Habitat youth go for nation building

GOOD news is in short supply in Navotas City, which sits on the edge of Metro Manila and is considered the fishing capital of the Philippines.

But on the 106th year of its founding, Navotas City Mayor, 39- year- old John Rey Tiangco, who could use all the help he can get, got a big dose of good news from over 200 students and sponsors at the Habitat for Humanity Youth Build Launch who pledged to do their bit for his city after having listened intently to his narration of calamity after calamity, coming from fires and floods.

Because of its location, overpopulation and pollution, Navotas is prone to floods, especially during the rainy season and high tide. And as 34-year-old fish vendor Cherry Cea pointed out, somewhat stoically, her family is used to the storms. But as the recent catastrophes have shown, residents need sturdy homes to protect themselves from the rains, wind and waves.

Among Mayor Tiangco’s constituents are Edgar Cea, a 40year-old fisherman and Cherry’s husband, and their four children — Edmar, Edgar Jr., Kaiza and Kyla. The Cea family, like 70% of the city’s population, depends on fishing.

But the water can be a friend or a foe. Last September, typhoon Pedring ravaged the area, destroying the homes of 4,000 families, including the Ceas’. Their boat, their only means to make a living, was crushed and washed away. Now their most prized material possession is a sack of rice – an empty sack of rice – which they use as a mat to sleep on in an evacuation center, where they live and survive with 8,000 others, many of whom have been displaced by fires from over a year ago.

“I left my one child at the evacuation center to watch our sack, or it might get stolen,” said Cherry, who came to the Habitat Build site with the rest of the family, to witness what could be their new home.

It is stories like these that prompted kids from Manila, like 21-year-old Alex Eduque, to extend a hand. But she needs more hands and heads to help her help. Volunteering with Habitat since age 16, Eduque saw a need to engage the youth beyond the usual day-long volunteering, into something strategic, sustainable and long-term. “The youth want to help. They just don’t know how,” she said.

It seems now, they know how. In the last two years since the inception of the Habitat Youth Council, they have built more than 250 houses and have raised over P25 million to help families throughout the Philippines. They have also gathered a maximum of 1,600 youth volunteers when they built 100 homes in one day.

In May 2012, the Habitat Youth Movement aims to beat its own record by raising enough funds and gathering 2,000 volunteers to build 200 homes. The goal is to collect P32 million, 60% of which was already raised. These youngsters are tapping into their own networks to achieve a common goal: aid families struck by calamities who have lost everything. They and their supporters have shown, truly, that every one can give.

“Imagine waking up with no home, literally living side by side thousands of other people in covered courts,” said Mayor Tiangco, describing the conditions in the public shelters. “Imagine having no chairs, no bathroom and no clothes more than what you are wearing,” he added, as he addressed the sponsors and volunteers of the Habitat for Humanity Youth Build.

Through the Youth Build 2012, Habitat for Humanity Philippines and the Habitat Youth Council will bring 2,000 youth volunteers to build 200 homes in Barangay Tanza for families like the Ceas.

Through the Habitat Youth Movement, Eduque encourages Filipinos below 40 to be engaged, be empowered, and take little steps towards making the change they want to see in the world – now!

“Do not be afraid to start small, because every bit of help matters; it means doing whatever you can to make a positive change. You are Generation NOW – so don’t wait too long, worried about the “what if’s”. Don’t be afraid to start today. Let your mind start wandering – dreaming – of the ways that you can encourage sustainable development and build dreams in your community,” said Eduque, who founded the Habitat Youth Council in 2010.

“I believe that every Filipino youth sees himself or herself as catalysts of change. “Through the Habitat Youth Movement, I hope that the youth will be the ones initiating and participating in socio- civic actions that will ultimately contribute to nation- building.”

rjottings@yahoo.com