Travelling to the Philippines with World Vision has meant seeing a lot of hardship. During most of the week, I’ve visited families who are struggling with the kind of abject poverty most of us rarely think about in Canada. When Typhoon Haiyan hit this region last year, it made life even more difficult for people who already had very little. The storm destroyed homes, obliterated fishing boats, and razed schools.
But today, I had the chance to see what kind of progress has been made when it comes to rebuilding after the typhoon, and witnessed the hope that progress has given to many Filipino people. I visited an elementary school in the coastal community of Estancia – a school that had been flattened by the typhoon. Thanks to the efforts of World Vision and members of the community, all 17 of the school’s classrooms were rebuilt. In fact, the school building is much improved compared to what was there before – the floors are covered with tile, the walkways are paved, and the washrooms have flushable toilets (something many children had never seen before).
I observed a class of 35 students attending summer class at their “new” school this morning, and they actually looked excited to be there, to be given the opportunity to learn. When I asked several of them what they liked most about their new classrooms, the answer was, “Everything!”
The principal of the school – who has been there for 28 years - told me there is no improvement in a community if there is no improvement in that community’s school. In that way, one could say something good came out of the aftermath of that terrible storm.
I also saw how it is possible to plant new seeds of hope after tragedy. I visited the home of a local woman participating in a backyard gardening project, which taught her how to grow produce to help feed and sustain her family. Typhoon Haiyan destroyed her garden and her home when it tore through the community. But two months later, thanks to seeds and fertilizer provided by World Vision, her garden began to grow once again. Her home was rebuilt with supplies from World Vision, and now her garden, and her family, is flourishing.
I like to think that kind of hope can be possible for anyone facing seemingly hopeless circumstances. People I’ve spoken with here say providing that kind of hope takes hard work, dedication, and cooperation between international organizations, community groups, and neighbours alike. But they say it is possible, because they are seeing it happen where they live right now.
