Sometimes the smallest form of help can go the longest way.
Mannang Abidin, 47 and a mother of three, has persistently strived to provide for her family. A resident of Sitio Hong Kong, Rio Hondo in Zamboanga, Mannang is among the many Sama Bajau who ride on their boats to sell food items to passengers of bigger boats docking in the seaport, trying their luck to earn enough to support the needs of their family for each day.
Mannang had two children from her late first husband. Fate had not been kind when her late husband, a Sama Bajau fisherfolk, was held captive by pirates while offshore and later on found dead. Since thereon, Mannang has had to raise her children under her care, even after they too married and had kids of their own. At present, Mannang lives with the families of her two children, together with her present husband, Macky, and with whom she has their youngest child.
Living in rather trying conditions, Mannang’s family was identified as one of the household beneficiaries for the Sama Bajau Capacity Strengthening Project (SBCSP). For their livelihood kits, supplied through the Environmentally Sustainable Livelihood component of the project, Mannang eagerly requested for more food items to supply her floating store.
This was not the end of her challenges, though. Recently, Mannang had complained of persistent headaches. With the advice and encouragement of the CFSI project team, Mannang follow the SBCSP referral system and sought medical consultations at the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC). Despite their reservations to seek medical treatment because of traditional beliefs as well as financial constraints, she underwent immediate surgery to treat a severe infection that was making her very ill.
Although their food selling business has improved since the SBCSP, it was not at all sufficient to cover her family’s expenses with the addition of the hospital bills and medical expenses. Mannang was grateful when the SBCSP team further assisted her family to avail in medical assistance programs being provided by the government through referral, particularly to the City Mayor’s Office and DSWD (Crisis Intervention Unit).
Mannang was able to return home and be with her family. At present, Manang has regained much of her vitality as she continues to recover.
The SBCSP, being implemented by CFSI through the funding support of the European Union, aims to contribute to the protection of Sama Bajaus from being at risk of statelessness. The program targets some 300 Sama Bajau families or roughly 1,500 individuals and has the four components, namely: awareness sessions on human rights; birth registration and access to social protection services; adoption of environmentally sustainable livelihood; and skills development on reading, writing and numeracy. To achieve its main goal, the SBCSP works in close coordination with key government offices through partnerships and referral systems. These strengthened connections lead towards the collaborative effort in upholding the commitment to protect the rights of the Sama Bajaus, such as Mannang.
To learn more, you may view the SBCSP Brief here.
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This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of CFSI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.