A workshop gives typhoon victims in the Philippines the tools to construct a temporary home that will last
Samaritan’s Purse, in partnership with the Philippines Department of Social Welfare, recently co-hosted the first one-day shelter workshop in Tanauan, a town caught in the eye of Typhoon Haiyan last November.
Many structures in Tanauan were destroyed or damaged in the powerful storm known locally as Yolanda. Makeshift cemeteries remain scattered along the roads approaching the town.
Many people died as their homes were simply not strong enough to withstand tsunami-like walls of water and ferocious winds of more than 190 mph.
As part of the area’s reconstruction effort, our shelter workshop taught community members better and safer ways to build family dwellings.
Classroom instruction laid the groundwork for the construction lessons.
In the afternoon, the engineers demonstrated these concepts with real wood and nails, and teams of trainees were afforded the opportunity to practice what they had learned. Their energy and excitement were apparent as they hammered, cut, and carried lumber to build five strong model homes.
Participants had a chance to get hands-on with the building materials in the afternoon session. They will share their knowledge with their neighbors.
Tanauan is about an hour’s drive south of Tacloban City on Leyte Island. Samaritan’s Purse has been working here in various ways since shortly after the disaster struck. Franklin Graham visited the area and met with the town’s mayor, Pel Tecson, on November 25.
More of these workshops are planned in other municipalities in the near future.
Learning how to construct micro-shelters is the first step to building a full-scale house.
Please pray for Samaritan’s Purse staff in the shelter program as they work diligently to meet the urgent needs of Filipinos struggling to rebuild after Typhoon Haiyan.
