To the Philippines, with love.

In October 2022, Burgess CEO, Jonathan Beckett sent all Burgess staff an email asking for volunteers to join All Hands and Hearts (AHAH), a community-inspired, volunteer-powered disaster relief organisation, to help build schools in the Philippines. Such assistance was needed following the effects of Typhoon Rai, which devasted the region in late 2021. The invitation was part of the Burgess ‘giving-back’ ethos, which is considered a cornerstone of the Burgess ESG (environment, social, governance) programme.

Ultimately three of our team were selected to meet the challenge and join the AHAH team: Andrew, Julie and Marie. The opportunity presented was anything but a holiday, and yet at short-notice Andrew Pearson, Head of Insurance Claims; Julie Burgess, Yacht Data Manager; and Marie Molls, Burgess Partner and Retail Charter Manager volunteered. They left their homes and took nine days out of their lives to do this work.

When disaster strikes, the big guns of UNICEF and The Red Cross come in with immediate medical aid. AHAH then works with the communities to identify their greatest needs and respond. Naturally, safety for children and vulnerable people is a high priority – and that is certainly the case in Southern Leyte, Philippines.

In the Malitbog District, AHAH are operating in a number of school sites and aim to build ten Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS) in response to the critical and immediate need for classrooms for children to learn and develop in safety. ‘The children take such pride in going to school,’ says Marie. ‘School is so important to them, they greeted us every day with huge smiles and dances. Every morning the children are at school by 7am to start their day.’

Our three team members embarked on this adventure ready to work hard, but nothing could quite prepare them for the poverty and destruction that they encountered because of the Typhoon damage. The local community have been rebuilding their lives since Typhoon Rai hit their coast in December 2021, tearing through the town with 175mph winds. They lost over 400 people that day – parents, husbands, wives, and children. With the grief of this loss, they also had to face the loss of their livelihoods - all their fishing boats were destroyed and the coconut harvest wiped out.

Since then, the people have been living in tents, trying to pick themselves up and rebuild their community – and that’s where AHAH provides hope. ‘We worked with a Filipino man, Jeramiah, who is the link between the locals and AHAH,’ explains Marie. ‘He has a huge golden heart, just giving and giving to the community all the time. He was very inspirational for us as new volunteers.’

Andrew, Julie and Marie arrived at AHAH Base after travelling for the best part of 48 hours by plane and truck. 'However, right from the first moment we arrived, AHAH made us very welcome,' says Julie. ‘There was no time for jetlag,’ Andrew adds. ‘The next morning, we were up at 5.30am, and after a safety brief, we were off to the build. The humidity was so intense that we were sweating by 6.30am – and for the rest of the day - and every other day - I was a sweaty mess!’

‘AHAH volunteers ranged in age from 18 to those in their late 60s,’ says Andrew, and the AHAH group they joined comprised of around thirty volunteers from all over the world. ‘We were all there for one aim, and that brought us together and made us a team,’ says Julie.

The schools are being built to designs signed off by UNICEF. ‘The buildings are temporary – although that means they will last at least 10 years - and they are typhoon resistant,’ explains Julie. ‘The foundations are poured with concrete, and the framework structure is coconut wood. The fibre cladding and corrugated metal roof would blow off in another typhoon, but the locals are skilled in working with these materials and could quickly repair the damage.’

So, what skills did Andrew, Julie and Marie take to the project? ‘In the beginning we didn’t know what skills were needed,’ says Andrew, ‘but the answer is simply that everyone can assist regardless of age or strength. All you need is energy, enthusiasm and a willingness to roll up your sleeves and help, whether that be digging trenches, carrying wheelbarrows, or applying termite-resistant paint to the wooden frames – your efforts and time are invaluable.' AHAH also provides training for all roles so everyone is comfortable with their daily duties. Safety is paramount on the building site.

‘The construction work was a big learning curve,’ adds Julie. ‘I was pleased to get a chance to vibrate the concrete mix, which is more important than you might think as you have to do it right or the concrete will not set properly.’

Marie describes the living conditions while they were on the AHAH base, ‘Communal living needed getting used too, that’s for sure, but we always felt safe. Everyone there was treated with the same respect, which was quite healthy to experience.

'We had shared dorms, and the bathrooms were at times challenging, but the organisation hired daily help to cook and clean for all staff and volunteers. Each day our work t-shirts were hand washed by hand by the local helpers, and hung to dry. The food was basic. It is what it is, and we got used to it. It was all part of the volunteering experience.'

‘All the food was fresh and prepared on site, although the joke was whether we would have rice and vegetables/lentils for lunch – or lentils/vegetables and rice!’ says Andrew. ‘It was the same for dinner. Breakfast was white bread, peanut butter, boiled eggs, and fresh fruit.

'The only coffee available was instant along with powdered milk, a far cry from our daily cappuccinos or flat whites with oat milk,' said Marie. 'However that was all part of the experience. At morning 'coffee' break the locals brought us homemade goodies made with all their hearts, which could be deep-fried bananas on a stick on a good day. Whatever was brought was gratefully received and will be remembered forever!’

Our intrepid three are now back at home, with all the luxury of running water, comfortable beds, nutritious food - and with Christmas festivities to look forward to. The experience has given them a new appreciation of their lives and lifestyles.

‘My best day was spent with the children,’ said Marie, ‘that's when I knew that it was worth the work of being there. They have so little, it puts our lives into context. I would go back and help AHAH any day; the work they are undertaking gives those children a chance to build their lives from the devastation they have experienced.’

While it was only a week for our team, their efforts have helped give those children the chance of a lifetime of knowledge, and to continue their education in safe environment.

AHAH is on track to deliver the school buildings in early 2023, and Andrew, Marie and Julie are both humbled and honoured to have helped to make that happen. We are enormously proud of them and their effort.

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