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Table of Contents
Introduction 1About Volunteer for the Visayans 2About Tacloban City 3About Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) 4VFV Communities 5
Volunteer Placements 8Nutrition Public Health Project 9Build - A - Home Project 10Media Intern 11Community Center Project 12Rural Health Clinic 13Side Projects 14
Volunteer Life 14Accommodation 14Food & Drink 15Transportation 15Pre-Program & Orientation 16Safety & Security 17Rules & Regulations 17
Program Fees 182014 Fees 19
Application Process 20
VFV Team 21
Contact Details 22
Introduction by Volunteer For The Visayans DirectorThank you so much for inquiring about volunteering with Volunteer for the Visayans (VFV)!
In our ten years of existence, Volunteer for the Visayans has proudly accommodated volunteers from all over the world on numerous social welfare and community development based initiatives. Over the years, we’ve had great success; we’ve put hundreds of children through school, built dozens of houses, created a network of three fully functional community centers and provided free healthcare to thousands of recipients. Aside from that, we’ve also provided volunteers with a one-of-a-kind cultural immersion program which has helped orientate volunteers on the unique culture and people of the Philippines.
In 2014 things have changed. Whilst the core aspect of our programs remain the same, the destruction brought forth by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) has put us back to square one in a number of communities that we serve. Our need for volunteers to assist with the ongoing rehabilitation of the city of Tacloban and the provinces of Leyte and Samar has never been greater, and with this I sincerely thank-you for taking an interest in our organization.
In this Program Information pack you can find out everything you need to know about our organization whilst at the same time getting a glimpse of what it is like to volunteer here.
Should you have any further questions, our staff are happy to accommodate you.
With Regards,
Helena Claire “Wimwim” A. CanayongVFV Director
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About Volunteer for the VisayansVolunteer for the Visayans (VFV) is a fully-registered non-profit, non-government organization located in the heart of Tacloban City within the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines. VFV is fully registered with the local Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and is licensed to distribute social welfare and community development services to the local populace.
After being officially founded in 2004, VFV has dedicated itself to contributing towards sustainable development in the areas of child welfare, community development, education and public health through its broad based social welfare programs. In particular, VFV has invested endless time and resources to develop numerous Community Projects as well as a fully comprehensive Child Sponsorship Program which when combined provide regular welfare services for more than 250 families.
Year after year, VFV has been recruiting international volunteers to help provide energy, skills and support to a number of ongoing Volunteer Projects whilst at the same time educating volunteers about the unique culture and people of the Philippines. Over the last decade, VFV has tailored its programs to include some of the most effective means of cultural immersion and takes pride in providing one of the most unique volunteering and service based learning experiences in the world.
On November 8, 2013, Tacloban City and the surrounding municipalities fell victim to super-typhoon Yolanda (international name ‘Haiyan’). After facing powerful storm surges and 300 kilometer per hour winds, the city of 275,000 residents became a focal point for the world’s media due to the catastrophic numbers of fatalities and widespread destruction of infrastructure. As international aid agencies flocked to the region, VFV sought to re-establish their programs as a means to help rebuild and rehabilitate the communities under their care which had been heavily affected in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda.
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About Tacloban CityBackground Information
Tacloban City is located on the island of Leyte in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines. The city is categorized as a highly urbanized city in reflection of its economic growth up until the outbreak of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). The city is approximately 360 miles south-west of Manila and has a population of 275,000 people.
Historically, Tacloban City is made famous by being the landing ground of U.S. General Douglas MacArthur during the Leyte Gulf Landings during World War II. It is also renown as being the location of the San Juanico Bridge - the longest bridge in the Philippines which connects the island of Leyte with Samar.
Getting In & OutPhilippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air and Asia Air Zest maintain daily flights to and from Manila and Tacloban.
Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific also run a regular route between Tacloban and the neighboring island of Cebu. The Philippines has one of the largest domestic air travel networks in the world.
Overland travel to Tacloban from Manila can be achieved (but is not advised) from Philtranco/Eagle Star & Silver Star bus terminals located in Cubao, Manila. Aside from this, overland travel can be made from Cebu to Tacloban City by catching a Ferry or Supercat in Cebu City to Ormoc City and then taking a two to four hour bus ride from Ormoc City to the Abucay bus terminal in Tacloban City.
LanguageThe official dialect in Tacloban City is “Waray-Waray”, however English is widely spoken and understood by
anyone with an academic background. Aside from this, the national language “Tagalog” and the dialect of the neighboring province “Cebuano” are also widely spoken and understood.
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About Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan)On November 8, 2013 one of the strongest storms ever recorded made landfall on the island of Leyte; bringing
with it devastating storm surges and deadly 300 kilometer per hour winds. Internationally this storm was referred to as Typhoon Haiyan whilst locally it was referred to as Yolanda.
The aftermath of the Yolanda was a total catastrophe as many coastline communities were completely wiped out and much of the city’s internal infrastructure was completely destroyed. Whilst official figures peg the death toll at approximately 6,000, many local sources suggest that the actual number of Yolanda victims could far surpass 10,000.
In the immediate wake of the storm, all telecommunication and electricity to the region was totally destroyed. Whilst some services have been restored in the months that followed the storm, there are still many communities cut off from basic utilities like electricity.
Aside from the loss of life and structural damage, Typhoon Yolanda also completely devastated many sources of local livelihood especially in agricultural communities whose main source of income originated in fishing and farming. The outcome has forced many families to be homeless and dependent on relief goods.
Today, many international relief agencies remain in Tacloban and the provinces of Leyte and Samar as a means to assist the long term rehabilitation of the area. As for Volunteer for the Visayans (VFV), it turns to providing direct assistance in providing shelter, livelihood, healthcare and educational assistance to more than 250 families in up-to nine (9) separate communities.
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VFV CommunitiesVolunteer for the Visayans (VFV) currently operates in nine (9) primary communities throughout Tacloban City and the province of Leyte.
Brgy 64. Bliss Sagkahan, Tacloban CityBliss Sagkahan has been the long-term home of Volunteer for the Visayans, existing as its operations center and source of accommodation for volunteers since 2004. At the heat of the community lies VFV’s central office and community center. VFV directly assists the families of forty-five children residing in Bliss through it’s comprehensive Child Sponsorship Program. Aside from this VFV also implements numerous other community empowerment projects which aim to assist the disfranchised youth and underserved community members residing in the local areas. These projects include (but are not limited to), a Mothers Club which promotes financial independence and livelihood development activities and both Boys and Girls clubs which aim to provide mentoring services for local adolescents. During Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), Bliss suffered water damage and structural damage to a number of residential homes
Brgy Sto. Niño, Tacloban CityBrgy. Sto. Niño, Tacloban City is a long-served community of Volunteer for the Visayans located on the north side of the city. On a socioeconomic scale, those barangays located in this area are among the most underserved communities in the city. Since 2005, Volunteer for the Visayans has operated an initiative referred to as ‘the Dumpsite Project’ which has steadily rehabilitated children previously working inside Tacloban City garbage dump by providing them with social welfare services and the means to pursue mainstream education. VFV also operates a community center out of Sto. Niño which provides community enrichment projects for the local community and supplementary nutrition projects for malnourished infants. Barangay Sto. Niño sustained moderate structural damage during Typhoon Yolanda, but is still an in-need community due to its situation prior to the storm.
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VFV Communities
Brgy Cangumbang, Palo, LeyteBarangay Canggumbang is an interior barangay of the Municipality of Palo, Leyte located close-by to the road to Pastrana, Leyte. It is an agricultural community whereby the main source of livelihood originates from farming. VFV directly supports the families of around twenty (20) children in this area as well as providing further community based services to the entire barangay. VFV’s third community center is located in Brgy Canggumbang, which served as an evacuation storm during Typhoon Yolanda. Despite suffering moderate structural damage, the center survived the typhoon and effectively saved many of the local residents from drowning in the high-flood waters.
Brgy San Roque, Tanauan, LeyteBrgy San Roque in Tanauan, Leyte was one of the worst hit VFV communities during Typhoon Yolanda. The community suffered catastrophic structural damage and a high-death toll as a result of the strong storm surges and 300 kph winds. Today, many of the former residents of the community now reside in refugee camps, with limited capabilities to rebuild their homes. VFV currently provides support for fifteen (15) families in barangay San Roque and has previously extended further support to the local community and the local Elementary School. VFV continues their services to Sponsored Children in San Roque whilst collaborating with the local government to re-establish the lives of a community who lost everything.
Brgy Mohon, Tanauan, LeyteBrgy Mohon, Tanauan, Leyte was another community that was tragically struck by the Yolanda storm surge. Today VFV continues to provide support to the families of thirteen Sponsored Children currently residing in the area and is looking at long-term solutions to rehabilitate the livelihood and regular day life of the community. In addition to the sponsored children, VFV also provides support to the local Elementary School.
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VFV Communities
Brgy Utap, Tacloban CityBrgy Utap is a low-income community located in the heart of Tacloban City. To date, Volunteer for the Visayans has assisted the families of six Sponsored Children in Utap by integrating them with the Sponsorship Program in Bliss. During Typhoon Yolanda, the area sustained moderate structural damage caused by flood water and high winds.
Brgy Planza, BabatngonThe island community of Planza is located in the Municipality of Babatngon, Leyte and is only accessible by boat. VFV’s involvement in this community was instigated by a local television show called Imbestigador, on the GMA network who requested the assistance of VFV to address the needs of an elderly grandmother who was caring for the need of her three grand-children. Since then, the grandmother who is affectionately referred to as “Lola Cion” has been the recipient of several VFV initiatives and one of her grandchildren has since been enrolled on VFV’s Child Sponsorship Program. The area is incredibly remote and as a result is always lacking in resources.
Brgy San Juan, Santa FeThe rural community of Barangay San Juan is located in the municipality of Santa Fe, Leyte. VFV involvement in San Juan was instigated by the call for supplementary feeding programs due to the high volume of malnourished infants in the area. VFV responded by initiating it’s Nutrition Public Health Project which pairs supplementary feeding with nutrition education.
Ormoc CityLocated on the west coast of Leyte is the city of Ormoc, which is a two to three hour bus ride from Tacloban City. VFV has a long history of association with Ormoc after assisting the City Social Welfare Department for a number of years. Since then it has also enrolled four (4) children on it’s Child Sponsorship Program.
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Volunteer PlacementsVolunteer for the Visayans (VFV) has tailored a number of volunteer placements that can be matched by a wide-variety of different skill sets. All placements require a minimum of a four hour a day (Monday to Friday) contribution, but we strongly welcome and encourage volunteers to extend their volunteering beyond the minimum requirement by also getting involved with the additional relief-related work that VFV are conducting in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda. Information on additional volunteer side projects can also be found at the end of this chapter.
Some of the regular placements we offered prior to the Typhoon are currently suspended, however if you have a specialist skill or interest which you want to implement, we strongly recommend you speak with one of our volunteer coordinators during your pre-program communication.
Throughout the year, some of our former placements such as volunteering in an orphanage, teaching English in rural Elementary schools and volunteering with Street Children will become available, as soon as our local partners are once again ready to accept volunteers.
There are still many areas in Tacloban City and the Provinces of Leyte and Samar that are severely affected in the wake of the recent typhoon, there are huge numbers of displaced communities and an increased volume of poverty due to the recent destruction of livelihood.
We ask all volunteers to be open-minded and sensitive about the local culture and conditions during their time as a volunteer. Should you wish for more information about the local situation during your time as a volunteer, we are always happy to answer any of your concerns.
Our goal as an organization is for you to effectively contribute towards your assigned placement and for you to leave with a sense of fulfillment. At the same time, we also aim to educate you on the reality of lives that many families continue to face in the wake of a natural disaster.
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The Nutrition Public Health Project first began in 2011 as a means to address the malnourished status of infants residing inside low-income rural communities. The goals of the project are two-fold. The first is to provide a stable supplementary feeding program for malnourished infants for pre-school children aged three to six years old. The second is to disseminate information to parents about the importance of healthy nutrition through a series of workshops and seminars. Through this process parents get to witness the improvement that good nutrition has on the health of their children whilst at the same time learning how to best utilize their available resources to provide a stable diet irregardless of their personal income.
Prior to Typhoon Yolanda, the project operated on a reactive basis whereby children in particular communities were first screened and identified based on their health status. Those showing serious cases of malnourishment were prioritized first and their progress closely monitored. Since the Typhoon, the project has transitioned to becoming more preventative, seeking to provide supplementary feeding before infants develop severe cases of malnutrition. This is incredibly important in the current environment as the livelihood of many families have been completely destroyed thereby increasing the risk of malnutrition among at-risk demographics such as pre-school children.
Whilst no specialist skills are required to participate on this project; those with backgrounds in Nutrition Public Health are strongly encouraged to apply. Day to day activities include preparing supplementary feeding, recording and analyzing the status of children on the project and organizing community workshops to orientate parents on the importance of nutrition.
Aside from malnutrition, volunteers will also lead initiatives to combat issues such as diabetes, protein energy malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency by acting as endorsers for healthy nutrition.
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Nutrition Public Health ProjectProject Availability:
All Year Round
Minimum Project Duration:
2 weeks
Maximum Project Duration:
24 weeks
Skills Required:
Basic knowledge of Public Health Nutrition is preferred. Those who have graduated or who are currently studying BSc Public Health Nutrition courses are strongly encouraged to apply.
Volunteer Activities
1. Plan & Implement daily supplementary feeding for infants.
2. Monitor the progress of children enrolled on project by regularly analyzing health and weight conditions of each child.3. Implement Nutrition awareness seminars and workshops for local community members.
This is a program fee funded project
As a grassroots non-profit organization, Volunteer for the Visayans does not invest funding into professional corporate marketing strategies. Instead, one of the most powerful ways in which VFV syphons supports from donors around the world is through the powerful stories which are recorded by media interns.
Being a media intern with VFV will expose you to a full spectrum of different projects and will provide you with the opportunity to equally capture moments of success and struggle.
Interns are required to essentially become photojournalists for the entire duration of their stay and to publish their material on the visayans.org website and across various social media platforms as a means to promote a specific call to action required by the organization. Media Interns will be required to submit two written assignments per week, which will be published across the internet and across VFV’s email subscribers network.
Assignments could include capturing moments at a supplementary feeding project and creating material to promote donations or interviewing a local family who have been the recipient of a build-a-home project to encourage more volunteers.
Media interns may also be required to accompany Volunteer for the Visayans Child Sponsorship staff to photograph children enrolled on the program so that information, updates and images can be sent back to their sponsors abroad.
Interns may be required to work independently or in pairs on specific field assignments. Interns are requested to bring their own equipment.
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Media InternProject Availability:
All year round
Minimum Project Duration:
2 weeks
Maximum Project Duration:
24 weeks
Skills Required:
Intermediate photography skills or videography skills. Competent English literacy.
Volunteer Activities
1. Photograph different VFV projects for publication across digital media channels.
2. Complete two comprehensive written assignments a week inline with the current goals of VFV.
The structural damage inflicted by Typhoon Yolanda has forced many families into substandard makeshift accommodations or refugee centers. For many, the hope of once again having a private home seems like a long distant ambition.
Whilst international NGO’s and relief organizations are trying their upmost to rehabilitate families into new homes, the task is an uphill struggle due to the huge volume of dispersed populations.
For Volunteer for the Visayans, our priority is to re-house at-risk families living in low-income and rural communities within Tacloban City itself and in some of the outlying regions. In particular, we aim to build long term sustainable accommodation that will house generations of one family for years to come.
No specialist skills are required to contribute to the Build-A-Home Project, however those volunteers with a background in construction and carpentry are prompted to apply.
Tasks on a Build-A-Home Project will vary depending on the project itself, some houses in flood-zone areas will vary in design and construction to those in a more urban setting. Volunteers will be required to dig foundations, help set supporting pillars, lay hollow blocks, build roofing frames and apply the beautifying finishing touches that are needed to really turn a building into a home.
Our access to tools during the height of Build-A-Home Projects can be somewhat limited, so we encourage that volunteers bring in with them some basic tools such as hammers, hacksaws and wire-cutters. There’s no need to bring in power tools as access to electricity in the location of a number of Build-A-Homes is incredibly scarce.
The Build-A-Home Project is ultimately one of the most rewarding volunteer projects as the success of a project can be visually measured upon completion.
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Build-A-Home ProjectProject Availability:
2014 Build-A-Home Start DatesMarch 1, 2013
April 1, 2013May 1, 2013June 1, 2013
Minimum Project Duration:
2 weeks
Maximum Project Duration:
4 weeks
Skills Required:
No specialist skills required. Those with carpentry or building skills are preferred. Volunteers must be willing to get dirty!
Volunteer Activities
1. Construct houses or other standing structures in-line with VFV mandate to assist
This is a program fee funded project
Community Center’s have long been the lifeblood of VFV’s work in the local community. Starting with one Community Center in Barangay 64, BLISS Sagkahan, Tacloban City in 2004, VFV have since extended their network with the construction of a center at Barangay Sto. Niño, Tacloban City in 2011 and in Barangay Cangummbang, Palo, Leyte in 2013.
Inside these centers, VFV conduct a multi-faceted operations by coordinating projects and programs for a wide range of demographics, ranging from pre-school children to adolescents and local mothers groups.
Volunteering on the Community Center project will let volunteers become heavily involved with VFV’s Community Program and Child Sponsorship Program; for this reason this project is ideal for volunteers with a background in community and social work. Volunteers assigned to the Community Center Project will also have the opportunity to participate in initiatives related to the VFV Dumpsite Project.
Volunteer activities will vary according to the preference and skills of each volunteer. Available tasks include assisting with supplementary relief acquisition and distribution, implementing local livelihood projects for mothers group, coordinating empowerment and skills development projects for disenfranchised youth and assisting VFV Community Workers and Social Workers with day-to-day tasks in local and far-flung communities.
Prior to arrival, volunteers will be put in communication with an assigned member of staff at VFV so that they can develop a work plan inline with current VFV tasks and priorities.
Volunteers arriving during the months of April and May will also be expected to conduct extra-curricular activities for the elementary and high school students who regularly use each community center.
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Community Center ProjectProject Availability:
All Year Round
Minimum Project Duration:
2 weeks
Maximum Project Duration:
24 weeks
Skills Required:
No specialist skills required. Volunteers with backgrounds in community work and social work are encouraged to apply
Volunteer Activities
1. Assist the day-to-day operations of the VFV Community & Child Sponsorship Programs.
2. Develop initiatives and conduct activities with various demographics frequently using the community center.
This is a program fee funded project
Rural Health Unit (RHU) Clinics operate under the Local Government Unit’s (LGU’s) of provincial communities outside of Tacloban City. These small, underfunded clinics are often the only source of free healthcare and in most cases have only one doctor to care for an entire community of thousands of people.
By volunteering on our Rural Health Clinic Project, you can provide much needed assistance whilst at the same time experiencing the reality of healthcare in a developing country. Day to day clinic activities will range from assisting the local doctor with daily consultations to helping with local government based initiatives such as vaccinations or deworming. Aside from this, volunteers may also have the opportunity to visit local barangays during community clinic consultations. Other activities such as conducting workshops can also be initiated by the volunteer depending on their experience.
Since Typhoon Yolanda, the pressure applied to local RHU’s has increased due to an increase in poverty. These clinics, much in the same way as the hospitals in Tacloban City, are at times severely under-resourced and often lack some of the very basic clinical necessities. Whilst donations are not mandatory, accepted program applicants may contact a volunteer coordinator prior to their arrival to find out the current needs of the clinic as these would be greatly appreciated by the clinic.
Volunteers working in a Rural Health Clinic may also have the opportunity to get involved with other VFV initiated public health projects, such as it’s Annual Medical Mission or its Annual Medical Check-up for all children enrolled on the Child Sponsorship Program and Dumpsite Project.
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Rural Health ClinicProject Availability:
All Year Round.
Minimum Project Duration:
2 weeks
Maximum Project Duration:
24 weeks
Skills Required:
Must be medical student, nursing student, nurse, doctor or other medical specialist.
Volunteer Activities
1. Conduct clinic consultations.2. Assist in public health drives.3. Conduct community clinic consultations by visiting local communities.4. Volunteers may also have the opportunity to assist in pre-natal seminars and other community based health workshops.
In addition to your regular placement, you may also have the opportunity to participate in additional side projects outside of your regular volunteering hours. Some of these activities may be planned days in advance and some may happen at the spare of the moment - such is the life of working alongside a grassroots NGO.
In particular, we encourage volunteers to conduct after-school tutorials for a number of the children enrolled on our Child Sponsorship Program. This extra curricular activity, which is conducted out of our community center helps provide the children with a more well-rounded education. Years of having volunteers conduct after-school tutorials has enabled many of our children to repetitively make the honors role.
Aside from this, volunteers can also get involved with a variety of Community based initiatives as and when they occur; including but not limited to delivering relief goods, implementing soup kitchens and delivering school supplies.
If you’re interested in extending your volunteer work outside of your regular hours, speak to one of our volunteer coordinators upon arrival.
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Side Projects
Side Projects you can get involved with...
The Dumpsite Project
After-School Tutorials
Girls Club Mothers Club
Adopt-A-SchoolProject
Laura’s Craft Boys Club Relief Operations
Volunteer LifeBeing a volunteer with VFV requires initiative, patience, an open-mind and an open-heart. As much as possible we try not to “spoon feed” an experience to our volunteers and ask them to use their own initiative, skills and self motivation to conduct their volunteer work.
VFV provides a wide-variety of volunteer placements that can be suited to volunteers from various walks in life. Most of our projects do not require specialist skills, however we encourage volunteers to think carefully about what their volunteer plans prior to their arrival.
Volunteering in a disaster zone like Tacloban City can be an emotional rollercoaster, you will experience intense feelings of motivation, pride and success whilst at the same time feeling frustration, helplessness and culture shock - but don’t worry, if you encounter problems, roadblocks or just need some friendly advice, our staff are constantly available to help provide direction.
Accommodation One of the core strengths of our program lies in the experience of our friendly and accommodating local homestays who have been accepting volunteers for over a decade. Life inside a homestay is not only safe and cost effective, but is also a great way to contribute to the local economy and to experience the true nature and culture of the Philippines.
All of our homestays are English speaking and provide volunteers with a single room (or a shared room with another volunteer of the same sex), two daily meals (breakfast and dinner), 24 hour access to clean-drinking water, and a mosquito net. An electric fan will be provided to volunteers once electricity is restored to homestays. Until then, volunteers should prepare for humid conditions.
Conditions inside homestays will be far more basic than the conditions you experience at home. In almost all cases, volunteers will bathe using a traditional bucket and bale techniques. For those volunteering in the months of January - April, 2013 - you may also find that access to electricity is incredibly limited due to the affects of Typhoon Yolanda.
All of our homestays are located just two minute walking distance from our main office; putting volunteers and VFV staff together in close proximity every day.
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Food & DrinkDuring the weeks following Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), food was an incredibly precious commodity. Since then resources have become more abundant, but for a variety of items, prices have not yet stabilized. During your time as a volunteer, you will be provided with two meals a day (breakfast and dinner) by your homestay. Aside from this, access to safe drinking water will also be provided by your homestay. All meals will be served with rice and typically include fish, chicken or pork. Homestays can cater for special dietary restrictions, however we require that you include this in your application form.
Local café’s and restaurants are also available throughout the city, with most meals costing from around PhP 100 to PhP 350. Bottled mineral water is accessible in most eating establishments.
TransportationLocal and inter-town transportation has now been partially restored; although the current volume of public transport vehicles is far less than it was prior to the typhoon. Public transport can at times seem chaotic to outsiders, however after orientation our staff will familiarize you on how to get too and from your volunteer placement.
The common method of transport in and outside of Tacloban City is by Jeepney. Most fares range from 8 to 25 Philippine Pesos ($0.20 - $0.50). For shorter distance, tricycles (motorcycle with sidecart) and pedicabs (rickshaws) can be hailed from the curbside for small fares.
For long distances outside of town; buses and vans can be caught from the bus terminal in Abucay, Tacloban City. Fares range from around 100 to 300 Philippine Pesos depending on your location. Should you require any assistance with transportation during your time as a volunteer, you may always seek advice from your volunteer coordinator.
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Pre-Program & OrientationWe understand that in order for our volunteers to affectively contribute towards their projects, that full comprehensive pre-program contact and on-ground orientation is an essential resource for the VFV team to provide. That is why, after your application process, you will be assigned to one of our on-ground volunteer coordinators who will be able to address any of your concerns via email. There are no middle-men involved with our programs, the same person you make your application with will be the same person you meet on the ground here in Tacloban City.
Our Pre-Program contact begins with your application form, from here we will assign your skills and requirements with specific project placements on the ground and issue details regarding your volunteer placement and homestay family prior to your arrival.
Once you arrive in Tacloban, you will be met at the airport by a VFV Coordinator and introduced to the rest of the VFV staff and your homestay family. After this you will be provided with a full orientation on Volunteer for the Visayans as well as a short comprehensive health and safety briefing. Following this, you will be escorted by one of our coordinators and shown how to use the local transport system. You will be shown how to get back and forth from your volunteer placement as well as being briefed on how to get to a variety of different points of interest.
On the first day of your placement you will be taken by a VFV Coordinator and introduced to the staff and other volunteers working on your project.
Outside of your regular project hours, you will also have the opportunity to engage in additional activities at your discretion, this may involve (but is not limited to) conducting after-school tutorials for children enrolled on our child sponsorship program or assisting with any of VFV’s ongoing relief efforts.
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Safety & Security
The safety and security of our volunteers is our upmost priority, for this reason a safety and security brief is an important part of our orientation process. Tacloban is generally quite safe if you use your own good judgement and follow the simple precautions outlined in your orientation process.
Whilst local doctors, clinics and hospitals are available, the resources at such institutions are incredibly limited following the typhoon. For this reason we require all volunteers to purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy prior to their arrival in Tacloban City. Aside from this we also strongly recommend that all volunteers be vaccinated for Hepatitis A, Tetanus & Typhoid or that they book an appointment with their local general practitioner to get the latest medical advice. We also recommend that volunteers bring with them an ample supply of mosquito repellent.
Rules & Regulations
Generally we ask volunteers to use their best judgement at all times when volunteering with us; however we do have a number of rules and regulations that we request volunteers to follow.
First of all we run a zero tolerance policy on drugs and volunteers visiting locations associated with the sex-trade. Volunteer for the Visayans reserves the right to terminate you from the program at any time if you are found to be in any violations of these rules.
As for alcohol, we ask program participants to minimize their alcohol consumption during their time as volunteers. We remind all volunteers that they are not only seen as role models, but are also seen as ambassadors for our organization.
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Program FeesAs a grassroots non-profit organization, VFV’s access to private funding is incredibly limited. As a means to cover the administrative costs of the organization and to provide financial empowerment to our projects, we adopt a social-enterprising model through our volunteer program fees. Our volunteer fees are among the most competitive rates worldwide and have been implemented to cover the expenses related to accommodating volunteers (homestays, orientation materials, meals), administrative costs (staff salaries & utilities) and to provide funding to our widespread local community and social welfare services.
Over the years, the adoption of this model has allowed us to provide hundreds of thousands of free meals, to put numerous children though school and to build dozens of houses, community centers and classrooms. It has also allowed us to grow our organization across numerous communities, bringing with us local community development services that aid disenfranchised youth, empower local mothers and provide countless free healthcare services.
Many people understand the requirement to pay program fees, others do not. This is why when you volunteer with VFV, we aim to orientate you as much as possible whilst you’re on the ground to show you the kind of services that your program fee is contributing towards.
Volunteer for the Visayans has no share-holders and does not use financial funding for mass marketing programs. Its board members and advisors operate on a voluntary level.
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Projects funded by Program Fees
The Dumpsite Project
Build-A-HomeProject
Supplementary Feeding Projects
Community Empowerment Clubs
Program Fees for 2014
2 weeks $800.00 USD
3 weeks $880.00 USD
4 weeks $960.00 USD
5 weeks $1,040.00 USD
6 weeks $1,120.00 USD
7 weeks $1,200.00 USD
8 weeks $1,280.00 USD
9 weeks $1,360.00 USD
10 weeks $1,440.00 USD
11 weeks $1,520.00 USD
12 weeks $1,600.00 USD
13 weeks $1,680.00 USD
14 weeks $1,760.00 USD
15 weeks $1,840.00 USD
16 weeks $1,920.00 USD
17 weeks $2,000.00 USD
18 weeks $2,080.00 USD
19 weeks $2,160.00 USD
20 weeks $2,240.00 USD
21 weeks $2,320.00 USD
22 weeks $2,400.00 USD
23 weeks $2,480.00 USD
24 weeks $2,560.00 USD
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• Accommodation with Local Host Family• Arrangement of Volunteer Placement• Two Meals a Day (Breakfast & Dinner)• 24 Hour Local Staff Support• Comprehensive Program Orientation• City Tour• Project Site Excursion• Airport Pickup & Drop Off• Two Crash Courses in the Local Dialect
What’s Provided
Application Process1.Complete the online application form. We recommend all applications be made a minimum of two months in advance to ensure the availability of your desired placement.
2. Send a copy of your resume to [email protected]
3. Upon receiving your application, one of our Volunteer Coordinators will be in contact via email to discuss the availability of your selected placements. Once we’ve answered any questions or concerns you may have, we will request a $150 USD deposit to secure your place on the program.
4. Upon receiving your deposit, we will send you your pre-departure materials. Homestay profiles and Placement profiles will be sent one month prior to your arrival.
5. One month prior to your arrival, we require full payment of your program fee to be deposited. You may use the bank details below to wire your program fee.
Account Name: Volunteer for the Visayans, Inc.Bank Address: Philippine National Bank, Justice Romualdez Street, Tacloban City, 6500Account No: 232235000012Bank No. 822803Branch No: 1480Swift Code: PNBMPHMM
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The VFV Team
Volunteer Coordinators- the ladies who take care of you in pre-program and liaise with volunteers on the ground!
! ! ! Ester Yao Costim Leda De La Cruz, R.N. Lead Volunteer Coordinator Asst. Volunteer Coordinator! ! ! [email protected] [email protected]
Sponsorship Coordinators- the ladies who look after the welfare of hundreds of our sponsored children!
! ! ! Leoma Godinez, R.S.W. Maria Crisel Macabare
! ! ! Lead Sponsorship Coordinator Asst. Sponsorship Coordinator [email protected]! ! ! ! [email protected]
Community Coordinators- the team who implement VFV’s community based services!
! ! Leom John Balanlay Kathy Calabuso Marte! ! ! Community Coordinator Community Coordinator ! ! ! [email protected]! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! !
Management & Admin- The leadership and paperwork ninjas!
! !! ! ! Wimwim Canayong Laila Uyvico! ! ! Director Administration Officer! ! ! [email protected]! ! ! ! ! [email protected]!
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Contact Details
Send us mail at:
Volunteer for the VisayansLot 63, Cluster 2Barangay 64 BLISS SagkahanTacloban CityPhilippines, 6500
Give us a call on:
Philippine Tel No. +63 (0)53 325 2462US Redirect No.!
Email us at:
General Inquiries: ! [email protected]
Connect with us:
! Like us on Facebook
! Follow us on Twitter! ! @Visayans
! ! Subscribe to our ! ! Newsletter! ! Add us to your circles! ! on Google Plus
Watch us on YouTube
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