TIKA Launches Feeding Project for Marawi Children

2,500 children of Marawi City, a fourth class city in northern part of Mindanao Island, will receive full, nutritious meals for 110 days. As part of TIKA’s humanitarian support and health assistance, the children who recently returned to Marawi after the siege are now enjoying healthful meals. The feeding project aims to address the nutritional needs and improve the children’s health conditions.                                                        

TIKA spearheaded the launching of the feeding project with the presence of the representatives from partner organizations such as Gawad Kalinga, Department of Education, Marawi Mayor’s Office, Philippine Army and Ateneo De Manila University. The feeding project will run for about five months during the school days and will cover Camp Bagong Amai Pakpak Elementary School and other schools and nearby communities in Marawi. In addition to the meals’ food ingredients and utensils, the project also established a central kitchen in the school for the meal preparation. Ms. Sarah Basir Bantuas, the principal of the school, expressed her gratitude for TIKA and the Prime Ministry of Turkey for the assistance extended. She added that the meals for the children will greatly help the children recover from the armed conflict, and address the malnutrition among primary school students.   

During the launching event, Mr. Cabs Ali Pacasum, Jr., Marawi City Disaster Risk Officer, gave his assurance that they will monitor the feeding project as part of the Bangon Marawi (Rise Marawi) Interventions. According to him, the support of TIKA along with other international donors in Marawi showed solidarity to the residents and gave them hope that they can recover from the atrocities they experienced. Ms. Yesim Baktir, Country Director of TIKA Philippines, in her message, thanked the people of Marawi City for their warm welcome especially the volunteers, teachers and parents who helped in realizing the event. She hoped that the intervention will make stronger ties of friendship between the Turkish and the Filipino people. The feeding project is one of the many project interventions of TIKA in the Philippines ranging from humanitarian support to livelihood assistance and health interventions.