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The Project

Make a fundamental life improvement by volunteering in the Philippines, in a population where around 30 million people cannot afford food to meet their basic nutritional needs. Many Filipino children suffer from stunted growth and development, low academic performance, and wasting due to poor nutrition. Malnutrition also increases the susceptibility to disease, and so many Filipinos suffer from blindness due to vitamin A deficiency. This project was created to oversee the food intake of numerous families in local barangays (communities) and monitor the malnourished children throughout a targeted area of Tacloban City.

• Role of the volunteer

  Volunteers join the Barangay Nutrition Committee on its daily routine of visiting barangays (communities) to issue nutritional surveys, administer nutritional supplements, or take anthropometric measurements. Volunteers teach basic nutritional education classes for children in schools and parent classes in communities. Parent classes are vital, as many parents here have never learned about the nutritional requirements their children should be getting. Additionally volunteers may also chose to organize activities based on their specialties at the community centre at the location of their homestay and may also offer after school tutorials to some of the local children in the community.

• Skills Required

  Experience and study within the nutrition field is preferred. Before arriving, volunteers should familiarise themselves with the typical native foods, nutritional deficiencies, general economics, and cultural beliefs of the Philippines. Volunteers can help in a variety of areas depending on their knowledge, background, and level of interest. There is so much that can be done to improve the nutritional status of the local population that with drive and determination, volunteers have a very real chance to effect lifelong changes and healthier habits in this population.