Participants:
Series Code: IIWC
Program Code: IIWC202310S
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00:01 - I've heard it said
00:02 that when you get to the end of the road, 00:04 there's a good chance that you'll find an ADRA project. 00:07 - And we are literally at the end of the road 00:10 and we're still not there. 00:11 We've still got another two hours to go. 00:13 We're gonna get on a watercraft called a bangka boat 00:16 and get to our next project, our ADRA project, 00:20 which is on a remote island. 00:23 - So come and join us as we discover 00:25 how ADRA Canada is changing lives in a small, 00:30 little remote fishing village in the Philippines. 00:33 Let's go. - Let's go. 00:35 (soft guitar music) 00:45 (gentle music) 00:55 (gentle music continues) 01:05 (gentle music continues) 01:15 (gentle music continues) 01:21 (water rushing) (indistinct chattering) 01:27 (gentle music) 01:37 (gentle music continues) 01:47 (gentle music continues) 01:56 Welcome back to "It Is Written Canada." 01:58 We made it here after that amazing crossing of the ocean 02:02 to Sumaoy, this little barangay on this island. 02:08 And we are here with Steve Matthews, who is the CEO of 02:11 ADRA Canada, and also Teresa Ferrera, 02:16 who's with philanthropy and marketing at ADRA Canada. 02:19 And you've brought us all the way over here 02:22 to show us around and show us the projects 02:24 that you are doing in this area. 02:27 - Steve and Teresa, thank you so much for inviting 02:30 Mark and I with you on this amazing trip 02:33 to see what ADRA Canada is doing in this remote village. 02:37 - And thanks so much for taking the time outta your schedule 02:40 to be able to join us as well. 02:42 It's a real pleasure to have both of you here 02:44 to see the work that we're doing in the field. 02:46 - Steve, I guess to begin with you, 02:48 tell us about what has happened in this area. 02:52 You've been here for like a decade, 02:54 like about more than 10 years. 02:56 - Yeah, so this barangay that we're working in here 02:59 and a number of other ones in the area 03:02 were first part of our EMBRACE Project. 03:04 And the EMBRACE Project was a four year project 03:07 where we basically focused on a number of different things 03:09 from basically women and children, maternal health, 03:13 helping to work with nutrition, helping to ensure that, 03:17 you know, safe deliveries of children, 03:20 making sure that women could get to birthing facilities 03:23 within time so they're not having to have them in, 03:26 you know, in the village, that sort of thing. 03:28 So really trying to work on that side of things. 03:31 And then just the importance of that first thousand days 03:34 of life of a child 03:36 and why it's so important to have good high nutrition 03:39 in an area where stunting and, you know, malnutrition 03:45 was actually quite significant. 03:46 - So that's starting with conception 03:50 all the way to first three years? 03:51 - [Steve] Yes. 03:53 - Of life of the child, making sure that that health 03:55 is taken care of. 03:56 - Absolutely. 03:57 And then now the project that we're here visiting now 03:59 is the TOGETHER Project, 04:01 which is building on the foundation of that project 04:04 of EMBRACE. 04:05 Both projects are funded by the Canadian government 04:08 and they've, through that support we've been able 04:12 to continue this work here in the community. 04:14 - Teresa, could you elaborate and explain to us more 04:18 about the TOGETHER Project? 04:20 - Sure. 04:21 So back in 2013, 04:22 we had an emergency response here in the Philippines. 04:25 Through that emergency response, 04:27 it enabled us to seek out remote areas 04:30 and the most vulnerable in those areas, 04:33 and then to come alongside 04:34 and do actual community, personal development programs 04:38 and projects. 04:39 With that, we were able to start the EMBRACE project. 04:43 Beyond EMBRACE, we have now gone into TOGETHER. 04:46 And this is a six year project. 04:48 TOGETHER in particular, 04:50 it focuses on what we did in EMBRACE, 04:52 but then it goes a step further, 04:54 and actually looks at adolescence 04:56 and desiring for them to make positive changes 05:00 and choices in their lives. 05:01 Specifically connected to preventing teen pregnancy, 05:05 preventing early marriage, for the health of the girl, 05:09 as well as focusing on gender-based violence. 05:12 And so we desire, more than anything, 05:15 for them not to just have the tools in their belt 05:18 to make these choices, 05:19 but to empower them that these are wise, healthy choices 05:23 for them, as well as the health of the community. 05:25 So that's TOGETHER. 05:27 - So I just have to ask, Steve, why such a remote location? 05:31 Why does ADRA go to such remote places on the planet? 05:36 - Well, typically what we find are people 05:39 that live in those remote communities are often 05:41 some of the most vulnerable people in the world. 05:44 They don't have access to services. 05:46 Oftentimes, governments aren't even able to provide services 05:49 to people in those communities, 05:51 which results in that vulnerability being there. 05:55 So that's where ADRA comes in, 05:57 is to really try to bridge that gap and be able to help 05:59 in communities where services may be a lot more limited 06:03 than you would have in more major centers, 06:06 easier to get to regions. 06:08 So that's a real big factor behind why we 06:10 select places like this beautiful area 06:13 that we've traveled to two hours beyond the end of the road. 06:17 - Yeah, and it's quite a close-knit community, 06:19 I could see that, just from when we got off the boat, 06:21 they were there with signs and saying, "Welcome ADRA Canada" 06:25 and just, you know, embracing us. 06:28 - Yeah, absolutely. 06:29 - So they're obviously so grateful 06:31 for the work that you are doing over here. 06:33 If you have the whole village with these beautiful signs, 06:36 welcoming you to come onto, you know, welcoming you, yeah. 06:42 - And when you talk to the people, 06:44 you're gonna see such an authentic appreciation, right? 06:47 That they see a difference, they feel a difference, 06:50 and they desire more than anything 06:53 for us to continue, right? 06:55 To be here with them, but at the same time, 06:58 we see them own it, it becomes theirs, right? 07:01 And so, it's beautiful. 07:02 - And that's where it really comes down to a partnership. 07:05 Because we're able to partner with the local communities. 07:08 Not just with the community members, 07:10 but also with, you know, the local governments 07:13 and really come together to help make 07:15 a real positive change in the communities we work in. 07:19 - Well, Steve and Teresa, we are really looking forward 07:22 to meeting some of these people and just talking to them 07:26 and visiting with them. 07:27 So thank you once again 07:29 for this amazing opportunity you've given us here. 07:32 - We are honored to be here 07:34 with one of the community partners, Metos. 07:38 Metos, thank you so much 07:40 for joining us on "It Is Written Canada." 07:43 - Thank you for being here 07:44 and thank you for visiting our barangay, Sumaoy. 07:47 - So Metos, what is your role that you play 07:53 as a partner with, a community partner here at With ADRA? 07:57 - Currently, I am a member of the [Indistinct] Committee 08:00 of ADRA here in Somoay. 08:02 The [Indistinct] Committee conducts data 08:04 gathering through surveys. 08:05 We analyze all this data 08:08 so that we can have a more informed understanding 08:10 of the issues facing the barangay. 08:13 - Metos, tell us about your family. 08:18 - I have four children. 08:20 I'm a single parent, 08:22 so it is a struggle to raise these children by myself. 08:25 I have no idea where my husband is. 08:29 He went to find work in Manila 08:31 and no one has heard anything from him since that day. 08:35 - So Metos, you have no idea where your husband is? 08:39 How long has he been away for? 08:43 - I have no idea where my husband is. 08:46 He just literally disappeared. 08:48 No one has heard from him for six years now. 08:53 - That's awful. 08:54 - So no communication. 08:56 What do you think happened to him? 09:00 - We don't have an inkling of what happened to him. 09:04 No one has heard from him, not even his own family members. 09:10 - Okay. - That's terrible. 09:11 - So you must, so you have four children? 09:15 What ages are they? 09:16 - 19 and 15 and then nine and then seven. 09:22 - That is a big responsibility for you, 09:24 to have to raise these children, 09:27 four young children on your own. 09:29 You don't know where your husband is. 09:34 - It is a really big responsibility 09:36 to raise these four children, technically as a single mom, 09:41 but I have no other choice. 09:45 - So you're very involved in your community here. 09:48 What do you do for work? 09:50 How do you gain an income? 09:56 - I grow seaweed for market 09:58 and I also help my uncle and his business, 10:00 making fishing nets. 10:03 - Metos, can you tell us about 10:05 how has ADRA helped you personally over the years? 10:09 Have you been a part of the EMBRACE Project? 10:16 - ADRA has been a wonderful help to me. 10:19 The EMBRACE Project taught us many things 10:21 about how to raise our children, 10:23 how to play with our children, 10:25 how to have patience, 10:26 and develop good relationships with our children. 10:29 The big thing that EMBRACE taught us 10:32 was the importance of providing a balanced, 10:34 nutritional diet. 10:37 - So Metos, can you tell us a little bit about 10:40 your kitchen garden and how that has helped 10:43 with the nutrition for your children. 10:48 - It has been a really big advantage for our family 10:51 to have a kitchen garden. 10:52 We don't have to worry about food, 10:55 we just get our food every day from the garden. 10:58 And the nice thing 11:00 is that we know that our vegetables are safe to consume, 11:02 because we don't use any chemical fertilizers. 11:05 I have even taught my children how to grow vegetables. 11:08 I made sure that they understood how important 11:11 vegetables are for a healthy life. 11:15 - Metos, how has ADRA helped you and some of your neighbors 11:21 in, concerning savings and loans? 11:24 How have they helped you? 11:28 - ADRA's Savings and Loans Program, BOLSA as it is called, 11:32 is really a great idea. 11:34 We have learned how to save money 11:36 and when there is an emergency, 11:38 we now have a place we can go to get a small loan. 11:43 - Metos, you were very involved with the ADRA 11:46 Embrace Project, when they brought it here to Sumaoy Village 11:51 and now the TOGETHER Project is here. 11:55 Why did you choose to be involved in that project too? 12:04 - The TOGETHER Project is the perfect follow-up 12:06 to the EMBRACE project. 12:08 TOGETHER is teaching us strategies on how 12:11 to raise our teenage children. 12:13 I have two teens right now, and so the information 12:16 that I am learning has been very helpful, 12:18 but it's not just for the parents. 12:21 ADRA has formed the young people of our barangay 12:23 into small groups, where they discuss all of the challenges 12:27 of going through adolescence. 12:29 There are boys groups and girls groups. 12:32 They talk about everything from good hygiene 12:34 to having respect for others 12:37 to avoiding teenage pregnancy and early marriage. 12:41 As a single mother raising teenagers, 12:44 I have often prayed to God for help. 12:48 I believe that he cares for us all, that he listens, 12:51 and he provides help when we need it most. 12:54 In many ways, ADRA has been the answer to my prayers. 12:58 I cannot tell you how thankful I am for ADRA 13:01 and the TOGETHER Project. 13:03 Thank you, ADRA. 13:06 - Metos, I can tell that you and the village are so grateful 13:11 for everything that ADRA has done for you, 13:14 because we had such a warm welcome 13:16 when we came in on our boats. 13:18 The whole village with was there, 13:20 with these beautiful signs welcoming us. 13:23 And so it's been an honor for "It Is Written Canada" 13:26 to join you today at your village. 13:29 Thank you for having us. 13:31 - And thank you also for being here. 13:33 Thank you for visiting our barangay. Thank you. 13:37 God bless. 13:39 - Okay, so here's a lady that I would like you to meet. 13:42 This is Mary Ann. 13:44 She is involved both in EMBRACE and TOGETHER project. 13:47 - Hi, Mary Ann. My name is Mike. 13:49 - I'm Mary Ann [Indistinct] 13:52 - And I'm Rene. Nice to meet you, Mary Ann. 13:54 Thank you so much for having us here. 14:00 - I was born in this part of the Philippines 14:02 on an island near here. 14:04 I finished high school 14:06 and went to work at a store on the mainland 14:08 after I graduated. 14:10 It was here that I met my husband. 14:13 We dated for three years 14:15 and then we were married when I was 24. 14:18 We now have four kids, two boys and two girls. 14:22 When we got pregnant with our first child, 14:25 we needed to make a decision about where we would live 14:28 and raise our children. 14:31 The cost of living is much higher on the mainland, 14:34 so we decided to move back here to Sumaoy, 14:36 where my husband grew up and has his family home. 14:40 Here, there would be no rent 14:43 and we would be able to find much of our food from the sea. 14:50 I have to say that I really like living here in Sumaoy. 14:54 It is a very beautiful place to live. 14:57 It is peaceful, quiet, with no pollution. 15:01 You can breathe fresh air here. 15:06 But on the downside, it is difficult to make a living here. 15:12 My husband is a fisherman. 15:14 He and a friend of his go out together, 15:17 because it is not safe to try and put out the nets alone. 15:21 The two of them are often out most of the night. 15:25 In the morning when they return, 15:27 they remove the fish and other creatures from the nets 15:30 and divide up the catch. 15:33 The old saying is still true. 15:36 Sometimes you are lucky and sometimes you are not so lucky. 15:42 On a good night, the nets have lots of fish. 15:45 On other nights, there is only enough 15:47 to make a small meal for the family. 15:50 Sometimes they return empty-handed. 15:55 After expenses, we would make about 2000 pesos a month 15:59 from fishing. 16:01 Sometimes I would tell my husband he should go to Manila 16:03 to find work to make more money, 16:06 but he prefers to stay here to be with the family. 16:11 (gentle music) 16:16 ADRA has been a big help for our family. 16:20 During the EMBRACE Project, 16:22 ADRA gave us training on organic gardening 16:24 and provided us with seeds and tools. 16:28 I started growing eggplant, mung beans, tomatoes, 16:32 squash, papaya, and cassava on a small hillside farm 16:36 above the flood zone of the sea. 16:40 What started out as a small kitchen garden 16:43 has grown into a market garden. 16:46 I am now making a good income from the garden. 16:50 With the profits, I am able to buy milk for the baby 16:53 and things we need for our home. 16:57 With the business training that we got from ADRA 17:00 and a small loan, I was able to start a small bakery 17:04 that brings in a steady income. 17:08 One aspect of the EMBRACE training 17:10 that has had a big impact in our home 17:13 was the information we were given on gender equality 17:16 and the sharing of household rules. 17:19 We learned that when couples share tasks 17:21 and responsibilities in the home, 17:23 that it can really help the family and marriage 17:26 to grow stronger. 17:28 We gave it a try and found it to be true. 17:33 My husband now helps out with things like washing clothes 17:37 and I am helping him mend his fishing nets. 17:41 Working together and sharing tasks 17:43 really does help bring people closer together. 17:48 I think we both now have a much better understanding 17:50 of the rules that each of us used to shoulder on our own. 17:54 It has made our marriage stronger. 18:02 The education that we are getting now 18:04 with the TOGETHER project is all about raising teenagers. 18:10 That has been a perfect timing for us. 18:13 As three of my children right now are in their teens. 18:16 As parents, we have learned a lot about how 18:19 to have good lines of open communication 18:22 that develop mutual respect. 18:26 TOGETHER has special groups just for the youth to meet, 18:29 where they learn about all of the changes 18:31 that their bodies are going through 18:33 and how to make positive choices for a healthy life. 18:38 ADRA has taught us a lot over the years 18:41 that has helped us uplift our lives. 18:44 We no longer think about moving away to find a better life. 18:47 We have found a better life right here thanks to ADRA. 18:54 (gentle music) 19:03 (gentle music continues) 19:16 - We have just made our way over to Alvin and Emmi's 19:20 little coconut farm and Alvin and Emmi, 19:22 you have this coconut farm here. 19:24 You use every part of the coconut. 19:27 You just cut some down from the tree and gave them to us, 19:30 pulled them down with your big hook, 19:32 very strong to be able to do that. 19:35 And then you cut them open. 19:37 We drank some of the water 19:38 and ate some of the jelly, flesh that's inside there. 19:43 What's the process? What do you do here? 19:45 To get the coconut all cut to pieces 19:49 and use every single part of it, I understand? 19:58 - First, we pull the coconuts down from the tree 20:01 with a hook. 20:02 Then, we gather the coconuts and bring them to this shelter 20:06 by a sled pulled by a caribou. 20:10 It is here that we start the process 20:12 of peeling the husk from the shell. 20:16 We then crack them open 20:17 and cook the coconuts to make it easier 20:20 to separate the coconut meat from the husk. 20:23 Oil can be extracted from the meat 20:26 and we are able to sell the rest in the market. 20:29 It is used primarily for feeding livestock. 20:35 The husks themselves can be used to make charcoal. 20:39 We use some of this charcoal in our own home for cooking 20:42 and sell the rest in the market. 20:45 - Okay, so Alvin, this process is hard work, 20:49 but I can see that's why you're so strong, right? 20:53 So, but this is a beautiful place. It is so beautiful here. 20:57 You're right by the ocean, there's coconut trees. 20:59 So much greenery. 21:01 So tell us what you love about being here on this village. 21:09 - I love this place, because it is home for me. 21:12 I was born here, I grew up here. 21:16 It is sometimes hard to make a living here. 21:19 After our expenses, we are making only about 3000 pesos 21:24 each month from our coconut farm. 21:28 But this has been the family business now 21:31 for three generations. 21:33 My grandfather was the one to start working this land. 21:38 I tried working in Manila as a security guard for a while, 21:43 but I missed my family. 21:46 When the children would get sick, 21:47 they would keep asking for their papa. 21:51 Sometimes life is difficult here, 21:55 but through the grace of God, 21:57 we are still eating 21:59 and getting what we need for our daily life. 22:03 I have no plans of going back to Manila. 22:07 I see myself growing old here. 22:10 - You know what, Alvin, 22:11 I wouldn't mind growing old here, either. 22:14 It is so beautiful over here with the sunshine and the ocean 22:18 and so, it's beautiful. 22:19 What about you, Emmi? 22:21 What do you love about being here on this island? 22:29 - When I first moved here, 22:30 I was not sure that I would be able to survive here. 22:34 I was not born here. 22:35 I grew up in a place that was quite a bit different, 22:38 but because this is where my husband is from, 22:41 I decided that I would move here and raise our family here. 22:46 But through the years, 22:47 I have really grown to love this place. 22:50 One of the things that I really like here 22:52 is that the fish that we catch here is always so fresh. 22:57 - Emmi, I can relate to you, 22:59 because I followed my husband all the way to Canada 23:03 and it's become home for me too, with my children. 23:06 So I know how you feel. 23:08 In the beginning it was really hard, 23:10 but I followed you, didn't I? 23:12 - You did. 23:13 - All the way from South Africa. 23:14 - That's right. To Canada. 23:15 Not to this beautiful village here 23:17 in the Philippines, though. 23:19 Yeah, this is very nice. 23:20 So tell us about how ADRA has affected your life. 23:24 How has ADRA helped you as a farmer, a coconut farmer? 23:35 - ADRA has been a huge help to our family 23:38 and the whole Barangay. 23:41 We make a point of applying everything 23:43 that ADRA has taught us into everything that we do. 23:48 In particular, the education of kitchen gardening 23:52 has been very helpful. 23:54 We no longer have to buy vegetables. 23:57 We have a ready supply. 24:00 We are also very thankful for the comfort room 24:03 that ADRA helped us build. 24:08 - In addition, we are very thankful for the gardening tools 24:11 and seeds that we received from ADRA. 24:14 Of all of the training that ADRA has given us, 24:17 the sessions that I have appreciated the most 24:20 are the ones that dealt with raising children. 24:24 The EMRBACE Project started with conception, 24:27 teaching us about the importance of good nutrition 24:30 for the first 1000 days, starting with the mother 24:34 through pregnancy, right after birth, 24:37 and through early childhood. 24:39 And now, the TOGETHER Project is teaching us how 24:43 to bring our children through puberty and adolescence. 24:47 In our groups, we learn 24:49 how to nurture positive relationships 24:51 with our children through the teenage years. 24:56 - So Emmi and Alvin, it's so great that you have really 25:01 embraced and you've taken everything 25:03 that ADRA has brought to you, yeah, 25:05 especially with the TOGETHER Project. 25:07 And they've come to this remote village 25:10 and helped you to learn so much and to educate you. 25:14 And so I know that you are very grateful to ADRA 25:18 and the work that they've done over here 25:20 for you in your village and your community. 25:25 - Alvin and Emmi, thank you so much for welcoming us here 25:27 to your coconut farm and also for sharing with us 25:33 what ADRA has done for you. 25:35 - Thank you very much, Mike and Rene for visiting 25:38 our beautiful base barangay, Sumaoy. 25:41 - Thank you very much. 25:44 - Steve and Teresa, thank you so much for bringing us 25:47 to this beautiful, pristine island, beautiful location. 25:51 I mean, I'm standing out here on the beach 25:53 and I'm thinking to myself, "Wow, I can't believe I'm here. 25:55 This is like a picture, I'm living in this." 25:58 - The big question I have is why does ADRA do what it does? 26:04 What is your mission in ADRA? 26:08 - Well, I can answer by sharing 26:11 what our purpose statement is. 26:12 Our purpose is to serve humanity 26:15 so all may live as God intended. 26:17 And that's really why we do the work that we do, 26:19 is when you look around this world, you know, 26:21 God didn't intend for people to be suffering in poverty 26:26 or dealing with the many struggles, the wars, 26:29 the conflicts that people go through. 26:32 So ADRA is there to kind of be that, 26:37 those hands and feet of Christ, 26:39 to be able to meet people in their time of need. 26:42 Our motto is "Justice, compassion, love." 26:44 And I just think that's just such a great way 26:47 to go about the purpose of why we're here. 26:52 - Thank you both, Steve and Teresa. 26:53 Next time that we are going to have an ADRA episode, 26:57 which we'll probably air in about two months time, 26:59 tell us where we're going to be going to. 27:01 - Yeah, so we're going to the mystery village, 27:04 so we're gonna have to wait and see 27:06 what that's gonna be about, 27:08 but I do know that there's going to be a boat ride again. 27:10 Looking forward to that. 27:11 Get going to the next location. 27:13 - Awesome. 27:15 - Friends, if you have been inspired by the mission 27:17 and passion of ADRA Canada, 27:19 and would like to contribute to their work 27:22 in the Philippines and around the world, 27:25 then here's the information you need. 27:32 - Before you go, we would also like to invite you 27:34 to follow us on Instagram and Facebook 27:36 and subscribe to our YouTube channel, 27:38 and also listen to our podcasts. 27:40 And if you go to our website, 27:42 you can see our latest programs. 27:45 - You too can experience the fullness of life 27:48 found in the words of Jesus when he said, 27:51 "It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, 27:55 but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." 28:02 (gentle music) 28:14 (water rushing) 28:18 (gentle music) 28:27 (gentle music continues) 28:36 (gentle music continues) 28:43 (children laughing) 28:47 - This is a drink that doesn't need 28:49 to be cold to be refreshing. 28:50 It's refreshing as it is. 28:53 (gentle music) |
Revised 2023-11-30