Tacloban City

A REPORT FROM INTERNATIONAL DISASTER VOLUNTEERS ORGANIZATION

Thanks to the amazing support of CANVAS and its donors IDV was recently able to conduct an exciting book giving event in five communities in Tacloban City. The event took place on during the month of September 2015.  

The communities were badly damaged by Typhoon Yolanda in 2014. Many of the homes lost their roofs and several buildings were completely destroyed. The typhoon also destroyed many of their crops, and thus losing their livelihoods. They, however, received little help to recover following the typhoon.  

People live in a mixture of small brick and simple wooden homes. When the parents were asked what type of books their children had at home, their answer was, “None”. After Yolanda’s destruction, even the community schools have a very limited selection of books.  

As a result, the kids have little access to the joy of reading. Sadly, none of the children have ever owned a book themselves.  

It is for all these reasons that we are so thankful to CANVAS, and its donors, to be able to organise the recent book-giving event.  

The activity started by IDV asking the teachers to help us find three kids to volunteer to answer our “profile” questionnaire. IDV’s Project Manager, Siggy, then had a quick talk to the kids. Siggy’s first question to them was, “Who among you has a book of your own?” Nobody answered.  

Siggy then took some time to explain the importance of books in our daily lives, and how it is also important to take care of the books. Siggy also encouraged the kids to share the story in the book with others – their parents, brothers, sisters,

and friends. When the kids learned that they could bring the books home, we saw the happiness their eyes.  

As the kids began to leave the school, we saw some of them started reading the book, and also wrote their names on it. Some even began running toward their houses to show their own and personal book to their parents. All of them were shouting out loud, “Thank you very much, sir!” And in reply, we said, “Don’t thank us, say thanks to CANVAS and it’s donors!”