SHARPERCommunities

Realyn Rapatan manages the Tuba "coconut wine" business of the Marigold Women's group. The formation of self-help groups is part of the SHARPER Project of Oxfam, SIKAT, and partner organizations. (Photo: Alren Beronio/Oxfam)

Self-help groups allow women in Yolanda-hit town to earn a living, prepare for the next storm

Julie Chenido could think of other important uses for her P25 but it’s an amount she’s willing to contribute to her community organization, especially since the money will be used to ensure the safety of her family and other residents of the island village of San Isidro, in Dolores, Eastern Samar.

Restituta Benaso and Jenne Rose Benaso, survivors of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, are among those who received disaster preparedness training through Oxfam Pilipinas and partner organizations’ Strengthening Harmonized Action for Disaster Risk Reduction, Preparedness and Early Recovery (SHARPER) Project. (Photo: Alren Beronio/Oxfam)

Coastal village once devastated by Yolanda, now equipped against disasters

When Super Typhoon ‘Haiyan’ (local name: Yolanda) struck the town of Lawaan in Eastern Samar in the early morning of November 8, 2013, the residents of Barangay Guinob-an were shocked not just by the sheer amount of devastation but also the realization that they had nowhere safe to go to.