far from enough and thus chose Tacloban as the location of the organization’s launch in order to truly help kids sustain their emotional transformation that have had their homes, families, and basically everything stripped away from them.
Save the Kids PH is an umbrella organization which—in partnership with government agencies, NGOs, and other groups—focuses on helping and empowering disadvantaged kids through livelihood programs, rehabilitation activities and counselling.
With Margarita Te as president, Martin Alindogan as vice president, and Rico and Renzo Lago as council members, Save the Kids is comprised of students of a variety of ages and schools; the organization is structured to ensure continuity and sustainability in future years.
The launch had two simultaneous programs—Margarita’s Save the Girls, for which young girls are trained in livelihood projects such as baking and accessory-making, both as a form of therapy and as a tool to encourage financial independence, and Martin’s Rebound.ph, a basketball bootcamp meant to keep boys physically active and away from the harmful habits they may be inclined to be doing.
The children were also invited to engage in a “Zumbathon” led by both locally- and Manila-based Zumba instructors.
The day commenced with an opening ceremony held at the main open gym. Around 200 girls, aged 13-17 years old, and boys aged 9-12 years old.
Save the Kids PH officials led by Te and Alindogan personally assisted the conduct of various programs lined-up during the launch day activity These includes, accessory-making workshop provided by The Bead Shop group with Margarita as the lead coordinator.
The tasks—to assemble bracelets and lanyards—were quite the challenge.
The idea was that once they were familiar with the procedure, they would be able to make their own accessories and sell them.
Additionally, the products created would be sold by Save the Kids, and the entirety of the profits would be given to those who took part in the workshop, contributing to the concept of livelihood and subsistence.
Following the accessory-making was a baking demo in which Margarita exhibited the creation of two baked goods, brownies and homemade oreos, using the 1st district’s own tsokolate tablea (chocolate). Likewise with the bracelets and lanyards, the children could make a profit by selling these baked goods.
While the girls’ livelihood project was ongoing, the boys, quite eager and already dressed in athletic wear and basketball shoes, began with the two-day basketball camp with Rebound.ph. Martin, alongside his own coach, trained 100 boys by teaching them the fundamentals of the game and drills that they can practice on their own.
This was followed by a mini-tournament which fired up the kids’ competitive spirits.
At the end of the camp, each kid went home with their own basketball, a signature gift from Rebound.ph.
Lastly, to end the program, the girls and boys enjoyed themselves by partaking in the lively Zumbathon, led by a fellow Taclobaño, Robert Nee, with the kids requesting for one song after another.
The dancing brought all its participants together as a community—aside from the Tacloban children and Save the Kids council, staff members and Taclobaño Zumba enthusiasts joined in to further expand the size and diversity of the crowd moving as one.
The result of the outreach was rewarding and worthwhile, with the experience having left positive impacts on both the children from Tacloban and the members of Save the Kids.
