Helping build houses for ‘Sendong’ survivors is a labor of love for some 2,000 youth volunteers, who spent their weekends during the summer vacation in the Calaanan Resettlement Site.

“These ‘summer weekend builds’ strengthen our socio-civic spirit and participation in community affairs. We also become aware of the plight of our less fortunate countrymen and appreciate our blessings in life,” some of the youth volunteers said.

The youth volunteers, mostly college students from various schools and colleges in Mindanao, work hand in hand with the cash-for-work beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and volunteers from the two international humanitarian organizations namely, Habitat for Humanity and All Hands, in building houses for ‘Sendong’ survivors.

An average of 400 youths every weekend join the “summer build.” The youth volunteers come from International School and Faith Academy in Davao City; Lyceo de Cagayan, Capitol University, Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST) and Xavier University.

On the other hand, helping disaster-stricken people is the mission of All Hands, a US-based non- profit volunteer organization dedicated to empowering disaster relief volunteers around the world.

Matt Engel, who supervises the core of 16 volunteers of All Hands working in the resettlement site said that “we are happy to help the people of Cagayan de Oro who were affected by typhoon ‘Sendong’ in December 2011. They have suffered so much and building the houses for the survivors is one way of helping them recover and start a new life.”

“We are rushing because we want to finish before the rains come in. The beneficiaries, I heard, are eager to transfer to their new homes.” Matt enthused.

During the turnover ceremony of 700 shelter units for “Sendong’ survivors held recently at the Calaanan Permanent Resettlement Site, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman assured the beneficiaries that the remaining 7000 houses will be completed by the end of August 2012. ###