Young Pioneer Disaster Response – Cebu

The YPT disaster response team has finally arrived in Cebu after ferry delays and a 24 hour sailing from Manila. Initial challenges, such as loading and unloading the ship (including a very heavy generator), securing gear, and setting security were met by our volunteers with enthusiasm.

This afternoon we commandeered the ship’s conference room and laid out our short term plan for our 24 hour stay in Cebu and our move to the Bantayan base camp on the 7th of December. We will meet up with more volunteers joining our group tomorrow in Cebu, as well as procure more construction equipment. We bought all the hard to find gear in Manila, in Cebu we will pick up shovels, hammers, and cooking gear.

Our short term goal is to repair 5 island schools damaged by Typhoon Yolanda, but once the schools are built we want to continue our focus on the island, developing long term disaster preparedness facilities and training, as well as get the local economy back on its feat by developing responsible tourism.

As always we need your donations to keep this project rolling!

http://igg.me/at/Typhoon-Yolanda-Relief

Getting ready to move the generator.

Ferry to Cebu.

Grab a box! Hanging at the ferry terminal.

Planning conference on the ferry ride to Cebu.

Planning conference on the ferry ride to Cebu.

Passing Bantayan Island, site of our relief efforts.

Passing Bantayan Island, site of our relief efforts.