As the holiday season is upon us, we find ourselves reflecting from the adversity brought by calamities and disasters emerged in this year and those in the past. Our patience, fortitude, and unity were challenged. We were introduced with different virtual platforms and other means to communicate and interact, yet we remained connected!
Our struggles from Marawi siege in the year 2017 and up to this year of pandemic, time alone cannot heal our broken land and our suffering humanity. This pandemic has brought people around the globe to struggle to live.
What we had were ourselves. Because of that, we still have us. You, our partners, remained to be selfless and stayed with us throughout these trying times. For this year, we are grateful for all our partners who trusted our organization to deliver programs on the frontline.
The funding support of USAID in partnership with Plan International to the Marawi Response Project has reached another milestone as it has ended its second year of implementation. Now, we continue to pursue the third year of the project together delivering projects which can address self-reliance among internally displaced people and host community members. The IDPs and HCMs are so much thankful for bringing hope in times of despair and pursuing livelihood and social cohesion interventions that made them realize a life worthy of a second chance since the siege. Slowly, their communities plan and unite toward the betterment of these survivors.
Our communities in Salvador and Munai, Lanao Del Norte are so much equipped with disaster risk reduction and management as well as honed with the provision of livelihood opportunities to boost their economic standing amid the disaster they have encountered since Typhoon Vinta. This is made possible through the unending support of AWO International.
The project we partnered with CORDAID in combating the effect of COVID-19 has made communities aware of food and water security in this pandemic. The project introduced and help them do urban gardening where families can source out their food in this time of health crisis. Some of our targeted recipients and communities have benefitted handwashing facility, water storage as well as providing them hygiene kits and personal protective equipment for their entirety’s safety.
ECOWEB’s initiative of helping indigenous communities was also forwarded through the support Brot Fur die Welt. This joint project helped communities engage in a big scale, and in demand business in agriculture specifically in abaca farming. These people find it timely and relevant to continue social enterprising as it is where they source out their daily living.
Philippines has been through several typhoons such as Quinta, Rolly, Vicky, and Ulysses which severely posed threat to the affected communities in the Northern part of the country yet, they were capable to bounce back better. Our donation drives really pushed us to move proactively to address the needs of our countrymen through the survivor and community-led response way.
Lastly, we are sending our virtual gratitude in supporting the Survivor and Community-Led Response (sclr) approach, which has been given a spotlight in coursing through our projects and programs on the ground. To our international, national and local partners, networks and civil societies, thank you for believing on this approach and trusting locals and their capacities in leading their own humanitarian actions and responses. We celebrate our partnership even how challenging this year was because we dearly prioritized our communities and the people to be their own source of growth and agents of empowerment.
To our stakeholders and partners, we may not name you one by one, but we offer you our sincerest appreciation for the continuous support all throughout these years. Thank you for helping us touch the lives of our communities. Your support has truly proved how much you care about the lives of the people. No words could better describe how our partnership meant to us over the years.
To our community partners across the Philippines who wholeheartedly opened their doors to ECOWEB, let us continue sharing the spirit of volunteerism and helping each other to attain common good. You have been the savior of yourself, your family, and the community as a whole despite the threat of the environment.
The trust that you have been giving to us is the most precious gift we will always treasure. We have walked a dynamic and intense year. But we have achieved and accomplished so much together as partners.
We will do whatever it takes to help and heal each and every community impacted by this pandemic. Let us all together build another year of hope and better lives. ECOWEB will always continue living its mission of “Mobilizing Resources, Building Partnerships, Empowering communities.” Trust, love, and partnership will get us through these challenges.
To our communities, we assure you that no one’s going to be left behind. We know that words can inspire but actions make us really driven to continuously protect your rights and serve you the most efficient way we can. We believe that you can do greater things, we need to trust the process. This year, even how much your family and community have suffered, but we always remain steadfast and let us keep moving forward.
Wishing all of you peace and joy in this yuletide season. Let us celebrate another incoming year with peaceful mind and a heart to serve. Happy holidays from ECOWEB family!
