Philippines: EI launches urgent action appeal | WPN World People News

Education International (EI) has opened a solidarity account to collect contributions to support from a union perspective the Philippines education communities affected by the typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda.

The six EI national affiliates in the Philippines are still assessing the needs of teachers and children in the worst affected areas. Entire cities have been flattened, tens of thousands of people have been left homeless, children have been made orphans, the livelihoods of countless households have been destroyed, schools and public services have been damaged.

“Teachers have played a critical role in keeping rescue and relief efforts going,” highlighted EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen. “Teacher unions have asked their activists to collect non-perishable food items, medicines, household items, school supplies, clothing and even cash donations.”

Many teachers, their education colleagues, their pupils, their families and communities, suffered a tremendous blow and now face a long and hard recovery. EI affiliates will soon report to EI how to best use the solidarity contributions in order to provide sustainable aid to recover, in the affected areas, the educational system and help to re-build the unions.

“We appreciate the concern and sympathy that the Education International’s community extended to the Filipino people in this time of sadness brought by the calamity,” said Milagros Ogalinda, General Secretary of NATOW, one of EI’s six national affiliates and a member of the EI Asia-Pacific Regional Committee.

Source: Education International