TACLOBAN CITY, (PNA) – An international group of professionals advocating for women’s empowerment has funded the construction of 30 permanent houses for super typhoon Yolanda survivors in this city.
ZONTA International provided PHP6 million to SM Cares to support the ongoing housing construction of the giant mall chain in New Kawayan village.
“SM is constructing about 400 units and ZONTA International donated the cost for the construction of the 30 units,” said Zonta Club president Evelyn Clarin. These houses will be turned over to beneficiaries in September.
Recipients of the housing units will be chosen by the city social welfare and development office and city housing office from residents in bunkhouses.
Once awarded, a livelihood intervention to beneficiaries will be provided by ZONTA members, which they already started last year for hardly-displaced families.
Target of the interventions are mothers or women to capacitate them in having their own source of livelihood to augment their husband’s earning, explains Naomi Zelent, director and immediate past president of ZONTA Club Tacloban.
Trainings have been done in temporary shelters in New Kawayan, Tagpuro and Santa Elena in Tacloban City and Guindapunan village in Palo. It was joined by 160 housewives trained for commercial cooking, manicure and pedicure
ZONTA also provided cooking kits and tools for manicure and pedicure to each beneficiary.
A topic on Violence against Women and their Children (VAWC) was also incorporated at the training to inform women on their basic rights, how to avoid being victims of abuses and how to report it.
“Their husbands are also part of the discussion because they also need to know the things that have to be avoided to prevent abuses,” Zelent added.
Zonta International is a leading global organization of professionals empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy.
It’s objective is to improve the legal, political, economic, educational, health and professional status of women at the global and local level through service and advocacy; work for the advancement of understanding, goodwill and peace ; promote justice and universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; and to be united internationally.
Zonta Club Tacloban has 36 women members who are either executives or engaged in business. (PNA)
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