Experience the tropical exoticness of the Philippines while giving back to the locals. Volunteers find that they often leave the Philippines feeling they received more than they were able to give through the course of the volunteer program. The Philippines can be a challenging place to live, and volunteers need to be patient, open minded, and flexible.

Orphanage

ELI works with several orphanages on Leyte Island. Each orphanage houses 45 to 100+ orphans, abandoned children, and runaways. While the orphanages do a wonderful job of providing the basics, orphans are deprived of many opportunities necessary for their development. Through education, individual attention, and compassion, children are empowered to challenge a life of further poverty and exploitation. Volunteers provide basic daily care for the children and are also encouraged to actively participate in programs such as health education, games, drawing, and painting. With such a variety of ways to participate, the orphanage experience provides volunteers many meaningful ways to approach service.

Street Children

Neglected, abandoned, or run-away children on the streets in Tacloban City, Philippines live a life that is often without love, warmth, safety, protection, and parental care. Most of the children who have settled on the streest have families of their own but turn to the streets for food. Glue-sniffing, known as "rugby", is a common addiction among the street children who turn to this drug to suppress their hunger pains. Volunteers help to change this reality through their involvement in after-school programs that focus on providing the children basic daily care. Volunteers work directly with a social worker from the Department of Social Welfare and may help to administer programs such as English language training, computer training, and medical care.

Teaching

Speaking English is a valuable skill. Native and near native speakers can help spread this skill on the beautiful island of Leyte. Volunteers teach English as well as many other subjects and extra curricular activities to elementary school students aged 5-12. Even volunteers without much formal teaching experience can contribute greatly to a child's education. Volunteers assist local teachers with their classes that typically range in size from 20 to 30 students.

City Nutrition Office

This local government office aims to reduce the number of malnourished children in Tacloban City. The office monitors malnourished children throughout Taacloban City. Volunteers can work with neighborhood nutrition committees directly and organize educational programs for parents, implement community and school vegetable gardens, and conduct weight surveys of children in different areas. Volunteers with this program should have knowledge of nutrition.

Community Health Clinic

Volunteers can work in community medical facilities in Tacloban and surrounding towns. Volunteers shadow the medical staff and observe medical practices in the Philippines. Premed students, medical students, doctors, nurses, or volunteers with experience working in the health industry are welcome to assist with the daily activities in the local community health center. The only free facility for the indigent people Tanuan has only one doctor to serve the entire community from 54 bangarays, so the assistance from volunteers is appreciated.

Social Welfare Projects

The Department of Social Welfare and Development is an active Philippine government agency helping underpriveleged children, families, the elderly, and the disabled in Tacloban City and the surrounding area. Volunteers can be involved with after-school programs, adult education, computer training for teenagers and street children, and other valuable programs. These are just a few of the specific needs in the Social Welfare Office. Other volunteers with an interest and motivation ub helping and working with the people of the community can help with other ongoing projects. This is a very unique experience to learn about governmental programs in a developing country as well as meet hard working social workers, educators, and community leaders.

Community Center

Volunteers can work in a community center focused on providing a meeting place for everyone in the community as well as a safe and healthy environment for neighborhood children. Volunteers with this program can work on a wide variety of projects including organizing education activities for children such as arts classes, handicrafts classes, story time, cooking classes, sports, and any other activities. The community center also offers adult education activities that volunteers can become involved with including nutrition classes, adult literacy classes, self-empowerment sessions, and more. The center also has a small library, toys, and assists with the distribution of food to families in need.