A new home

Following the destruction of their village, a relocation site has been given to the Badjao community by the Government. Each family is given their own 6x8 metre plot on which to build their home.

This new area is next to a mangrove, and the whole site is on mudflats which are flooded by sea water at high tide. The new village will therefore have to be built up on stilts above the mud, like the old one.

There is some distance from the sea making it safe from storm surges, but their boats should still be able to get close at high tide.

The show must go on

Even without our centre, we are continuing our weekly activities/ministry with the Badjao community. We feel it is important to have a regular presence with them because this is a really difficult time for them – especially for the children, as our work with them gives them a chance for fun.

So, our highly-effective ALS (Alternative Learning System) school continues weekly, temporarily using a room in a nearby school.

The kids’ club ministry also continues, giving them a break from difficult cramped lives in their temporary tent village. We pick them up and take them to a nearby park or use another building where they enjoy Bible Stories, worship, games and fun activities. Also we fill them up with healthy food!

They lost everything

The Badjao people on Palawan are still currently homeless, living in a makeshift village of tents and gazebos until their relocation site is ready. Local government is providing food, tents and a few toilets for them and a few other organizations have given aid as well.

Thanks to those that partnered with us, we were able to distribute relief goods directly to the Badjao people; that's 345 families totalling about 1500 people made homeless by the fire. We distributed items to every family, including personal hygiene kits, clothes, cooking stoves (pictured below), thermos flasks and tools to help rebuilding.