Yolanda Survivors Gain Carpentry Skills

The trainees. 

Five months after Yolanda hit the Visayas, several men previously unskilled in carpentry work can start to build their own homes.  Thirty-eight men whose houses in Tanauan, Leyte  were knocked down or swept away by  Super Typhoon Yolanda recently completed a 15-day intensive course on carpentry in a project of the Center for Community Transformation done in partnership with the Tanauan, Leyte municipal government and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

The training consisted of lectures and hands-on work.   For their practical work, the trainees repaired the student center, administration room, several classrooms and roofs at the Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU), the training venue. 

Aside from the practical learning, the men also received spiritual training. Each day was begun with group devotions and on Saturdays, community worship was held.  

Tanauan Mayor Pelagio Tecson said the trainees will be hired by the town to work on government buildings.  The town is one of areas hardest-hit by Yolanda. 

Pure joy shows on the faces of
Pelagio Tecson (above) who has
the same name as the Tanauan mayor
and Jovito Pardinas (below). 

Each trainee was given a cross cut saw, plumb bob,
pull push roll, claw hammer,  chisel, L-square,
gloves and hard hat. 

Photos: Michelle Taway

Among CCT Community Partners: Zero Lives Lost

Although more than 6,500 CCT-assisted families were affected by Typhoon Yolanda, zero deaths were reported by staff in the provinces of Capiz, Iloilo, Leyte, Palawan and Mindoro. 

Some 6,585 families in the path of the storm suffered total or partial damage to their homes while among the 65 staff working in the affected towns and cities, 14 suffered totally damaged homes. 

Two pastors arrived in Samar on November 15 where they were to meet up with Leyte-based Pastor Ed Gomez and would then proceed to Tacloban  to locate community partners about whom CCT still has no news.  

A team of three doctors and a nurse is scheduled to leave on Wednesday, November 21, for Tacloban.  

CCT is accepting donations for the survivors. Most-needed supplies are food, water, and medicine.  Ruth Callanta, CCT president, also noted the practicality of providing solar-powered lamps which can also be used as cell phone chargers.   

For inquiries in the Philippines, please get in touch with Ms. Penny Lim at 0933-2618809. 

Should you want to make a cash donation, the following are CCT’s bank details:

               

Bank :  Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company – Kamagong-Sampaloc, Makati Branch

Bank Account Name :  Center for Community Transformation 

Peso Account Number :  501-3-501-90126-2

US Dollar Account Number :  501-2-501-20008-0

Swift Code :  MBTCPHMM

To make tax-deductible donations from the US, please visit philippines.causevox.com