This year, the Philippines have experienced a disastrous storm. The death toll in the Philippines from Typhoon Mangkhut has reached 81 and could increase significantly as searchers dig through a landslide where many are presumed dead.
Mangkhut swamped farm fields in the country’s agricultural north and smashed houses as it tore through with violent winds and heavy rains. The storm rammed into the northern Philippines with the strength of a Category 5 hurricane.
China’s east coast was also hit and suffered severe damage. The storm weakened as it traveled towards China but was still very deadly as it battered Hong Kong. This 550 mile wide typhoon was the strongest storm this year in the Eastern Hemisphere. Because of the terrible damage these two countries have suffered, they are desperately in need of help. The New York Times wrote an article that informs readers on how to help these countries.
Many organizations such as the American Red Cross, CARE, GlobalGiving, and others have stepped up and raised money for emergency supplies including food, water, and medicine for the Philippines. Countries that have been hit with natural disasters benefit most when volunteers travel to help with the aftermath. It is also very beneficial to donate money towards the rebuilding of roads and houses.
Peyton Haas, a senior at Pleasant Valley High School, has visited Haiti numerous times to volunteer. She had great experiences and explained how devastated the country was left after the recent disasters, “Haiti is a really poor country so the 2010 earthquake just devastated the little people did have. More recently in 2016, they were also ravaged by Hurricane Matthew which was almost worse for them.”
“The earthquake destroyed houses and roads and wiped out any crops they had. Their infrastructure is still awful and poorly organized, and there are families who are still living in houses that were partially destroyed because they can’t afford to fix it or rebuild.
“Between the poverty of the country to begin with, the 2010 earthquake, and 2016 hurricane, the country itself is in an incredible hardship. They have almost nothing and are still fighting to recover years later, but they still have so much joy in their lives and that’s really what affected me most. The people were completely welcoming of volunteers there and had so much love to give despite having so little. It gave me a much greater and more significant view of the world and it put things like suffering and happiness into perspective for me.”
Peyton really enjoyed this experience and believes others should also make a trip to a country in need, “I would definitely recommend a trip like this to high school students. It’s an amazing opportunity to see more of the world and to make an impact while doing it. It’s a great chance to step outside of your comfort zone and experience a new culture and people. You don’t necessarily need to know the language and sometimes that makes for a more exciting experience. It was definitely a life-changing trip, and I am so happy I was able to experience it in high school.”
Natalie Cremer, also a senior at Pleasant Valley, visited Haiti as well. Natalie also had a life-changing time while helping this country, “In Haiti, my group and I helped to build a school and spent time with kids. From sifting sand, moving cement blocks, making necklaces or playing jump rope, these simple tasks stuck with us all.
“It’s been eight years and the earthquake is still impacting Haiti. In 2010, 300,000 people were killed and many more displaced. This left the country in ruins. Today the economy is still weak, but I learned that their spirit isn’t.
“Volunteering there made me understand how much we take the simplest things for granted. I was also very enlightened to see how these impoverished people were full of so much hope, love, joy, and happiness despite their struggles. That truly made me realize what’s most important in life.”
Both Peyton and Natalie would recommend finding a way to help in the Philippines after the storm has passed. The people desperately need help, and the trip would provide a great way to discover and appreciate the world.
