Saturday, August 04, 2007
Dutch youth give assistance to Mandaue fire victims
STUDENTS from Holland donated cash and basic commodities to the Tipolo fire victims in Mandaue City yesterday.
Geertjan Berman, Stephan Elst and Gijs Buijnzeels handed over a check worth P25,000 and a big box of clothes, blankets and other items to Mandaue City first lady Sarah Cortes.
Cortes, who received the cash and items together with City Councilor Jimmy Lumapas and Acting City Administrator Briccio Boholst, said she is happy that Mandaue City is getting help not only from its neighbors Cebu and Lapu-Lapu cities, but also from foreign organizations.
Calling themselves as Meerlanden youths, Elst said the cash and items are from members of their group, who are mostly from
the Meerlanden District in the Netherlands.
Bruijnzeels, Elst, Berman and 31 other Dutch youths, with four adult leaders saw the fire on their way to Lapu-Lapu City and decided later to visit the place and talk to the victims after the fire.
The group decided to help the victims.
“A lot of people are chipping in, as everybody is trying to build a relationship with the new administration,” Cortes told Sun.Star Cebu, referring to other cities and private organizations.
The three young Dutchmen were accompanied yesterday by Ramon Aboitiz Foundation officers led by executive director Evelyn Nacario Castro.
Castro said the group belongs to MY Cebu- Dutch students who visited Cebu on an educational and cultural exchange program: part of Pinoy –Dutch Xplore II- a program spearheaded by the Cebu City Government, Meerlanden Youth-Cebu, and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (Rafi).
She said the youths are in a 3-week immersion activity here. They have been to Gawad Kalinga in Bogo City, Batang Pinangga in Carmen town, the Cebu City Medical Center and other places that need help. (OCP)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 4, 2007 issue)
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