By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
A DANDENONG aid group, Atipan, is holding a night of cultural singing and dancing in Hampton Park to raise the final cash needed for typhoon safe refuge houses in the Philippines.
The project began following the devastation caused when Typhoon Yolanda struck the Philippines two years ago.
Atipan means ‘to care’ in Filipino and it has grown from a small group of Dandenong Baptist Church members to a not-for-profit project.
The committed team now has members from across Casey and Dandenong.
Atipan aimed to raise $25,000 to construct two concrete refuge houses to provide typhoon safe shelter in the Philippines.
The team has already raised $17,000 which has left the shelters half built.
Atipan co-ordinator Laurie North, from Dandenong, said that after his first visit to the typhoon affected areas he knew a lot more had to be done.
“The devastation and damage was absolutely unbelievable.
“These people had nothing left,” Mr North said.
“It didn’t take long to realise that these lovely people would not be safe from typhoons for years to come,” he said, and with that the project was started and land was donated to build the safe houses.
Atipan is holding a night of cultural singing and dancing at the River Gum Performing Arts Centre in Hampton Park to raise the final $8000 needed to finish the building.
Mr North said the shelters will be used day to day as work centres to enable the locals to earn some income.
“The two buildings combined can take a large number of villagers; they are the only safe buildings in the whole Iloilo district,” he said.
For more information on the project and to donate to the construction of the shelters visit www.atipan.com
