Attending the IsraAID Philippines Bloggers' Conference

  

While it is true that the main niche of my blog is beauty (and sometimes style and fashion), it doesn’t mean that I should be sticking to just that especially when there’s a lot more that I would love to share with you all. Blogging for me is not just a hobby. Blogging is also a responsibility. I believe that us, bloggers, need to use our influence to be able to create a positive and relevant impact to the society.

Me with a colleague on field. We're visiting the beneficiaries of our Community Development program in Bicol

Big words, eh? Well as much as it all sounds so prestigious and grand, it’s the small simple things that we do and post that matters. What do we believe in? What do we think matters? How can we contribute? Write about those and educate people. As some of you may have already known, aside from blogging I also work full-time for an NGO. I’ve been with our organization for 5 years now and as much as some people think NGO work and beauty & fashion blogging do not jive together, I say be whoever you want to be!

Netanel Nisan, Country Director of IsraAID Philippines

So when IsraAid opened a bloggers’ conference last July 25, 2016 at Barbara’s Heritage Restaurant in Intramuros, Manila and found out about how they’ve been in the Philippines since the Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan to my international readers) incident, I told myself, “I should be there!”

First of all, what is IsraAID?

IsraAID has become synonymous with a rapid response to humanitarian crises. Its medical teams, search & rescue units, post trauma experts, community specialists and other Israeli professionals have led international relief teams in natural disasters and civil strife around the world.

Here in the Philippines, IsraAID first arrived to help the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. Currently, their running projects in Ormoc City are the following:

Photo courtesy of IsraAID Philippines

Psyco-Spiritual Support Training – They have cooperated with the Ormoc City Department of Education to institutionalize the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Program in all of the schools across the city.

Photo Courtesy of IsraAID Philippines

Agriculture Training – They have imparted their farming knowledge from Land preparation, Compost preparation, Crop planning, Nursery, Irrigation, Plant protection, weed control, Crop managements and up to Post-harvest to the locals. They aim on helping provide a sustainable means of living and an affordable approach to vegetables and fruits.

Photo courtesy of IsraAID Philippines

Emergency Medical Response and Preparedness – They have recruited medical personnel trained to respond during emergency situations. They will also be creating a stock for medical supplies and medicines for this purpose.

With fellow bloggers and some of the BOT of IsraAID Philippines (Photo courtesy of IsraAID Philippines)

IsraAID Philippines is currently looking for other partners to help them with expanding their programs and services in other parts of the country. As a matter of fact, I brought a colleague from work to the event who handles partnerships and collaborations with other like-minded institutions and organizations. She was able to talk to one of IsraAID Philippines’ board about their (and our) agriculture program. Turns out, they “sort of” know each other through another organization who also has projects in Ormoc. Small world!

For more information about IsraAID, you may visit their website at: www.israaid.org or send them an email at: israaid@gmail.com. You may also send them donations by click THIS or check them out on Facebook.

How about you, do you have an advocacy and/or an organization you support?