Paige in the Philippines
Hello! I am Paige, and I am 18 years old. I am headed to the Philippines to volunteer with VSO for 3 months, working on a programme called Disaster and Risk Reduction management.
I really want to make a positive impact on those whom need help. ICS has given me a chance to experience other cultures first hand and to live in other peoples shoes for several weeks, I feel that it is an opportunity of a lifetime and I will learn so much from helping these people and living with another family! I have many hopes for the programme, I am looking forward to making new friends and experiencing other cultures first hand. It’s a scary thought that I’ll be away for such a long time but I know that it will be a very rewarding few months.
The Philippines is the third most disaster-risk country worldwide, and is among the countries where large percentages of population reside in disaster prone areas. Due to its geography and geology, the Philippines has a high level of exposure to tropical storms or typhoons accompanied by heavy rain and/or strong winds resulting in floods, landslides, and storm surges; and is highly prone to earthquakes , volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. I will be increasing awareness of the community to threats and impacts of flooding through awareness raising campaigns, along with many other things to help the communities of the Philippines tackle these issues effectively.