Overview
Welcome to Bajao Community
Sama-Bajaos are Sea Gypsies and fishermen whose culture and lifestyle are centered on the open seas. Some Bajao families from Mindanao settled in Isla Noah, Batangas around 1980. But due to climate change and strong typhoon in 2006, the small island they were living before is now submerged which forced the locals to move in Malitam, Batangas. Bajaos in Malitam is around 260 families. At first, our main project is electrification but due to their land issue (informal settlers), we shifted our focus on helping the community in their education and finding a home they could call their own. Malitam Elementary School and Sahaya Ministries are our lead hosts for the community.
Profile and Challenges
Projects
Enlighten: Earth Hour Event
To conduct a DIY Solar Lamp workshop among young professionals and students and Environmental Awareness. Created solar lamps was given to Bajao community.
BasuRun 2019
To have a clean-up drive and environmental awareness through BasuRUN 2019 in the Bajao community.
Project Sahaya
To uplift the lives of the Bajaos in Malitam, Batangas through building a resilient, inclusive, sustainable and empowered community.
Ingram COVID-19 Initiatives
To provide financial support to our adopted communities through a P100k grant from Ingram Micro.
Tanglaw Batch 1
To light 69 homes with solar lanterns to Bajaos, Dumagats and Mangyan communities to help them in their day-to-day activities and livelihood.
Milestones
Our First Encounter
Oct 30, 2017
First encounter with the community through 180 Degrees outreach.
Community Mapping and Profiling
Dec 16-17, 2017
We adopted the Bajao community Malitam, Batangas and conducted community mapping and profiling.
SOLAR Hope AVP Making
Feb 3, 2018
We shoot our Main AVP for Sikat Impact Challenge for a 500k grant. We were not considered due to the land issue of the community.
Planning with Community Champions
Apr 22, 2018
We met with the host and community leaders to discuss plans and possible project for the community.
Mother’s Day Special
May 20, 2018
We treat the Bajaos mothers and their children by teaching them how to create Cranes of Hope.
Father’s Day Special
Jul 28, 2018
We treat the Bajaos fathers by training them with solar night lamps then integrating it to Solar Cranes of Hope.
BasuRUN 2018
Sep 22, 2018
We conducted a clean-up drive, environmental awareness and feeding program together with various UP acad orgs.
SOLAR Hope 1st Anniversary Concert
Dec 1, 2018
We celebrated our 1st anniversary in the community together with 100+ volunteers and 600+ locals through a concert.
Donation Drive
Apr 27, 2019
We donated 500 books, groceries and cleaning materials to Malitam ES through Little Free Library.
BasuRUN 2019
Jun 29, 2019
We conducted a follow up clean-up drive and environmental awareness and also donated 20 Solar Lanterns as part of Tanglaw Batch 1.
Stakeholders Meeting: Project Sahaya
Nov 15, 2019
We met with key stakeholders together with Habitat for Humanity to discuss their land issue.
Stakeholders Meeting and Teacher’s Appreciation
Nov 16, 2019
We treated our MES champions and donated water stations for their Bajao students.
COVID-19 Food Assistance
Mar-Apr, 2020
To support the families in the midst of the pandemic, we provided 4 batches of relief goods to around 150-200 families through Titas of EDSA and St. Bridget.
MES Distance Learning Kiosks: Training
Nov 7, 2020
30 Parent Volunteers were oriented about the project and the purpose of the basic phones. They were also trained on the setup of the distance learning kiosks.
Bajao Daycare Support
Nov 19, 2020
We funded modules from CSWD were turned over and is now being used to teach the Bajao students in Sitio Bajaoan Daycare Center.
MES Distance Learning Kiosks: Turn-over
Nov 20, 2020
The basic phones were turned over to the parent volunteers and the distance learning kiosk was setup in the community.
Meeting with Batangas City Mayor
Jan 18, 2021
Project Sahaya was presented to Batangas City Mayor through a joint partnership with JCI Batangas Caballero, Habitat for Humanity and St. Bridget concerning the land for Bajaos.
Project Presentation with LGU
Jan 29, 2021
The Leaf Project of Batangas LGU which contains their plans and design draft for the Bajaos was presented to the consortium.
Community Map