MANILA, Philippines – On May 23, 2017, members of the Maute Group attacked Marawi City. One year later, the city and its people are still recovering from the devastation inflicted by the 5-month war that left thousands of residents homeless.
The Battle of Marawi was a bloody chapter in the region’s history. Damage to properties was at P11 billion while economic opportunities lost were estimated at P6.6 billion. Around 33 barangays and 24 villages were affected by the fighting, with a majority of the buildings there in ruins. Many people did not just lose their homes but loved ones as well. (READ: Marawi rehab: The work ahead)
It will take years for Marawi to complete its rehabilitation. Residents have no choice but continue to endure the recovery process long after the war has ended.
For those who want to help, here are some organizations involved in Marawi’s recovery:
TALA PH (Singtala Center for Women and Children in Conflict)
Tala PH is a charity organization that assists internally displaced persons (IDP’s), especially women and children. It conducts activities to help IDPs in Marawi such as therapy sessions and weaving workshops which the organization sells to other parts of the country to help fund the recovery and rehabilitation efforts of the city.
You may directly contact them through their Facebook page or send a message to sinagtalapilipinas@gmail.com.
Teach Peace Build Peace Movement (TPBP Movement)
The TPBP Movement is a group that seeks to create a culture of peace through education by helping people and children develop the right knowledge, skills, and positive values. Within 10 days of the Marawi siege, the group launched the “We Are One with Marawi” campaign that encouraged people to send help through donations, volunteer assistance, or even just messages of support and goodwill. It conducted a “Peace Mission” in the second week of May.
MARADECA (Maranao People Development Center)
MARADECA is a non-profit, service-oriented organization that aims to help the Moro people in their quest for socio-economic advancement and their struggle for peace and development. A majority of its recent projects are for the construction of houses and shelters for the less fortunate. It recently partnered with “Lutheran World Relief” under the CARE Marawi Scale-up project, where it helped in the construction of shelters for over 1,000 IDPs in Marawi.
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Duyog Marawi
Originally started as a project by Caritas Philippines, an organization of the Catholic Church, Duyog Marawi is an organization focused on promoting peace and development in and around the Marawi area. It holds medical missions and livelihood and business programs. While it is focused on providing aid to the affected Christian and Catholic community, it also gives aid to all IDPs, regardless of religious affiliation.
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World Vision
World Vision is an international humanitarian organization devoted to improving the lives of families so they can overcome poverty. It has projects around the Philippines. In Marawi, it has a cash-for-work project called “Bahay Pag-asa” which it started in January, providing money as incentives for people who engage in community-building work such as farming and construction. People are paid P2,500 for every 4 hours of work they do per day over 10 days. Along with this, World Vision also runs educational and psychological support programs for affected children and families.
Red Cross Philippines
The Red Cross is an international organization that has been providing life-saving services, along with humanitarian aid and relief, for decades It provides aid to various communities still reeling from the effects of the Marawi Siege. It supplies clean water to communities.
The Red Cross Philippines official website lists down ways to contact them, and provides information regarding their ongoing projects.
Balay Mindanaw
Balay Mindanaw is a Mindanao-based and Mindanao-focused non-stock, non-profit organization devoted to the creation of empowered and stable communities, and building peace on the island. It has been active for around 22 years.
For the sake of Marawi’s recovery, this group has assisted in the construction of two elementary schools in April and May, along with the building of barangay incident outposts.
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– Rappler.com
Gabriel Landrito finished BA Communications in UP Baguio. He is a Rappler intern.