The focus of the Early Recovery and Rehabilitation workers of MiHANDs is the capacitation of the victims and survivors of the Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). This is ensuring that efforts and activities during this phase should be geared towards sustainability anchored on peoples (survivors) participation. The process is actually helping them to transform themselves from “victims” to becoming resourceful survivors.
Hence, the series of trainings conducted by the volunteers of MiHANDs have been
implemented to achieve two objectives, namely; building and strengthening social infrastructures at the same time answering the immediate economic needs of the survivors – hence building local economic infrastructure.
In launching the three (3) seminars on Disaster Risk Reduction on 164 participants in three barangays, the MiHANDs volunteers also conducted organizing skills seminar. As a result, people’s organization had been organized in women’s groups, farmers, fisher folks and the youth. Even the senior citizens requested them (volunteers) to help them in building their organization.
It should be recalled in the earlier updates that MiHANDs volunteers came to know that there were no people’s organization in the areas.
In the process of MiHAND’s engagement in the different Humanitarian activities and building social infrastructure other issues have surfaced like the land tenurial issues, illegal fishing, and the existence of local political dynasties. The survivors have directly asked MiHANDs volunteers to help them address such basic concerns. Serious steps have been considered by MiHANDs in addressing social issues and concerns while addressing the immediate humanitarian needs of the survivors despite the advice of some International Non-Government Organization that these concerns should not be addressed.

Before the MiHANDS volunteers had their holy week break, a seminar on food processing had been conducted with all women in attendance (more than 50 of them). This is geared to both making their livelihood at the same time providing their families with non-expensive but nutritious foods from the available materials in their communities.
Earlier, MiHANDs conducted an activity together with a multinational company UNILEVER which provided the health materials like toothpaste, toothbrush and soap.
The activity was called washing of hands conducted with 183 primary students from kinder to grade six. The teachers also actively participated. This is a way of using the materials even from multinational corporation to promote an awareness for children on the importance of basic hygiene – like washing ones hands.

Mi-HANDs
To send donations to support Mi-HANDs action
The international funding campaign continues. Donations can be sent through ESSF.
Cheques
cheques to ESSF in euros only, payable in France, to be sent to:
ESSF
2, rue Richard-Lenoir
93100 Montreuil
France
Bank Account:
Crédit lyonnais
Agence de la Croix-de-Chavaux (00525)
10 boulevard Chanzy
93100 Montreuil
France
ESSF, account number 445757C
International bank account details :
IBAN : FR85 3000 2005 2500 0044 5757 C12
BIC / SWIFT : CRLYFRPP
Account holder : ESSF
Through PayPal
You can send money through Paypal: see the PayPal button on the upper left side of ESSF home page [English version of Paypal form is on the English Home page].
https://www.paypal.com/fr/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=HYicOYx_ee-jYpZ4KT0Lb30CFQ__alLhQDaCsf2UhDzHgORSJCLJk_DiCqy&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8def8934b92a630e40b7fef61ab7e9fe63
We will keep you informed through our website of the state of the permanent solidarity fund and how it is utilized.