Displaced tribe touches heart

Jenifer is the 29-year-old leader of the Mamanwa tribe in the Philippines. Photo/supplied

The director of a Tauranga based aid organisation has been moved by the struggles of a Filipino tribe.

Gradon Harvey had a firsthand encounter with the displaced Mamanwa tribe on a recent visit to the Philippines.

The Mamanwas are refugees in their own country. They live on top of a mining dump on the side of a hill, a desolate place where nothing grows, there is no running water and no sanitation.

He says the Mamanwas lost their homes in Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013, one of the strongest typhoons ever recorded.

Fleeing the devastation they found themselves in the middle of fierce fighting between Philipino military and communist rebels. Eventually they settled on top of the dump hopeless, afraid and deflated.

"I was quite impacted by the hopelessness of their situation. The Mamanwa tribe is led by a 29-year-old woman called Jenifer. She was the only one who could read or write.

They have no toilets, no easy access to water, no jobs. There are days when they have no food to eat," says Gradon.

"There is a piece of land not far where they live that we can buy, close to a river. We can build 23 homes, with 15 toilets for $66,000. The tribe will do most of the building.

We have found a community in the Philippines who will give half the money if we can find the rest."

International Needs wants to raise $33,000 to provide a new place to live and grow food for these disoriented people.

A givealittle page has been set up for the fundraising. "We have started a 'Give a Little' age and we are hoping Kiwis will get on board."

Gradon was inspired to visit the Mamanwas after a group from Northland organisation, Te Ora Hou, told him of their first hand experiences.

To find out more, check out http://givealittle.co.nz/cause/mamanwatribe.