SUMMARY
Kamay at Puso requests P/USD ______for the establishment and development of the Madapdap Community Center for families in the Madapdap and surrounding areas who are victims/survivors of toxic waste contamination in Pampanga, Philippines. The center will provide physical therapy treatment to children suffering from various disorders as a result of toxic waste contamination as well as serve as a locus for community leadership development and livelihood projects.
NEEDS ASSESSMENT
The Madapdap resettlement area in Pampanga, Philippines is currently the permanent home to numerous families that formerly lived in Porac, Pampanga, a once prosperous community located at the foot of volcano, Mt. Pinatubo. In June 1991, the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo buried Porac and surrounding areas in lahar (volcanic ash), forcing families to flee to evacuation camps established by the Philippine government at Clark Air Base Command (CABCOM) on the former Clark Air Force Base. Regrettably, this tent community that provided shelter to thousands of evacuated families was once used as a motor pool for the US military, a site for vehicle maintenance and dumping, leaving the area contaminated with hazardous substances including oil, lead, and mercury. Although they were not told that the evacuation site was a former motor pool, residents noticed greasy rainbow films on the surface of the water, yet had no other choice but to utilize the water for daily needs such as drinking, bathing, cooking, and laundering. As a result of several years living in this site and consuming its tainted water, the community has suffered from numerous health problems including cancers, kidney disorders, skin and respiratory problems, and more. Although CABCOM was intended to be only a temporary evacuation site, it would be several years before the families would permanently resettle in communities such as Madapdap and Santa Lucia, Pampanga. During this time, community members began to suffer from the effects of toxic contamination. Several women, for instance, have suffered from reproductive problems such as spontaneous miscarriages, still births, and infant deaths.
Currently, dozens of children who were conceived and/or born in CABCOM suffer from illnesses including leukemia, congenital heart disease, and cerebral palsy. Such disorders have left these children underweight and lacking in bodily function. However, these children warrant particular attention because their muscular incapacities are STILL treatable. Many of the families living in Madapdap and the surrounding communities do not have access to information or monetary resources in order to provide the necessary therapy for their children. It is the goal of the Madapdap Community Center to offer such resources and services to the community, within the community itself.
Initial Project - Madapdap Physical Therapy Transportation Fund, January 2004 - 2005
In August 2003, a group of 34 students participating in the Philippine exposure program, Tagalog-on-Site (TOS), visited various families in the Madapdap and Santa Lucia resettlement areas who have been affected by toxic waste contamination. The students witnessed the heartbreaking effects of hazardous substances on these families, particularly upon young children whose bodies were underdeveloped and immobile as a result of being conceived or born in CABCOM. After listening to stories of continued suffering, survival, and hope, the students, along with director, Susan Quimpo, and other organizers, devised a plan that would help provide physical therapy for ten to twelve children suffering from various disorders in the Madapdap and surrounding areas. The project involved seeking local physical therapy students who would provide free physical therapy for the children twice a week for a period of one year, beginning in January 2004. The TOS students gathered approximately P 78400 (USD 1400) in order to provide jeepney transportation for the children and their parent/guardian to and from the physical therapy center associated with a local hospital.
Evaluation of Initial Project
In January 2005, a small group of TOS alumni visited the Madapdap and surrounding communities in order to observe the progress of the children after twelve months of continued physical therapy. Of the ten participants, the following four children were visited:
Kevin Piring (6 yrs)
Kevin Piring has been identified as one of the success stories of the project as he has made great progress after one year of continued therapy. Before the physical therapy began, Kevin was neither able to lift his own head nor hold a spoon. After only five months of therapy, he was able to feed himself. Now, after about twelve months of continued therapy sessions, he is able to walk with the assistance of a walker. He is a very lively child, conscious of his surroundings, and likes to interact with people around him. During the recent visit to his home, he would smile/laugh upon hearing the word, “pogi.”
Jon Rafael aka “Boyong” (7yrs)
Boyong has also responded to therapy very well. Like many of the toxic waste victims in the community, Boyong’s blood contains high levels of mercury and lead. Unfortunately, he also suffers from Tuberculosis, or “Primary Complex.” After continued therapy sessions, Boyong, like Kevin, is now able to stand and walk with the assistance of a walker. Boyong’s mother, Susan, is thrilled with the results of the therapy and is thankful for our support.
Unfortunately, the other two children who were visited and observed – Abe Taruc and Leilani have not experienced as much success with physical therapy.
Abe Taruc (9 yrs)
Abe attended therapy sessions for a short period of time and then discontinued due to serious family problems that left his mother unable to accompany him to therapy sessions. Abe continuously drools and has little or no control over his limbs. At nine years of age, Abe’s body will soon be unable to respond to physical therapy. Therefore, organizers in the community have been encouraging Abe’s mother to resume therapy sessions for Abe.
Leilani (7 yrs)
Leilani has experienced only minimal progress after continued therapy sessions. Leilani is extremely malnourished – her diet consists of only milk, which leaves her with very little energy to endure the long jeepney ride to therapy sessions. She often vomits and cries during and after the drive to the therapy center and usually does not have enough strength to undergo the physical therapy. In addition, Leilani’s gums are in much pain because her permanent teeth have begun to develop while her baby teeth have not yet fallen out. Unfortunately, a visit to a dentist is not a luxury that she and her family have, and her stomach is too weak to ingest any pain reliever.
Although the progress of many of the children attending therapy sessions is encouraging, there is still much room for the project’s improvement and expansion. After speaking to the mothers of these children, it is apparent that the most difficult aspect of participating in the therapy sessions is undergoing the transportation. Oftentimes, the children (as well as the parents!) are nauseated by the one-hour long jeepney ride to the therapy center and are consequently discouraged to attend.
MADAPDAP COMMUNITY CENTER – PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Because jeepney transportation has posed problems for many of the families involved in the physical therapy project, Kamay at Puso wishes to establish a Community Center in Madapdap by renting and converting an empty home in the community into the proposed center. The center would offer physical therapy to children suffering from the effects of toxic waste contamination. A physical therapist would be hired to visit the community three times a week in order to provide children with physical therapy, thus alleviating most transportation inconveniences. In due course, it is our hope that the center will also serve as a locus for community development, empowerment, and livelihood.
Goals/Objectives
· To offer physical therapy services to the children of Madapdap and surrounding communities suffering from the effects of toxic waste contamination.
· To provide information and resources on the background/history of the situation in Madapdap
· To serve as a locus for community leadership development and livelihood projects
Update – Fall 2005 (Dianne’s Correspondance)
Abe Taruc:
Abe is now 10 years old. When we last visited him in January 2005, he had discontinued therapy due to family problems and the inability to endure the transportation. He had no control over his limbs and continuously drooled. He is in exactly the same state now as he was in January. Ate Elvie told us that doctors believe that he no longer has the chance to walk (because he's already reached 10 years of age), but if he were to continue therapy, there is a good chance that he would be able to sit up by himself. Ate Elvie is very excited that a Therapy Center will be available in the community and is eager to bring Abe.
Kevin Piring:
Kevin, known to be one of our "success stories" is still doing very well. Although therapy ended in March, his mother, Ate Tey, has been self-administering exercises and stretches to help keep his muscles active. She even acts as a home-school teacher for Kevin, having him identify different letters, numbers, and colors on charts/posters that they have at home. His favorite color is red. Kevin is still able to walk using his walker and is still very lively and aware of his surroundings. He is even able to point out those who are "maganda" in a group of people (he pointed out Ate Nerissa once). Ate Tey is also looking forward to the establishment of the Therapy Center because she is concerned that discontinuity in therapy will have an adverse effect on Kevin's progress.
Ambel Rose:
This was the first time I had met Ambel Rose. Ambel Rose lives in Santa Lucia, a neighboring resettlement community. I believe she is 8 years old and has cerebral palsy. Like Kevin, she has also responded very well to therapy. She even attends school and is able to carry light conversation. Unfortunately, her parents abandoned her soon after she was born and left her in the care of her now 71-year-old lola. Lola bikes Ambel Rose to school every morning. Their only source of livelihood comes from selling doormats (made of recycled cloth) at P10 each. Although Ambel Rose is doing very well, she is in need of an operation on her left foot in order for her to walk. Doctors say that the operation is simple, but it would cost P25000 ($447 USD). I think it would be a good idea to consider this when thinking about raising more funds for the Center.
NEEDS:
After visiting the community, Mario, Nerissa, Ate Susan, Ged (this year's TOS Logistics Officer - like Manel), and I met to discuss exactly what would be needed in order to get the Community/Therapy Center up and running. Right now, there is a house in Madapdap that we are ready to start renting at P1200/ month. First, the house needs to undergo a bit of construction. For instance, air conditioning needs to be installed and a wall needs to be erected designating the areas in the house to be used for therapy. Nerissa and Mario agreed to start working on that during the month of September. Mario has also agreed to supervise the Center in Pampanga, which for now, we think will be open Monday, Wednesday, Friday for therapy. Nerissa should also be working on compiling the case histories of the 10-12 children we will be serving. As for me, my plan for the first 6 months is to be based in Quezon City, working out of the TOS office. I plan to commute to Pampanga once a week and stay overnight in Madapdap (most likely at the center itself) in order to help oversee and document the progress of the center. With that, this is a very skeleton budget for the center for one year:
Rent: P1200 x 12 months P14,400($ 258)
Utilities: P1000 x 12 months P 12,000 ($ 215)
Therapists (Physical and Occupational) P12000 x 12 months P 144,000 ($ 2, 572)
Mario’s Salary P2500 x 12 months P 30,000 ($ 536)
Mario’s Transportation P1500 x 12 months P 18,000 ($ 322)
Dianne’s Transportation (once a week) P500 x 4wks x 6 mos P 12,000 ($ 215)
Dianne’s Food (while in Madapdap) P450 x 4 wks x 6 mos P 10,800 ($193)
Total P241,200 ($ 4,307)
The following are supplies/equipment that we also need (some of which can be donated):
Air Conditioner (2nd Hand)
Mattresses (3)
Ramp
Binders
Walkers
Sheets
Red Wine
In sum, considering that we have already raised over $3000.00 for this project, we only have about $1000.00 left to raise in order to guarantee the development and maintenance of the center for one year. So, let’s throw one more party! haha (seriously, our benefit parties have been very successful…) In addition to fundraising on your end, we have also been coming up with ideas to source funds/supplies on this end as well. So, rest assured that things are looking good. We’re really making this happen. I know this update is a bit informal, so please email me with any concerns or questions you all have after reading this. Before retreat time comes, I will hopefully be able to give you all a better idea of what else we will be needing and what else needs to be discussed.