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1,713 WAKA WAKA POWER plus 12 NEW CLASSROOMS comprise RAFI’s Leyte Earthquake Aid Response due to the magnitude 6.5 earthquake that devastated Ormoc City and Koananga in Leyte Province last July 6 this year.  The aid was launched last August 2 amounting to P23, 245, 427.

Say, Waka, Waka!

The Waka Waka Power + (Solar powered light and charger) is considered a core NFI (Non-Food Item) in disaster relief for internally displaced people (IDP) and affected communities, and was donated by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to RAFI.

The social preparation, assessment, validation, distribution, and monitoring activities were conducted by Ormoc-based staff of RAFI Micro Finance (RMF) with the guidance of the Humanitarian Disaster Preparedness and Response Program Head.

Internally displaced people (IDPs) in a number of evacuation centers said that there was only one power outlet that can be used for charging mobile phones. Access to electricity was very difficult in evacuation centers and upland communities in Ormoc City and Kananga. A group of women in an interview said, “school children are having difficulty studying, we cannot cook and eat well, the comfort rooms are outside and it’s dark.”

“Nalipay me nakadawat ug waka waka solar power lamps! We can charge our phone and connect to our loved ones.”  Waka Waka indeed! (which means “shine bright” in Swahili).

SRP in Leyte, RAFI’s First Outside of Cebu Province

On the other hand, under RAFI’s school rehabilitation program (SRP), 3 new classrooms, 1-storey building in 4 highly-damaged public schools will be built. These schools are: Bagong and Gaas Elementary Schools in Ormoc City; Lim-ao Elementary School, and Lim-ao National High School, Kananga, Leyte. Hundreds and thousands of pupils, who are still in temporary learning centers put up in these schools, are expected to benefit from this SRP.

This is the first time that RAFI implements SRP outside Cebu Province. RAFI believes that classrooms should be constructed immediately for obvious and compelling reasons- unsafe classrooms hamper learning, and expose children to unnecessary safety and protection issues.

The SRP, particularly the construction, is being implemented by the Education Unit (EDU). While the social preparation and coordination with local authorities are lodged to the Integrated Development Unit (IDU) through its Humanitarian Disaster Preparedness and Response Unit (HDPRU). The SRP is in collaboration with the City Government of Ormoc, Municipal Government of Kananga, the affected public schools, and the Department of Education’s Divisions of Ormoc City and Leyte Province.