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M A K I N G A D I F F E R E N C E
military, before escaping and fleeing
down to the marshes and shores. They
settled in this particular spot because
the mangroves were thick, providing
them with cover as they waded neck-
deep into the water to hide.
They had, the barangay captain
explained to me, a very real stake
in preserving the mangroves: the
trees had saved their lives once
upon a time, and the mangroves
now represent protection and shelter.
Since then, they’ve also learned that
the protection of the mangroves is
intertwined with their lives in another
way. The mangroves were essential to
the marine ecosystem, providing both
anchorage that protects the shoreline
from erosion and breeding ground for
fish. Protecting the mangroves is thus a
way of preserving their livelihood, their
homes and their futures.
Village effort
Thankfully, they didn’t have to do it
alone. There were NGOs around to
help, along with foreign
volunteers bringing
in fresh ideas and
education about marine
resource management.
The villagers learned
how to take care of the
existing mangroves
and, eventually, how to
cultivate the trees and
create a seedling bank
that allowed them to grow
enough mangroves to sell
to other barangays. The
villagers now know how to
fish without damaging the
mangroves, and they each
put in time every week to
work in the greenhouses.
All the money that the
co-operative makes in selling seedlings
is divided equally.
Luckily this isn’t a unique story.
All over the Philippines you will find
case studies of communities and
organizations working to change
for the better. We were there to
document the impact left behind by
the work of volunteers with VSO, an
international NGO that harnesses the
power of volunteerism to help people
break free of poverty. VSO has been
fielding volunteers since 1968; we’ve
reciprocated by sending out our own
Filipino volunteers to other parts of the
Top to bottom: Part
of the community
within the Carood
Watershed in Bohol;
children are tasked
with domestic duties
at a young age, and
learn to be mobile
around Lake Lanao
in Marawi; homes on
the banks of the lake,
where VSO was one
of the first NGOs to
work with Mindanao
Peace Partners
