Stories of Resiliency : An Evaluation Report on the Typhoon Rai Project in the Philippines

On December 16, 2021, Super Typhoon Odette (International Name: Rai) made landfall in the Philippines and brought strong winds, massive floods, and landslides affecting  11 out of the country’s 17 regions. According to the report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the typhoon affected around 2.3 million families and caused the death of 406 individuals. The wrath of the typhoon damaged an estimated 2.1 million houses, of which 426,000 were destroyed and caused the displacement of 339,574 individuals (inside and outside evacuation centres). 

Findings from the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) conducted by Bidlisiw Foundation, Inc. and the Center for Empowerment and Development in Eastern Visayas (CoPE) revealed the vulnerability of children to violence and exploitation as a result of Super Typhoon Odette and the pandemic. Families encountered difficulties looking for clean water and energy (light) sources due to the wide-scale blackout and had no access to gasoline or fuel. Damage to assets and livelihood losses also contributed to the worsening economic condition of impoverished families which forced children and youth to work. Some women and girls work as waitresses in bars and other entertainment establishments while others engage as household helpers. These types of economic activities make women susceptible to violence and sexual abuse. Some were also pressured by their friends which leads to sexual exploitation through pimps when they travel outside of their community.

To support children and their families who were affected by the Super Typhoon Rai and in line with its goal of stopping child exploitation and mobilising change so that children can continue to be children especially in emergency situations, Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH NL) in the Philippines, together with its partners, Bidlisiw Foundation, Inc. and the Center for Empowerment and Development of People’s Organizations in Eastern Visayas (CoPE), has implemented an emergency response project called Child Protection Support to Children and Families Affected by Super Typhoon Rai. The project was able to raise the awareness of 1,060 children and 480 adults on protection risks and what can be done to address them, and it was able to support 3,224 affected children and families through the provision of 303 shelter repair kits, provision of psychosocial support to 552 children, cash assistance for 59 families, and 32 referrals to the proper authorities for specialised needs such as Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS). Under this initiative, reporting and referral mechanisms were also established and strengthened at the local level to effectively address cases of child abuse and exploitation.

In relation to this, an independent project evaluation, entitled “Stories of Resiliency: A Final Evaluation Report on Child Protection Support to Children and Families Affected by Typhoon Rai'' was commissioned by TdH NL to determine the project’s key results, particularly focusing on significant lessons learned, replicable practices, and coming up with programmatic recommendations that can inform the organisation’s future programming. The evaluation examined the extent to which the project has brought meaningful results for project beneficiaries and identified key areas that can be replicated in similar contexts.