Hi all, 

As some of you may or may not know, I've been volunteering in Tacloban, Philippines for a little over six weeks to help with the rebuilding and the restoration of the city after the disaster of Typhoon Yolanda. I've helped build transitional shelters, helped families move into their new homes, dug trenches in the heat, hammered nails in new floorboards for bunkhouses, shovelling, cement mixing and generally just getting dirty for the cause. 

On the 8th of November 2013, Super-typhoon Yolanda hit the islands of Samar and Leyte. Nearly one year on All Hands Volunteers are still here and dedicated to helping the victims of Yolanda who are still suffering from the immediate effects of the disaster. They are homeless, helpless, but not hopeless; relying on organisations to provide them a home so that they can rebuild their lives. These families are waiting for their turn to get a helping hand.

Since March 2014 we have built 146 transitional shelters and 2 core homes. Although huge progress has been made, 31,000 of those affected by the typhoon still go to bed each night without adequate housing. Our goal is to raise 1.1 million Pesos (and hopefully surpass it in order to keep doing what we love): a peso for every home damaged or destroyed by Yolanda. With these funds, Project Leyte can build 9 permanent homes for 9 very deserving and lovely families. 

We have done numerous fun events in order to achieve the 1.1 million goal, such as 30 Days of Fun'd Challenge and fun runs. 

Our current event is the Rise Up/ Ride on event, starting on Monday 10th November to Sunday 16th November, whereby a team of 6 All Hands Volunteers will cycle 300km from Guiuan, Eastern Samar to Ormoc in Western Leyte, following the path of Super-Typhoon Yolanda. They will be visiting and staying in communities along the way, documenting first-hand the recovery and devastation that remain nearly a year later.  

If you'd like to follow their progress, donate or read more information go on www.riseupride.com

So, if you can spare anything big or small please do, a little goes a long way. Also, please share this page to spread the word.

Thank you and get donating

Love Kim x