Find out more about the Eco-Kalan project here: http://www.eco-kalan.com/

February 3, 2014

Dear Friends,
On December 27-28, 2013, the Eco-Kalan Project Team led by Monica Sison and the Philippine Army (302nd Infantry Achiever Brigade in Tanjay, Negros Or.; 303rd Infantry Brigade in Murcia, Negros Occ,; and 62nd Infantry Battalion in Sagay) went on a relief mission to Purok San Pedro Beach in Barangay Old Sagay, Negros Occidental, Philippines*:

a) to distribute relief food supplies and clothing collected by Monica from a Catholic school where she is teaching, the Social Action Team of the Catholic Diocese of Dumaguete, and ONCAN (Oriental Negros Children Advocacy Network); and

b) to train 150 persons in the set up and use of the eco-Kalan from Barangay Old Sagay who were worst hit by Typhoon Haiyan (locally called Yolanda). These trainees would become the demonstrators at eco-Kalan presentations in their barangay in the New Year. Of the 150 persons selected by Barangay Old Sagay officials, only 35 were from Purok San Pedro Beach.

Purok San Pedro Beach is a coastal village where fishing is the main livelihood. It is also the poorest of the typhoon devastated areas in Old Sagay. Since Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) hit the eastern Visayas on November 8, 2013, little aid has reached this purok. The typical relief food package given to a family was 3kg of rice, 2-3 little cans of sardines and 2-3 packs of noodle soup -- a single day's meager provision for a family of 2 adults and 4 little children. Poor families extended the number of days they ate from this food aid by cooking the rice as lugaw -- i.e., rice boiled in lots of water.

NEW to this Eco-Kalan Project's Lakbay Aral Video:

1. Income Earning and Business Potential of Eco-Kalan-C stove
   Banana-ques as example.
2. Outstanding Cooking Performance of the Eco-Kalan-C
   Cooked for 111 persons at the Lakbay Aral luncheon at Felipa Beach, Dumaguete City, Philippines.

Using 2 Eco-Kalan-C, we cooked:

• 126 kg of food (Pork & Beans, Pancit, Rice, Banana-ques, Fried Chicken); in
• 5 hrs 19 minutes total cooking time on Eco-Kalan-C; using
• 16.65 kg of firewood (star apple tree); valued at
• Ᵽ75 pesos or USD $1.74 (under USD $2)

Eco-Kalan & Magic Box Demo to Lakbay Aral from Caticugan Elem. Sch., Siaton, Neg. Or., July 26, 2013
by Rebecca Vermeer
AIMS of Eco-Kalan Project:
To Improve the Health, Environment and Economics of Poor Communities.

Eco-Kalan Donors & Lunch Sponsors from Canada: Kees & Rebecca Arrieta Vermeer of Sidney, BC; and The Chilcotin Log Church of Hanceville, BC

LAKBAY-ARAL PROJECT
("Bayanihan Para sa Kabataan Lakbay-Aral Para Sa Karunungan at Kapayapaan" Project)
The Lakbay-Aral Project is a one-day Educational Tour of Dumaguete City for Grade 5 and Grade 6 pupils of selected elementary schools in isolated communities, most of which are within conflict zones in Negros Oriental, Philippines. It is designed to broaden the horizon of these school children by exposing them to other people, places and activities outside their respective community.

PROJECT PROPONENTS:
302ND BRIGADE, PHILIPPINE ARMY, NEGROS ORIENTAL
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, NEGROS ORIENTAL DIVISION
ORIENTAL NEGROS CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY NETWORK
ECO-KALAN PROJECT
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE

AIMS OF THE PROJECT:

1. To promote the Bayanihan tradition of the Philippines as an effective tool in the pursuit of peace, security and development in the community.
2. To strengthen the Philippine Army and the Armed Forces of the Philippines' partnership with the peace and security stakeholders, in particular the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's).
3. To promote education as a key to sustainable development and lasting peace in communities.

"The eco-KALAN Project" is a proud Partner of the Lakbay-Aral Project.