An extremely busy few days.
A Ray of Hope UNESCO thanks McCartan Turkington Breen for their support to a food pantry initiative
in Philippines. On this occasion we
focused our assistance on the Negritos
who comprise approximately twenty-five widely scattered ethno linguistic
groups totalling an estimated fifteen thousand people. They are assumed to be
the aboriginal inhabitants of the archipelago. Many of these Negrito groups
still live by hunting and gathering, trading wild meat and forest products to
the Filipino farmers around them in exchange for rice or corn. They also
practice some marginal cultivation.
This group in particular are the indigenous people of the northern part of
Mindanao located at the mountain ranges of Caraga region. They are natives
living a nomadic lifestyle who the government try to educate and feed but they
remain poor. This poverty when linked to extreme weather conditions and
diseases makes life extremely challenging.
I am sure we will continue with similar support in the months to come
including a visit from Santa which needs to be discussed with Santa’s helpers
in Lapland.
