INTERVIDA-Philippines Foundation is an international development NGO that work towards improving the human development of disadvantaged communities, especially the children, in Bicol Region through active participation, community empowerment and advocacy to achieve social change. The wholistic approach of Intervida is carried out through the implementation of programs in Health & Nutrition, Education, Food Security, Economic Development, Environment and Disaster Management, & Community Participation.
It started its operations in Bicol Region in 2005. During most part of 2005, the Foundation concentrated the effort in building its organizational and operational structure, in selecting and formalizing the partnership with the 217 covered rural barangays and in establishing the sponsorship of the children in the selected elementary schools. The implementation of Intervida Philippines development activities started in the last quarter of 2005. At first, the intervention was focused on education and health projects in the 221 partner elementary schools in the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon and Camarines Sur, with a total population of 69,000 pupils. In the year 2006, the Foundation´s accomplishments suffered a set back due to the two super typhoons (Milenyo and Reming) that struck the region during the last quarter, to which we also reacted through emergency relief operations in some of the most affected barangays. In 2007 and 2008, the program of Intervida Philippines incorporated a wholistic approach with sustained community-based projects in livelihood, disaster management, environment and health in selected barangays.
Admittedly we are still very contemporary in the development work in the Philippines, as Intervida is still in the process of developing its development manual of operations based from our lessons learned in the field but also looking into the sustainability mechanisms of our projects and activities. For the 1st time in the history of our operations, we concluded our strategic planning for 3 years (2009-2011) to define further our thrusts and concerns for the next 3 years to come and onwards. Part of the thrusts was the creation of a unit that will handle partnership building, institutional relations and fundraising for Intervida-Institutional Relations and Fundraising Unit.
Having learned of your program on poverty alleviation through partnership with NGOs we are initially interested in whatever form of partnership that we can forge for the development of poor sectors in the Bicol region. Or probably get an audience with you for an orientation meeting for possible linkages & institutional relations that can translate into possible support for our project undertakings.
