FINDING RESILIENCE

Recovery after Odette

admin_samdhana — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 07:42:02 +0000

Recovery after Odette admin_samdhana Thu, 02/10/2022 - 14:42

Indigenous and local communities still vulnerable to natural disasters aggravated by climate change.

A month after the devastating category 5 typhoon Odette (Rai) last December 16, 2021, affected communities are focused on their recovery. Through the urgent action grant mechanism, Samdhana Institute was able to contribute to the relief and recovery efforts of community partners.

In Surigao City, several indigenous Badjao community leaders, together with the support organization, Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (DOLSH) engaged in a series of meetings with the Local Government Unit (LGU), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to discuss the relocation plan.

The government plans to remove the Badjaos who live in stilt houses along the port areas, and we're one of those heavily struck by the typhoon. The temporary relocation site is another coastal location, at least 5kilometers away.

Situation of the Badjao stilt homes in the typhoon aftermath in Surigao City.

The women-led Badjao Association asked the local authorities to reconsider these plans given that their families, especially the children, will be unfamiliar with the new environment, and they feared that the host community may not be prepared to accept them. The NCIP committed to host another meeting to resolve this concern.

The DOLSH Sisters were instrumental in reaching out to help secure assistance for the Badjao community.

Part of the urgent grant will be for purchasing four (4) heavy-duty fishing boats. Each boat will be shared by at least three (3) families. Inspired by Samdhana’s support, a Columban Lay Missionary based in Korea was able to raise funds for more fishing boats. This will enable no fewer than 51 families to secure their daily needs. Other groups who assisted were the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSWD) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Sta. Josefa Rescue and Emergency Services (SJRES) from Agusan del Sur.

There is also plan for a medical mission soon. Several children suffered from fever, stomach-borne diseases, cough and colds. Anti-tetanus shots were needed for those who had stepped on nails from the typhoon debris. Nanay Dahila Araman, one of the leaders, still suffered inflammation of her left shoulder when she fell from their stilt house at the height of the typhoon. She was so happy with the outpouring of support. As a people, they rarely experience being given priority, especially by the government. This is one of the reasons that many Badjao find their living begging in the streets for survival. The recovery efforts will hopefully be a concerted action to help the Badjao families lessen their vulnerabilities to recurring natural disasters.

There are many actors making their own contribution to help families regain their normal lives, including the academe. The Department of Sociology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, CARAGA State University initiated the fundraising to furnish roofing materials for a few families in Cantugas, Mainit, Surigao del Norte. They are currently continuing with their fundraising to reach their target of at least 733 GI Sheets.

Local organizations are best-placed to address the emergent needs in disasters, like Peace Pond Farmers Association, Inc. They prioritized to secure filters from the Alternative Indigenous Foundation, Inc. (AIDFI) to ensure clean drinking water for families who lost their water sources in Barangay Amontay, Binalbagan. MASIPAG-Visayas also identified water needs as a priority and undertook the clean-up and decontamination of water wells in Central & Southern Negros Occidental.

Samdhana’s grant of PhP 50,000 was contributed to the funds pooled from Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc. (PMPI) which donated P320,000.00 and the Visayas cluster’s counterpart of P22,000.00 for the equipment and food packs.
Samdhana, with funding support from Global Greengrants Fund, provided a total of $17,408 or PhP848,600 in total for the urgent and recovery grants to 9 partners for Typhoon Odette.

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CLIMATE CHANGE

FINDING RESILIENCE

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Tue, 02/08/2022 - 12:00

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Awang women and youth joining forces to bring back the environment

admin_samdhana — Sat, 05 Jun 2021 07:13:37 +0000

Awang women and youth joining forces to bring back the environment admin_samdhana Sat, 06/05/2021 - 14:13

The Panlablaba Youth Association (PAYO) and the Kababaihan sa Panlablaba (KASAP) women’s group planted trees together last May 23, 2021, in Awang, Misamis Oriental. At that time PAYO, with the help of their Elder, Datu Marcus, already had around 4,000 seedlings of various endemic species. They had started their tree nursery in 2019, and last year, at the height of COVID-19 lockdowns, the youth spent their time expanding their nurseries. They still plan to re-plant the surrounding hills in their sitio (village) which had become barren over the years. It is important for them, especially because their source of water is coming from the hills and the remaining forested areas within their ancestral domain.

The KASAP women group had only recently been formed this year, when the women expressed their urgent need to bring electricity and water into their village zone, which they have not had ever since. It will be their first time to undertake their own project, so they identified that they want to strengthen their capacities first. During the Women’s Leadership Training, KASAP members joined with the PAYO members for the tree-planting. It will also serve as a remembrance of the first leadership training that the Higaonon women of KASAP received. In planting the trees, together they are nurturing the environment for the future generation.

Together, we can be #generationrestoration #nurturingGeneration #findingresilience

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FINDING RESILIENCE

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE & LOCAL COMMUNITY

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Sat, 06/05/2021 - 12:00

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The Panlablaba Youth Association (PAYO) and the Kababaihan sa Panlablaba (KASAP) women’s group planted trees together last May 23, 2021, in Awang, Misamis Oriental.

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#nurturingGeneration

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News

Stories of Indigenous Women Facing Pandemic

admin_samdhana — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 02:16:16 +0000

Stories of Indigenous Women Facing Pandemic admin_samdhana Mon, 08/24/2020 - 09:16

Shela Matuod Uray, an indigenous woman from the Higaonon in the Philippines, really felt the impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on their lives. Before that, the Higaonon people lived in peace as a community that was free to enter and exit rural areas, now it is difficult.

“We can't go to our fields because of restrictions. If we can't go to our plantations, what can we do? We don't have enough foodstuffs, "he said in a discussion some time ago.

These indigenous people still have to wait three months for the rice harvest. During the pandemic, they survive on maize and tubers.

When someone is sick, said Shela, like a fever or sore throat, they take young papaya leaves for medicine. They also try to prepare the rice fields to replant in the rainy season.

A similar story also comes from Serly Masdiana Saragih, a traditional Batak Toba woman, North Sumatra, Indonesia.

Serly is the principal of the Arjuna Laguboti Vocational School in Toba Samosir, where some Batak teenagers and women around the village are studying.

When the local government announced that the outbreak had entered North Sumatra, health protocols also took effect immediately.

The Toba Samosir indigenous people, who are usually busy with traditional rituals, began to reduce the crowd, for example in death rituals. People are also asked to maintain personal hygiene by diligently washing their hands and wearing masks.

Serly immediately guided the students at her school to use their laboratory and produce hand sanitizers and distribute them to the surrounding indigenous communities, especially those with difficulty accessing water.

They produce more than 3,000 bottles. During the distribution, said Serly, the students were also provided with information about health protocols that they distributed when distributing hand sanitizers.

Read the full story here

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FINDING RESILIENCE

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE & LOCAL COMMUNITY

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Sun, 08/09/2020 - 12:00

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Indigenous women put rice into barns for storage. Photo: Donny Iqbal / Mongabay Indonesia-INFIS

The Marion R. Weber Family Fund of RSF Social Finance reaches out to Calamian Tagbanwa

admin_samdhana — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 03:07:03 +0000

The Marion R. Weber Family Fund of RSF Social Finance reaches out to Calamian Tagbanwa admin_samdhana Mon, 06/29/2020 - 10:07

Decabobo Ancestral Domain, Coron, Palawan

Chairperson Rosemarie Sanicoy, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative Asencio Carpiano, and Apung Dakulu Rogelio Novero lead the distribution of emergency food relief to the Tagbanwa members of Decabobo Katutubong Tagbanwa in the Decawewe ancestral domain in Coron, Palawan. This relief is in response to the difficult times that Calamian Tagbanwa families experienced in the wake of community quarantines brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Buyus, Becatan, and Dipalirung are small island communities, included among the 8 communities in Decabobo ancestral domain. The families residing in these small islands, counted at 238, were selected to receive the emergency food relief, especially since they have an extra challenge in purchasing dry goods from the stores in town.

Depelenged Ancestral Domain, Concepcion, Busuanga

Volunteers helped out in repacking rice for the emergency food relief. Chairperson Prudencio Calis of Katutubong Samahan ng Depelenged (KASADEP), the main Indigenous Peoples Organization leading the processing of their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT), waited with other community members in this small island community of only 74 families. Members also volunteered their labor and boats for hauling the food supplies from the town of Concepcion to the island of Depelenged.

Bay Estrilla Calis Apuen is one of the elderly persons in Depelenged island. She stamped her thumb mark as proof for receiving the emergency food relief. This means a lot to her and other elderly Tagbanwa who found it difficult to find food during the community quarantine because of the mandated age restrictions of those allowed outside their homes.

Lakdayan Ancestral Domain, Cheey, Busuanga

Community members of the Lakdayan ancestral domain actively lend a hand in the repacking of the emergency food relief. A drizzle persisted while their fellow members patiently waited for the distribution within the grounds of the Lakdayan Elementary School.

Samdhana Community Facilitator Reunald Salva oriented the community about the emergency food relief. The food relief assistance from The Marion R. Weber Family Fund of RSF Social Finance was extended to Lakdayan, though the community is not a site for the project on “Sustaining Women and Youth Initiatives for Resilience” which the MRWFF-RSFSF is currently supporting. Lakdayan belongs to the same unified ancestral domain claim with Decabobo community, where the said project is being implemented.

Santiago Aiso, was one of the 166 Tagbanwa families, and members of the Tagbanuas of Lakdayan Community Development Association (TALACDAS), who received the relief. Santiago is one of the Manig-erekelen or Elders of the community.

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FINDING RESILIENCE

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Sat, 06/27/2020 - 12:00

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A webinar: Indigenous Women and Youth Responding in the time of COVID-19

admin_samdhana — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 04:51:18 +0000

A webinar: Indigenous Women and Youth Responding in the time of COVID-19 admin_samdhana Mon, 06/15/2020 - 11:51

A webinar co-hosted with International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP).

Join us with community members from Indonesia and Philippines as they share their experiences in taking action during this time of the pandemic.

Wednesday 17th June 2020

7:00-8:00AM PDT/ 10:00-11:00AM EDT/

9:00-10:00 PM JKT Time/ 10:00-11:00 PH Time

More Info & Registration: https://tinyurl.com/SamdhanaJune2020

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FINDING RESILIENCE

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Posting Date

Mon, 06/15/2020 - 12:00

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Bringing Education in the Traditional Market to Stop Spread of COVID-19

admin_samdhana — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 03:55:38 +0000

Bringing Education in the Traditional Market to Stop Spread of COVID-19 admin_samdhana Sat, 06/06/2020 - 10:55

That afternoon on Saturday, March 28, 2020, the sky in Maumere, the capital of Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) was bright as usual in the first quarter of each year. The atmosphere in the traditional market was just like any other, busy and vibrant like Maumere’s citizens, although the impact of COVID-19 was increasingly apparent.

In the midst of the blazing heat and the bustle of the people, Narto Hayon and his colleagues kept their distance while distributing hand sanitizers to traders in Alok Market in Madawat Village, Alok District.

Narto, the director of Perkumpulan Aktivis Perlindungan Hak Anak (PAPHA), also joins their team who is providing socialization and education on the prevention of COVID-19 to traders and other market visitors. They emphasize on the importance of protecting oneself and keeping a safe distance.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, PAPHA has been actively involved in efforts to break the spread of COVID-19. Part of this is the distribution of 50 bottles of hand sanitizer, which was produced by the Omah Markonah community in Bogor and 75 pieces of face masks, sewn by self-help institutions. Both were supported by Samdhana Institute.

Besides Alok Market, the distribution of hand sanitizers, masks and the education campaign were also carried out at Pasar Senja, Wairotang Village, East Alok District.

For most Sikka people, COVID-19 is a new and foreign thing. The protocol prevention actions such as washing hands and wearing masks are not the custom of Sikka people. Thus, there is a need to increase awareness and continuously remind the community. It is not easy, and people need more time to adopt it.

Read full stories here

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FINDING RESILIENCE

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Sat, 06/06/2020 - 12:00

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Narto Hayon while distributing hand sanitizers to traders in Alok Market in Madawat Village, Alok District. (PAPHA)

RRI Covid-19 update

admin_samdhana — Thu, 28 May 2020 07:41:01 +0000

RRI Covid-19 update admin_samdhana Thu, 05/28/2020 - 14:41

We are sharing a compilation of updates from Rights & Resources Initiative on the situation of Indigenous Peoples around the globe. The updates also link to other articles.

Learn more:

https://samdhana.org/sites/default/files/stories/document/RRI%20update%201.pdf

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FINDING RESILIENCE

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Posting Date

Wed, 05/20/2020 - 12:00

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Photos courtesy of https://rightsandresources.org/

“PINULAK” 19 Calamian Tagbanwa Clans Respond During COVID-19 Quarantine

admin_samdhana — Wed, 27 May 2020 07:53:43 +0000

“PINULAK” 19 Calamian Tagbanwa Clans Respond During COVID-19 Quarantine admin_samdhana Wed, 05/27/2020 - 14:53

A meeting amongst the manigerekelen, the clan heads of the Calamian Tagbanwa indigenous community of Pali, in Coron, Palawan, was called by the oldest, Apung Dakulu Pablo. Such is the custom of the Tagbanwa: to talk and decide on what is best to do about matters that concern the community. In this case, it was about an emergency relief assistance needed because of the enforced community quarantine due to the threat of the spread of COVID-19. The assistance came from the LBC Foundation, facilitated by The Samdhana Institute.

While most relief assistance from government and other groups automatically distribute equal share of goods among the households, the manigerekelen asserted a different track. It is the custom of the Tagbanwa to share benefits equitably, not necessarily equally, among the members of the clan. The practice is called pinulak. Pinulak is a basic measure of a cup usually used for rice. Allocation is determined not by household, but by the size of the family. A family with 9 members definitely gets a larger share than a family with 3 members.

Data sources usually show information by household. Hence, the manigerekelen made listings of members of each clan. This was a good exercise giving value to the 19 clan groupings which is the backbone of the indigenous political structure of the Tagbanwas. The listing not only serves the current emergency relief distribution but also the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan, which the community is crafting but was suspended because of the quarantine.

Relief distribution on 12 May 2020 was made through the manigerekelen and each manigerekelen was responsible for distribution to the families belonging to his clan. The smallest clan is composed of 5 families while the largest is composed of 43 families. Total number of families that benefitted was 303. ###

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FINDING RESILIENCE

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Posting Date

Fri, 05/22/2020 - 12:00

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A meeting amongst the manigerekelen, the clan heads of the Calamian Tagbanwa indigenous community of Pali, in Coron, Palawan. Photo courtesy of Shellane Naguit/SAMDHANA

Youthful energies fend off the pandemic

admin_samdhana — Wed, 20 May 2020 04:26:00 +0000

Youthful energies fend off the pandemic admin_samdhana Wed, 05/20/2020 - 11:26

Volunteers of the Mong Pan Youth Association (MPYA) and Nam Khone Alumni Network went around the communities in Ywar Ngan and Kalaw Townships and some villages in Taunggyi District in Southern Shan State, Myanmar, to raise awareness on the COVID-19 pandemic in the early weeks of April. As the government imposed a lockdown in the country, these active youth groups took initiative to inform the citizenry in the villages where information was not very well disseminated nor accessible. As part of the campaign, they introduced the basic steps to prevent spreading the virus and explain the importance of social (physical) distancing. They also gave advice on how to handle a person who is suspected of being infected, and the importance of quarantine measures for returning migrant workers, amongst others.

To prepare for the community information campaign, the volunteers were trained by the Covid-19 Prevention Volunteer Group-Southern Shan, and used the fact sheets developed by the latter, and from the Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security Studies.

Washing hand properly before taking the food

Measure the temperature to the villagers

The youth volunteers were also quick to recognize the needs of the local hospitals and community clinics in Ywar Ngan township. MPYA donated essential items such as face masks, personal protective equipment (PPE), hand sanitizers, and gloves to the general hospital and community clinics.

Donated Mask and Handgel to Myin Cha Toe clinic

They also distributed food to some 410 families in Ywar Ngan and Kalaw Townships, and in one village in Taunggyi District, since it was anticipated that government food aid will still take a while. The food supplies were rice, oil, beans and different kinds of noodles. Through MPYA’s engaged youth leaders and its wide network of alumni, they were able to reach the remote communities in Myanmar. They selected the more vulnerable members of the community, in coordination with the local authorities. They also coordinated with the government committees, which enabled them to bring these supplies to the communities.

Food donation in Kyawk Ku Pyin village

As the youth volunteers relayed, the villagers were very delighted for the information and support they received. This initiative was very timely, as people had to observe the lockdown even it was the Thingyan festival (Myanmar New Year). Some of the villagers observed that more people followed the proper way of wearing masks, and prevention measures were being better observed than before. The food supplies eased the burden of the people.

Food donation in Gyan Taw village

As for the youth volunteers, they said that this experience led them to become more unified and active, and increased their interest in community development. Their efforts also earned recognition from a Head of the village who was proud to see the youth leading this project and appreciated the good quality of the food supplies that were given.

While the MPYA winds down this campaign, they do not forget the grave concerns that villagers had confided in them, and that is their worry about food security, should the lockdown last for a long time.

All photos courtesy of Mong Pan Youth Association

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FINDING RESILIENCE

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Posting Date

Tue, 05/19/2020 - 12:00

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COVID-19 prevention notice board at the entrance of the Kyawk Ku Pyin village. Photos courtesy of Mong Pan Youth Association

SMK Arjuna Laguboti Produced Hand Sanitizers for the Community in Needs

admin_samdhana — Wed, 20 May 2020 03:03:43 +0000

SMK Arjuna Laguboti Produced Hand Sanitizers for the Community in Needs admin_samdhana Wed, 05/20/2020 - 10:03

SMK Swasta Arjuna Laguboti Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan (vocational high school) distributed 3,000 bottles of hand sanitizers to neighboring villages in Tobasa District. The hand sanitizers were proudly locally produced by the students of SMK Arjuna. The school is one of the old private schools in Laguboti, offering courses in Pharmacy and Tourism. Their students are mostly young Batak women. The hand sanitizers were produced in Arjuna’s very own laboratory facilities. In the last week of April, they were able to distribute the products to the following: Pintubosi Village, Sitoluama Village, Gasaribu Village; to the Sub-districts in Laguboti, Sigumpar and Porsea.

The students of SMK Arjuna were produced hand sanitizer in Arjuna’s own laboratory facilities. Pictures courtesy of Serly Masdiana Saragih

The students, teachers and staff of Arjuna SMK themselves received a bottle each. Through the Yayasan TP Arjuna, they proactively embarked on this project as part of their community service and contribution to stop the spread of the corona virus disease.

You can watch the local news feature here

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FINDING RESILIENCE

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Posting Date

Mon, 05/18/2020 - 12:00

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Distributed 3,000 bottles of hand sanitizers to neighboring villages in Tobasa District. Pictures courtesy of Serly Masdiana Saragih