We had taken on a sponsorship for Majoy from the Pilippines (Northern Samar). Majoy and her family have left the community in the Plan project area. For us, this means that this sponsorship has unfortunately come to an end. We wish Majoy and her family all the best for the future.

Here are some background information about Majoy:

Majoys Family

Majoy is the second youngest of three siblings. Together with her mother, grandmother, younger brother and older sister, she lives in the Northern Samar area of the Philippines.

Housing conditions and health

Majoy’s family lives in a house made of bamboo and clay with a metal roof and an earthen floor. The family uses electricity for cooking.

Access to

Water: The family gets most of its water from a public water supply. It takes them less than five minutes to fetch water.

Sanitation: The family does not have toilet facilities.

Health facilities: The nearest health facility is less than 30 minutes away. Majoy has received all the basic vaccinations. According to the family, Majoy is healthy and has no serious illness.

Welcome to the Philippines

The Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia, stretching across the western Pacific Ocean and comprising 7,641 islands. With a geography shaped by water, the Philippines has one of the longest coastlines in the world. The diverse landscapes are characterised by mountains, dense forests, plains and coastal areas and are home to a unique biodiversity with a variety of endemic animal and plant species. The official languages are Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English. In total, however, between 120 and 170 different Filipino language varieties are spoken.

The Northern Samar project area

Northern Samar is a province in the Eastern Visayas region. To the east is the Philippine Sea and to the west the Samar Sea. The houses of the families in Northern Samar are typically made of concrete or, in the mountainous regions, of light building materials. Most households have access to electricity and clean water. However, the hygiene situation is still a concern, as many houses near rivers, coasts and forests do not have their own toilets. Many residents earn their income mainly through agriculture, growing rice, coconuts, bananas and Manila hemp. They also raise livestock and poultry. In the coastal areas, many people live from fishing and run aquacultures.

Plans to improve the lives of children

54% of the population live in poverty                                

73% of people have access to clean water            

45% of the population are children unter 18 years of age                                                                                                 

Disaster Preparedness

Due to its geographical location, Northern Samar is regularly affected by natural disasters. The local government is often unable to provide effective disaster management and the necessary resources. Plan International conducts emergency training to help communities cope with the aftermath of disasters. We also provide hygiene kits to reduce the spread of disease. Communities are now better able to respond to disasters and recover from the aftermath.

Access to health care

Poor maternal health, food shortages and poor hygiene practices mean that malnutrition rates are high in Northern Samar. We train health workers to support good nutrition and help establish working groups to promote good nutrition habits. We are also reactivating the community nutrition council to develop action plans for the benefit of the community.

Economic empowerment of youth

Early pregnancy and poverty are two reasons why many children in Northern Samar drop out of school. Plan International provides flexible learning opportunities and vocational training courses for school dropouts so that they can develop their skills and complete their education. As a result, young people have better economic opportunities and are more secure for the future.

Child protection

Violations of women’s and children’s rights still occur and are increasing every year. We work to better protect children by training volunteers on positive parenting techniques, supporting child protection awareness campaigns and holding youth rights protection meetings. This has strengthened protection against all forms of neglect, abuse, exploitation and violence, including online sexual abuse.

Child health and nutrition

Malnutrition among young children is a major problem in the Northern Samar region. As many families live in poverty and lack knowledge about good nutrition, they cannot feed their children healthily. Poor maternal health and lack of hygiene result in many young children suffering from preventable diseases. The growing number of teenage pregnancies has a negative impact on children’s health, so Plan International has provided sexual and reproductive health education to young people. To promote maternal and infant health, training was provided to over 370 pregnant women and young mothers. Women were educated about the importance of breastfeeding and healthy infant feeding. Eleven schools received support to establish vegetable gardens to provide healthy and nutritious food for school children. 43 health workers were able to increase their knowledge of infant nutrition and development, providing resources and support to the community for better health.

Action in the Corona Crisis

The COVID-19 crisis hit families in Northern Samar incredibly hard. Families had already suffered from poverty before. Many parents are unable to earn an income and cannot afford to feed their children. To help these people survive the crisis, Plan International provided financial assistance to 5,559 needy families. This support enabled parents to purchase food as well as other essential household products. In addition, 2,000 face masks were provided to families in need. Education is key to preventing the spread of infections. Therefore, 49 villages received educational posters with messages about the importance of washing hands with soap, wearing masks and keeping minimum distances.

Your contribution changes lives

With your support, we will continue to protect children’s rights so that children can thrive.

  • In the coming year, we will continue to raise awareness of children’s rights and support local child protection committees so that children can lead safe lives.

  • We will help communities adapt living conditions to climate change and develop emergency plans so that the most vulnerable people can be brought to safety.

  • To provide improved opportunities for young people, especially young women, to acquire the vocational skills they need to get a good job or start their own small business.

  • To ensure access to education during the COVID 19 pandemic, teachers will be supported to provide alternative learning opportunities. In addition, learning and school materials are provided to children in need.

These are just some of the many ways your support will continue to impact the lives of our sponsored child and other children in Northern Samar.