- The Philippines - Intervita

Intervita works in the Philippines

Why we workThe economic situation in the Philippines is marked by some structural problems in the employment system that is unable to absorb the new workforce that heads out to the market: the consequences are a high unemployment and under-employment rate. This contributes towards increasing the already worrying phenomenon of poverty that peaks considerably in the rural areas, significantly affecting the possibilities of accessing health services and schooling by much of the population, and particularly the children.

Our aimsHealth objective
Food objective
Education objective

How we workIndirectly, Intervita’s long-distance support helps approximately 275,000 people from the city of Legazpi, at the foot of the active volcano Mayón, in the south-west part of the island of Luzon in the province of Albay, region of Bicol. The support targets the children of 13 different towns, throughout two provinces of Bicol: 2 towns in the province of Camarines sur and 11 in the province of Albay.

Description of the project

HEALTH OBJECTIVE
To prevent disease, to improve the nutrition of children and to provide an efficient health service to the inhabitants of the communities. These are the objectives of the health programme that mainly targets school-age children of between 6 and 12 years old.
The programme extends the medical services and improves the health structures in schools and barangays (small local government units). The hospital structures shall also be extended with appropriate equipment, thereby improving the health service in the schools and barangays (local districts).

FOOD OBJECTIVE
The project consists of wellbeing and development activities aiming to reduce the problem of malnutrition amongst children. A full breakfast is distributed to prevent and treat malnutrition in 10,000 children from the schools with which Intervita works. Multivitamin complexes will also be supplied, however, to children from other schools not covered by the organisation's food programme.

EDUCATION OBJECTIVE
The projects implemented to improve the quality of the education system see the parents and teachers as the lead players. Refresher and training courses are organized to increase their involvement in children’s education.
In addition, the school structures will also be rebuilt and brought up to standard, by supplying furniture and tools for cleaning. Students and teachers will have teaching materials made available such as books, exercise books, pens and pencils.