In the first week of August this year, parts of the Philippines underwent severe flooding and damage from intense rain. Although the damage was caused by a strong movement of the southwest monsoon, rather than by a typhoon, the severity of the damage led the abnormal weather conditions to be known informally as Typhoon Hagabat [monsoon]. Bay, in Laguna Province, where much of Goducate work in the Philippines is concentrated, was one of the areas damaged. 500 families in Bay were affected, and are still being housed in evacuation centers.
The Goducate team in Laguna has been helping these families by training them in agricultural methods and offering them some work at the Goducate Model Farm. They have been learning different methods of farming such as hydroponics, backyard farming, and organic farming. They also get an allowance for helping with chores at the farm, such as watering, planting, ploughing, and cleaning of the premises. Through this, they are not just earning money but are also learning to know the importance of self will and discipline in helping themselves.
While the men are busy on the farm, 40 of the women have been learning another livelihood skill—that of making soap and dishwashing liquid. We hope that this skill will give those families another means of income.
