Yet she was already leading a group of 20 youths and organising programmes for her community with the hope of rebuilding in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan.
Haiyan, which struck in November 2013, destroyed 90% of Tacloban City, leaving behind many devastated families.
Six months later, we, Artsolute, were introducing one of our community arts programmes, Puppets and Passages, to three youth groups there.
We noticed one group that seemed to need more help.
Over time, we learnt more about the youths of Abucay Bunkhouse Youth Organisation (ABUYO) and the challenges that Vanessa and her peers faced, such as the conditions of their bunkhouse, the lack of support within the bunkhouse and the lack of financial means.
Despite being more disadvantaged than other youths in their vicinity, the ABUYO youths have a strong sense of purpose and are dedicated to making a difference for those around them.
With few resources, they run workshops helping other youths deal with post-disaster trauma through art and by sharing their personal stories. And they inspire other youths to do likewise.
Mentoring Vanessa and the ABUYO youths in their journey has been a great privilege for us at Artsolute.
With further support, they can continue to thrive and reach out to more children and youths needing social and emotional support in the communities around Tacloban.
You can help ABUYO by donating funds for their transport costs to run workshops for other communities in Tacloban. The funds will be administered by Singapore-based Artsolute, which supports ABUYO and activates young people to lead and participate in projects of community development, cultural exchange and psychosocial intervention.
- See more at: http://www.ourbetterworld.org/en/story/devastated-not-destroyed#sthash.3gFHlHCI.dpuf
I began my career in the banking industry in 1997, and stayed approx 6 years in it. This industry boost his knowledge about the economic condition in Indonesia, both macro and micro, and how to
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understand it. My banking career continued in Yogyakarta when I joined in a program funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB),as the coordinator for a program aimed to help improve the quality of learning and teaching process in private universities in Yogyakarta. When the earthquake stroke Yogyakarta, I chose to join an international NGO working in the area of ?disaster response and management, which allows me to help rebuild the city, as well as other disaster-stricken area in Indonesia. I went on to become the coordinator for emergency response in the Asia Pacific region. Then I was assigned for 1 year in Cambodia, as a country coordinator mostly to deliver developmental programs (water and sanitation, education, livelihood). In 2009, he continued his career as a protocol and HR officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya, and two years later I joined the Political and Economic Section until now, where i have to deal with extensive range of people and government officials, as well as private and government institution troughout eastern Indonesia.
I am the founder and Editor-in-Chief in Good News From Indonesia (GNFI), a growing and influential social media movement, and was selected as one of The Most Influential Netizen 2011 by The Marketeers magazine.
I also wrote a book on "Fundamentals of Disaster Management in 2007"?, "Good News From Indonesia : Beragam Prestasi Anak Bangsa di dunia"? which was luanched in August 2013, and "Indonesia Bersyukur"? which is launched in Sept 2013. In 2014, 3 books were released in which i was one of the writer; "Indonesia Pelangi Dunia"?, "Indonesia The Untold Stories"? and "Growing! Meretas Jalan Kejayaan"
I give lectures to students in lectures nationwide, sharing on full range of issues, from economy, to diplomacy
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