SDC in action!

Far from the skipping ropes, pokemon cards and other activities of the playgrounds all over the world, the new trend at the SDC is the Capoeira!

Short reminder for those who might have missed the phenomenon:

According to Wikipedia®, "Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that would find its roots in the methods of warfare and in the dances of the African people of the time of slavery in Brazil." In reality, capoeira is a sport that combines dance, rhythmic movements and combat, and it is a way for our the SDC children to have fun and especially to unwind!

On alternate Thursdays, two volunteer teachers come to teach the art of capoeira to young during sessions of one hour and a half. Prof and Kit, owners of Mandala centering place in Bacolod therefore offer their time to mentor twenty children and introduce them to the practice.

In addition to capoeira lessons, Prof, whose capoeirista name is “Contra Mestre Parabolica” shares a few minutes at the end of each session to give kids a lesson in good manners, for example, reminding them why it is essential to have good hygiene or the importance of respecting the adults who supervise them at the SDC.

Since the launching of the activity at the beginning of 2014, children have shown a real interest in capoeira and invest heavily during each session in order to progress.

Periodically, competitions are organized to motivate the kids who now even practice by themselves in the dorms!

On November 15th, the Mandala centering place was the scene of a major event, an important gathering of capoeiristas who came straight from Brazil, Malaysia and Singapore. This day was an opportunity for teachers to reward capoeiristas students by the rise in rank. Capoeira grades are represented by ropes of different colors depending on the level.

Joel, a children of the SDC who had already distinguished himself as being particularly good at capoeira in recent competitions at the center was invited to attend this event. While he was initially supposed to simply join the group, Joel was finally rewarded by “Contra Mestre Parabolica” who gave him his first grade: yellow and white rope! Joel then got back to the center after a day full of emotions with his rope and his new outfit of capoeirista offered by Prof!

Can you imagine a professionnal capoeirista coming from the SDC?

Joel with his godfather of capoeira!

Weaving in response to Yolanda!

Bantayan, a small island belonging to the province of Cebu in the Philippines, was one of the areas most severely affected by the typhoon Yolanda in November 2013.

Local populations have suffered severe damage and were left in deplorable conditions!

The emergency for these communities was then to find a way to stimulate economic activity and find quickly a new source of revenues.

To help them, we got interested in an activity: weaving from pandan (local plant).

Several women of the island already had basic knowledge allowing them to make place-mats and matting pandan, but unfortunately did not have the financial means to develop this activity.

We then deployed the necessary resources to help them!

Key steps of the project

April 2014          At the beginning, we have grouped a dozen motivated women and have provided them with the required materials to manufacture of basic weaving products, to stimulate activity.

July 2014              After the reopening of the market and the prospects of development made more concrete, HOST organized a training for weaving bags.

Felipe, a specialist of weaving belonging to the Department of Industrial Affairs visited Bantayan to lead a 10-day training for the weavers. Women then acquired new weaving techniques and learned how to dye pandan leaves in order to make colorful bags and baskets.

August 2014             Once the activity of weaving bags settled, we approached two retailers based in Bacolod : the brands Kiculo and Vivo that committed to the project by making the bags available to the public.

October 2014          The "Bantayan totes" were presented to suppliers around the world during the "Manila Fame," one of the largest fairs in Southeast Asia during which the creations of local artisans are exposed to potential exporters.

November 2014       Second training with the aim of improving the quality and developing new weaving techniques to produce different kinds of bags.

Felipe, the trainer

Basis of the weaving

Dyeing of the pandan

Since the launching of the project, our volunteers regularly visit the island of Bantayan to follow closely the evolution of the work of weavers, and each time the surprise is huge ...

In just six months, women have gone from very basic weaving products to quality bags!

With the training of November, the weavers learned again new techniques of weaving and also techniques of sewing that allow them to make bags more and more sophisticated, and even in line with current trends!

During one of our last trips to Bantayan, we collected the poignant testimony of weavers, to better understand how the project has changed their lives. For many, the activity of weaving has increased their daily income by three, allowing them to send their children to school, or to get the electricity in their small habitats.

Thereafter, we hope to invite other women to join the project and help other families in Bantayan.

The "Bantayan totes" at Manila Fame

Reaction of the weavers discovering the photos of their products at Manila Fame

1 year already, Typhoon Yolanda victims still need us!

On November 8th, 2013, exactly 1 year ago, Typhoon Yolanda hit the Philippines. 
On the island of Bantayan, 95% of the infrastructure has been destroyed, leaving people in precarious living and unhealthy conditions. 
HOST-NGO set up then emergency measures to assist local communities,  in visiting a few days later the island on Bantayan to provide food, clean water, medicines, and other first aid kits. 

Since the tragedy, HOST-NGO has developed two projects to help local communities to rebuild sustainably: 
- Kubo Concept: Construction of houses built from local materials and constructed to be "typhoon proof". These green homes will help communities without roofs to be aware of organic agriculture and environment. 
- Weaving Project: Training of a group of women in Bantayan to weave bags from Pandan (local plant). These bags will be sold so that the economic development of the community will be boost. Host intends to implant fair and honesty trade. 

To continue to carry out these projects and support the development of the victims of Typhoon Yolanda, HOST-NGO needs you!

For the first anniversary of Typhoon Yolanda, Global Giving makes every means possible to make this day a real fundraising, so that all the efforts for the reconstruction and conversion of the affected areas can continue. 
A year after the disaster, damage are still real and efforts are to provide if we want to improve the situation of the Philippines. Yolanda post-reconstruction is not yet completed, many homes are still unhealthy and jobs not converted. 

To help us, Global Giving make this Saturday, November 8 a day of 100% Matching, and it should last for few days. It means, all the donations you will make to Global Giving for our cause we will be twice more important. 
For example, for a donation of $ 100, we will get 200$ (to a maximum of $ 500 per donation). 

This is an exceptional opportunity to get all mobilize to give a second breath for our action !

Make a donation now