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KARMA YOGA YOGA & HEALTH IN TYPHOON- DEVASTATED PHILIPPINES One Block for Batug BY CLAYTON HORTON In 2011, longtime Hong Kong resident Ambikha Buco founded One Block for Batug, a Non-Profit organisation as a response to rebuild Barangay Batug Elementary School in Leyte Province Philippines. Excessive flooding from heavy typhoons destroyed the old elementary school. With the help of many communities, schools, organisations, friends and families in Hong Kong and in the Philippines, OBB (One Block For Batug) raised enough funds to buy a new safer location where the new school has been constructed. This gave new hope and opportunity for the students of Batug to continue to dream and be motivated with their studies. On the morning of November 8, 2013, the Philippines experienced the strongest typhoon ever recorded in history with the epicenter of the Typhoon Yolanda (aka Haiyan) in Leyte. It destroyed everything in its path and Andrea’s village; Barangay Batug did not stand a chance. Most of the houses were 90% damaged. The new school that was built was 50% damaged. The roof come off, but the foundation of the building remained standing. During Typhoon Yolanda, the community was able to use the school as shelter and many lives were saved. One Block for Batug was one of the first on the scene to help rebuild people’s lives in Batug. With the support of community around the world, OBB was able to raise funds for the donation of food, clothing, housing materials, and gardening tools. OBB also provided psychosocial support to raise community spirit. Ambikha continues to visit Batug and work with the school children, offering Yoga and Healing Breathwork. Two years after Typhoon Yolanda, aid and donations are unfortunately no longer being delivered. The community is still in need of continued support. Although it has been two years since the typhoon, the suffering and need for relief is immense in the small towns and villages along the eastern coast of Leyte Province. Poverty is an issue as the town is still in recovery mode. Livelihood, Housing, Health and Food are the main areas that need support. One Block For Batug has established a housing program benefitting families’ whose houses has been totally damage by the typhoon on her town of Batug in Leyte province. Ambikha has collaborated with many healing communities in the Philippines that promote yoga, vegetarian diet, raw food, and sustainable natural housing. Together, they have created a housing program to Batug, which constructs homes with local, natural materials: mud, soil, coco lumber, and rice husk. They also have created a home gardening program to help the community to grow their own food to encourage the community to be less dependant on meat consumption. In 2013, One Block for Batug built a small Yoga Shala (a small Yoga space) in Batug village to provide a space for health and wellness activities in the area. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP Housing - Since Typhoon Yolanda, One Block For Batug has provided funds, labor and materials 17 new homes with our Mud House Project. With your help and support there will be many more safe and happy families who will be awarded a new home this Holiday Season and the next years to come. Education Sponsorship - In <strong>2015</strong>, OBB began One of the 17 new mud homes built in Batug its Education Sponsorship Program by sponsoring students for their university education. Often in this area of the Philippines, when a student from primary and secondary finishes their studies, their family can no longer afford to send them to University. They often end up working as domestic helpers, restaurant staff or, the unlucky ones end up dealing with drugs or prostitution. OBB believes the children are our future and wish to give the youth of the village the opportunities of eduation. The scholarship programmes aims to build an environment in which youth can thrive and have positive dreams for their future. To date, one student has been supported financially to become a school teacher. OBB hopes to get more support in the future so they can help more youths to attend University and inspire their future. Jason’s university education has been sponsored by OBB Yoga Mats - As part of Ambikha’s campaign to promote Yoga and Health in the community, they would like to provide the kids with their own Yoga mats. In the past, Ambikha has been conducting Yoga classes on the grass field within the school ground. If you have an old mat you no longer use and is still in acceptable condition, we would appreciate if you can donate them for the kids in Batug village. Your old mats can go a long way. To date, Pure Yoga in Hong Kong has donated several used Yoga mats that have been delivered to the Primary school of Batug Dulag Leyte. The students have been gifted with an opportunity to be exposed to yoga at a very early age. <strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 17