CCT News Letter
Posted by ACDA in Articles on 10 24th, 2011 | no responses
Warmest greetings!
Typhoon Pedring. As I write this, people on the the island of Luzon are just getting back on their feet after being hit by Pedring, the country’s 16th tropical storm of the year. Government agencies said the casualty count was 43. The deaths were caused by electrocution, drowning, and by crushing under collapsed walls and toppled trees. Damage to infrastructure and agriculture neared the P4-billion mark.
Reports from our branch offices show that 1,242 CCT-assisted families were flooded out of their houses and had to move to evacuation centers, had their roofs blown off, or lost their businesses or crops to flooding. Flimsy houses of community partners in Tondo, Manila gave way under the pummeling of a storm surge and were totally washed away. In my own home province of Nueva Ecija where the Kaibigan Ministry has a halfway house for former street dwellers, flood waters rose to more than six feet.
Still, we thank God that no lives were lost among those we serve. We thank God, too, for the immediate help in cash and kind that CCT’s many friends and supporters sent. Many of those affected have begun to rebuild their houses and their micro-enterprises.
The new water station will provide high quality yet affordable drinking water to the residents of Caloocan’s Barangay 88, as well as an additional source of income for potential water dealers and delivery workers. The station was built in partnership with Waterhope, a social enterprise which provides affordable safe drinking water to communities where access to this basic human need is challenged.
Guests at the dedication ceremony on September 3, 2011 included heads and representatives of partner-organizations involved in this project, such as David Bussau of Wholististic Transformation and Resource Center; Danielle Saleh, founding partner of Water for Water Foundation; and Sunil D’Sonza representing Pepsico a founding member of Waterhope.
Also gracing the occasion with her presence was Ms. Viel Aquino Dee, sister of President Noynoy Aquino. Like her late mother, former president Corazon Aquino, Viel is a supporter of micro finance efforts and other projects for the poor, and is currently the vice chair/treasurer of the Assisi Development Foundation.
CCT has two other Waterhope stations, one in Pasay City, and another in Quezon City. A five-gallon container of water from Waterhope dealers costs P25.00, which is P5.00–P15.00 pesos lower than the same amount from other water suppliers.
Already in use are a meeting hall with a seating capacity of 1,000, a dining room which can seat 600, five dormitory type buildings which have a total overnight lodging capacity of 480–500, and an administration building. Each of the dorms has a meeting room (wi-fi enabled, equipped with sound system and LCD projector) at ground level.
Of special significance is the fact that more than 70 former street dwellers have been given meaningful employment at the Center. Men being ministered to by the Kaibigan Ministry built two of the five dormitories; many of them are now working on a new building which will have a cafeteria at ground level and a game room on the second floor. Their wives are helping with the landscaping. Beyond being given a means to feed and support their families, the men and women are being closely guided in their spiritual lives and walk with the Lord.
20th Year Staff Celebration. A countdown to a big CCT celebration has begun. In January, in celebration of CCT’s 20 years of journeying with the Lord, we will gather staff from all branches nationwide at the retreat center in Tagaytay for a week of prayer, worship and fellowship.
One dinner fellowship will be a rare chance for members of the various CCT boards to meet CCT’s front-liners. Those front-liners will also get to see and understand the many aspects of CCT work because two days will be spent visiting places like the VOH Learning Center and the TDI vocational-technical school in Laguna, the Kaibigan Community Center in Pasay, and the head office in Manila.
We pray that everything we do will bring glory to our God!
Blessings!
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